FCT MINISTER COMMISSIONS REHABILITATED LOWER USUMA DAM WATER TREATMENT PLANT
…SAYS FCTA’s IGR HAS RISEN TO N30BILLION FROM N9BILLION MONTHLY
By: Wisdom Acka
As part of efforts to improve water supply in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Minister of FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has commissioned the rehabilitated Phase II Water Treatment Plant at the Lower Usuma Dam in Bwari Area Council.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Barrister Wike said the project, originally awarded in 2022 at a cost of N50 billion, was completed under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which underscores the government’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure and essential services in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister explained that the rehabilitation of Phase II of the Lower Usuma Dam water treatment plant will increase the plant’s carrying capacity and improve the supply of clean and potable water to the residents of the FCT.
Barr. Wike said, “Water is life, and it is an essential service that we must provide for the residents of Abuja. This project is crucial because it increases the carrying capacity of the plant and will improve the supply of clean and potable water to our people”.
Speaking on the strategic investments by government to boost water supply in the FCT, Barrister Wike also disclosed that the Federal Executive Council recently awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of Phases I, III, and IV of the Lower Usuma Dam water treatment plants, stressing that the extensive effort is part of a broader strategy to ensure a stable and reliable water supply across the entire FCT.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the FCT Administration’s focus on satellite towns, with the upcoming flag-off of new water projects in Bwari and Karu. These projects, costing over N90 billion, the Minister said, are designed to extend essential services beyond the city center and improve the quality of life for residents in these communities.
Barrister Wike equally dispelled claims that his administration was focusing solely on road projects, citing ongoing projects in the education sector, including the rehabilitation of schools in rural communities and the various ongoing water supply projects.
“I have told the Mandate Secretary of Education to release the number of schools in the entire FCT, under the President Tinubu administration, that we have completed rehabilitation and all the ongoing ones. I believe by the time that list is released, Nigerians will know what we have done in the education sector”, the Minister stated.
He noted a significant increase in the FCT’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N9 billion to N30 billion, which has enabled the payment of contractors and the funding of new projects.
“When we came on board, we had a monthly IGR of N9 billion, but as we speak today, by the grace of God, every month, we are generating not less than N30 billion. Now we have come here to commission this project. If we were not saving this money, would we have paid the contractors? The Federal Government has approved the rehabilitation of phase one, three, and phase four. If we were not saving funds, we wouldn’t be providing water to Bwari, Karu, and other satellite towns”.
Barrister Wike, while addressing issues of development and accountability in the award of contracts, vowed to fight corruption and ensure that public funds are used judiciously for the benefit of the people.
“People are complaining that all projects in Abuja were abandoned; why would it not be abandoned when funds that are meant for development are channeled towards unnecessary things. Let us work for our people and change lives. Buying computers every year will not help us. Going to America for a conference on land administration will not help. What will help is the development of our people, the development of our communities, providing roads, providing schools, providing water, and providing security. That is what is important”.
Speaking on recent media reports and protests over the alleged debts owed to indigenous contractors by the FCTA, the Minister said no amount of blackmail or intimidation will deter his administration from its core mission.
He challenged those making allegations about unpaid local contractors to produce documentation proving he awarded the contracts, asserting that he will not be pressured to pay for projects he did not approve.
The Minister made it clear that the issue was a result of indiscipline and a deeply entrenched culture of corruption, stressing that many of the contracts were allegedly awarded by civil servants without his knowledge or approval.
He said the claims of unpaid bills were a manifestation of corruption fighting back against efforts to reform the system and vowed to defeat corruption, adding that it would not be business as usual.
“The problem in this country is that when you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back, and it’s corruption that is fighting back, and we are going to defeat corruption.
“The bane of our problem is indiscipline. I came on board to meet complaints that indigenous contractors and local contractors were being owed billions of naira. I said who awarded these contracts. Civil servants stay in their offices and award contracts of various sums without the Minister knowing. Then you will be a Minister sitting in the office and people will tell you that you are owing N15 billion when you don’t know when it was awarded”, he said.
“Certainly, it will not happen. Nobody can intimidate me on that”, he stressed, adding, “If I award contracts, I will pay, and those who know me know that I don’t award contracts when we don’t have money. We must do things right. That it was not done right yesterday does not mean it will not be done right today. People must know that it cannot continue to be business as usual. You cannot embarrass me. Go and meet those who awarded those contracts to you and tell them your children are out of school”.
Looking ahead, the Minister outlined his vision for Abuja’s development, which prioritizes capital projects over recurrent expenditure, stressing that his goal is to ensure that FCT residents feel the tangible impact of the current administration.
The Minister stressed that his administration remains focused on creating a legacy of growth and positive change, vowing that he will leave office with his head held high, having fulfilled his commitment to transform the FCT for the better.
Earlier in her vote of thanks, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed joy at the completion of phase II of the Lower Usuma Dam Water treatment plant, describing it as a major milestone, while thanking President Tinubu for his unwavering support for infrastructural renewal. She also emphasized the importance of maintaining the new infrastructure for the benefit of current and future generations.
Providing an overview of the project, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda said the rehabilitation exercise focused on the phase II water treatment plant, originally built in 2000, which had been at risk of collapse due to aging.
He said the rehabilitation work for the plant with a capacity of 5000 cubic meters of water per hour was initiated to prevent a potential health crisis and ensure the continued provision of safe drinking water to Abuja residents.
The extensive work, he explained, included the repair and replacement of equipment in the inlet pump station, clarifiers and filters, as well as significant upgrades made to electromechanical and chemical systems, the water testing laboratory and the power infrastructure, including replacement of backup generators.
He said that with the completion of these works, the plant has been fully restored to its original capacity of 5000 cubic meters per hour and is now ready for use, adding that it will also enhance the overall water supply network and ensure that the water quality meets international standards.
