Minister of the Federal, Nyesom Wike, has said there’s no slowing down on Abuja’s infrastructure programme, saying work will continue until the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first term in May 2027.
The minister who spoke on Monday, after inspecting the ongoing Apo-Karshi Road and Bwari-Kubwa Road projects, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to complete between eight and 10 key infrastructure projects before January.
The inspections came barely weeks after the FCT Administration concluded a month-long commissioning and flag-off of projects across the capital, with Wike saying the exercise did not mark the end of work but the beginning of another phase of monitoring to ensure contractors deliver on schedule.
“Has the tenure of Mr. President ended? Certainly not. His first tenure has not ended. His first tenure will be ending precisely May 29, 2027. So, if that is the case, it means that the work has also not ended.
“Yes, people will expect that we should take out some time to rest. I believe with God’s mercy and support, from time to time, we’ll do, but the work is also important. We have made promises to the people during the commissioning and flag-off that there are very, certain key projects that has to be commissioned before the end of the year.”
Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the long-delayed Apo-Karshi Road, originally awarded in 2010, saying the project had reached a stage where streetlights were already being installed.
“My happiness today is that going to Apo-Karshi, which has been a very major concern, that project was awarded in 2010. And people have been complaining, but thank God, with the support we’ve gotten from President, we can say we have field to go.
“They’re already putting the streetlights. That is very, very commendable. I commend the contractor, SCC, for a good job they’re doing. I also commend the communities there for their cooperation.”
On the Bwari-Kubwa Road, the minister said he had reminded the contractor of its commitment to deliver the project before the end of the year, assuring that the FCT Administration would continue to provide funds needed to keep the work on schedule.
“Now, we’re in Bwari, going to Kubwa Road. I’ve seen the extent of work, and I’ve asked the core contractors. If I remember vividly well, when we were in the last day of the commissioning at Dei-Dei, I did say that we will commission this Bwari-Kubwa Road. I said so, and I don’t want the contractor to shift to start shifting goalposts.”
“They’re contractors that I will commend, and they have always been serious. And so, I think that before the end of this year, they should be able to hand over this road to us. It’s a quality job they’re doing, but in a very tough terrain. We believe that we’ll do our own part by making sure that funds are made available to them so that they can do all they can within this period before the the dry season comes.”
He said inspections would continue on other ongoing projects to ensure contractors keep to agreed timelines, insisting the administration would not allow the confidence reposed in it by residents to diminish.
“Tomorrow, too, we’ll go out and inspect some of the key projects that we flagged off during that period to see how far. The contractors are going, because I’ve said, one thing you must always know that when the people have confidence about you or in you, don’t allow that confidence to erode. They’ve seen it as promise made and promise fulfilled, and so we’ll continue with that, not to let them down. That about 8 to 10 projects, which we agreed, would be completed before January. We’ll make sure that all those things are done.”
The minister also said the FCT Administration would not tolerate illegal street racing in residential areas following complaints by residents that the activity poses a danger to motorists and other road users.
Although he said no formal complaint had been received by the administration, Wike said he would direct the appropriate traffic authorities to address the issue.
“I have to let you know that no formal complaint has been made, but now that we have heard it from you, I will check the traffic section and then let them understand that we will not allow that. If they are going to carry out car racing, we have designated areas where they should do that, but not where we have residences of people.”
“I appeal to them to understand that their rights have limitations, and life is more important. So, be assured that we’ll do everything possible to see that we don’t allow car racing within the residential areas. But if it’s on the highway, well, that we will not stop.”
