FCTA Receives N50Bn Supplementary Budget -Wike
By: Wisdom Acka
Half of the N100 billion in the 2023 supplementary budget for the FCT has been released to the FCT Administration by the Federal Ministry of Finance.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, made this disclosure on Thursday, while inspecting ongoing projects in the nation’s capital,
Wike stated that he has consequently directed the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, to immediately make payments to the contractors handling projects.
His words: “I am happy to announce to you that the Ministry of Finance has released 50 per cent of the national supplementary budget.”
“That in a way, has given us that hope that the contractors will be paid anytime from now. We have also gotten assent to the FCT Statutory Budget, which again, has given us hope that no project will be left uncompleted as promised,” he added.
“As you can see, these are quality projects, which we are very satisfied with. We believe that the arrangements made by the contractors will enable us to commission the projects to celebrate Mr President’s one year in office,” he reiterated.
The Minister, while commending FCT residents for their support, expressed confidence that the projects would be delivered on schedule; saying “we are quite hopeful….convinced that they would keep to the time scheduled as agreed”.
“We are happy with what we have seen, and we will continue to do things to the satisfaction of the residents of Abuja and assure them that the Renewed Hope Agenda is not a mere talk. So, it is a promise and a promise kept,” he said.
Wike stated that with President Bola Tinubu’s support, all challenges woud be surmountable.
One of the projects inspected is the Outer Southern Expressway, which stretched from A.A Rano, through Deeper Life Junction, SARS, Apo roundabout to Wasa District.
The road is being constructed by China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited.
Wike also inspected the Northern N-20 Expressway in Jahi District being constructed by Gilmor Construction firm and the Vice President’s residence being constructed by Julius Berger.
The Area Manager, CGC Nigeria Ltd., Yong Hong, assured the Minister that the Outer Southern Expressway would be delivered before May.
Similarly, the representative of Julius Berger, Oliver Berger, said that the team were on site for the past two months and have done a lot of work on the VP residence project.
“We have done a lot of cleaning inside and outside. As you can see a lot of infrastructural work has happened; earth work around the fence line has been done, sewage and other trenches have been done,” he said.
“All the procurement processes have commenced already and from the preparation point of view we are in a good position to turn all our plans and procurement activities into action,” he added.
