Akpabio Flags Off Construction of 4.4km Obafemi Awolowo Way
By: Wisdom Acka
The Senate President, Senator Goodswill Akpabio, on Friday, flagged off construction of Arterial Road N5 in Gwarimpa I District (Life Camp), Abuja.
The Arterial Road N5 in the Abuja Master Plan is also known as Obafemi Awolowo Way, which is a 6-lane expressway tranverses Gwarinpa I District and Ring Road III.
Senator Akpabio, while performing the ceremony on Friday, underscored the importance of good road network for the socio-economic development of the Territory.
Represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Ibrahim Bomai, the Senate President stated that the project would reduce traffic congestion, shorten travel time and boost economic activities in the area.
Reiterating commitment of the Senate to the FCT to enable it carry out its responsibilities, the Senate President revealed that the project was “made possible through ingenuity of the FCT Minister in increasing the revenue base of the Federal Capital Territory.”
The Minister, earlier corroborated the Senate President, saying that the road infrastructure would also bring about job creation, and reduction in prices of food stuff, among other.
Wike expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his commitment to the development of the FCT; stressing that the President increased FCT threshold of payment for projects, making it possible to expedite actions on projects delivery.
He equally appealed to the National Assembly to look into the 30 per cent payable to contractors, decrying it was “part of out major headache.”
The Minister also appealed to residents and Nigerians to pray for President Tinubu for restoring hope, declaring that by the time he is done with the city and Area Councils, “we will all smile.”
Wike urged Julius Berger Nigeria, the contractor handling the project to complete the project in 14 months, instead of 18, indicating that if it would deliver in 14 months, more projects would be awarded to them, including construction of a befitting Secretariat for the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
