By Goodluck B. Ikiebe
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has flagged off the construction of a 5km dual carriageway in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
Barrister Wike stated during the flag-off exercise on Monday, that the road project is part of efforts to rekindle the hope of the people and reassure them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for the FCT.
The FCT Minister, who had earlier flagged off the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Paikon Kore-Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as the 9km Gaba- Tokula road in Bwari Area Council, attributed the achievements to the support of the President.
He said the FCT Administration has been lucky to have the support of the President, who is sparing nothing to ensure that all residents reap the dividends of democracy, adding that the FCTA has no excuse not to perform.
According to the Minister, “I want to say that Mr. President is fully in support of us and his mandate is very clear to the Hon. Minister of State and my humble self. When you people are saying that the Minister of State and my humble self are working, it’s because we have a President who gives us anything we want. He has given us the support and so we have no excuses to give but to let the people know that Mr. President is behind everything we are doing. Every request we have made, Mr. President has always given to us. So, for us, we don’t have any excuse not to do what we are supposed to do”.
Barr. Wike, who also assured of the availability of funds to carry out the road projects, therefore charged the contractor to complete them within the specified time, adding that excuses will not be accepted.
He said, “If you take our money, you must do our road. There is no grammar there. I cannot be Minister and you collect our money and say you won’t do the job. For me and the Hon. Minister of State, we don’t have time for dry season, we don’t have time for rainy season. If you collect our money under rainy season, you must also work under the rainy season. You can’t keep our money in the bank, making interest and coming to tell us now is rainy season. Give us back our money, then when dry season comes, we give you the money.”
The Minister also reassured that all abandoned projects in the FCT Area Councils that were awarded by the FCT Administration would have to be completed, to ensure that they impact positively on the people and preserve the resources of government.
Barrister Wike while thanking the National Assembly for its support for the FCT, also disclosed that provisions have been included in the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget for the renovation of schools and hospitals in the FCT.
He said, “We are not only doing roads. Very soon, in the next one week or two, we are going to flag off the total renovation of not less than 25 schools, we are going to do that. So, we are not just talking about roads. We are also talking about schools.
“We are also going to come back to most of our hospitals that have been abandoned. Take for example, the Utako hospital that has not been completed, the Gwagwalada Hospital, we are coming back to put them in order for the use of our people, for the interest of our people. We cannot be answering FCT just by mouth. We must answer FCT and show that indeed this is FCT. We are going to do that”.
Noting that the renewed hope agenda of the President in the FCT is practical and not just mere talking, the Minister also thanked the FCT Area Councils for their support and cooperation, irrespective of party differences.
He also called for the continued support of the Area Councils in the fight against poverty and insecurity in the FCT, saying that insecurity does not differentiate between political party affiliation or societal class.
Speaking earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, stated that the dualization of the carriageway is another demonstration of the FCTA’s commitment to the socio-economic development of the FCT.
Dr Mahmoud, who also disclosed that the FCTA is poised to provide motorable road networks across the FCT the Area Councils, said it will help to improve access and transport of goods and services, including easy access to markets, schools, offices, places of worship among others.
She stated that rural road infrastructure forms the backbone of rural economy and contributes significantly to the overall development of the nation, and thanked the FCT Minister for his commitment to the development of the FCT Area Councils.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, said the Council is very happy that its request for the dualization of the carriageway has been granted by the FCT Minister, adding that the road project will also solve the challenges of perennial gridlock and overflow of drains, especially during the rainy seasons.
The Gomo Kuje, also thanked the FCT Minister for his commitment to the realization of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Kuje Area Council, while bestowing on him the traditional title of Jikan Dan Majidadin Kuje. This will be the third title bestowed on him following the titles from the traditional leaders Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils.
