FCT MINISTER REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO COMPLETION OF ONGOING ROAD PROJECTS ACROSS THE FCT

…Promises the resuscitation of the Apo Karshi Road Project

By: Rabi Musa Umar and Wisdom Acka

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of ongoing work on three key projects across the FCT.

Barr. Wike made his feelings known while briefing journalists after an inspection tour of the three project sites on Thursday, November 27, 2025.

Providing updates on the projects inspected, including the emergency reconstruction of the Karu road from the Karu interchange to Customs Clinic Junction (Karu Site), the construction of the two main carriageways of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road 1 Junction to Ring Road II Junction and the construction of Collector Road CN2 from Arterial Road N16 to Arterial Road N20 within Katampe District, the Minister confirmed that the projects have been earmarked for completion by June next year and will form part of the projects that will be commissioned during the celebration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year in office.   

Reacting to the large turn out and show of appreciation by residents at the project sites during the inspection exercise, Barr. Wike said it is a confirmation that the Renewed Hope Agenda was positively impacting the lives of FCT residents.

He said, “What makes any government feel relaxed is when the people are happy. The whole essence of good governance is to make people happy and make them have what will improve their lives.

“You remember the last time we went to Karu to flag off the road project, it was one road. There, I made a promise that all the other connecting roads will be included. I’m very happy to report the progress of the job. The contractor is doing very well. It’s one of the projects we are going to line up for the third-year anniversary of Mr. President. I’m quite impressed.

“And then we went to Gishiri to see the level of work … that project also will be inaugurated during the third-year anniversary of Mr. President.

“We were also at OSEX which leads you from Apo to Wasa. It’s also part of the roads that by the grace of God, Mr. President will inaugurate in his third year in office.

“You can see the happiness on the face of everybody and that also shows that the Renewed Hope Agenda is really working and people have never seen this massive scale of infrastructure provision before. You can imagine when we were at Karu, the people were very happy. We went to Gishiri and the people were very happy. It makes us happy too when we see that the people are very happy and appreciate that government thinks about their welfare”, Barr. Wike stated.

Looking ahead to the next year, Barr. Wike assured that the FCT Administration will prioritize the completion of ongoing projects rather than starting new ones.

“In 2026, we are not likely to introduce any new project. We want to make sure the projects we have started this year will be completed in 2026 and they are the projects that will be in the 2026 budget. That year appears to be a political year and so, you don’t expect to start projects that you may not be able to finish within the period you are appointed to stay. So, we want to make sure all the projects we have started, by the grace of God, are completed”, Barr. Wike stressed.

“We are also doing well in terms of education. We have started procurement in terms of our health centres. So, next year, we believe that 2026 will be a better year for the FCT”, Barr. Wike added.

Addressing potential dangers along the Karu Road corridor, the Minister issued a stern warning that houses built on water channels would be demolished to allow the water have its way.

While noting that the structures violated building regulations, he said the FCT Administration will provide some financial cushions to affected residents to enable them relocate. “Ordinarily, we don’t need to have done that because what they have done is to violate the building regulation”, the Minister noted.  

The Minister also revealed a very decisive step by the FCT Administration to tackle infrastructure decay by terminating and re-awarding the contract for the long-abandoned Apo/Karshi road project.

Barr. Wike disclosed that the contract for the 13.2-kilometer Apo/Karshi road project, which was originally awarded in 2011 but remained uncompleted 14 years later, has been cancelled and re-awarded to another company, Salini Construction Company (SCC), to ensure its timely completion, which he said would help to decongest the Abuja-Keffi expressway. 

He said, “We have terminated that contract, and it has been awarded to SCC. If you go there now, you will see that they have started work. It’s a road that so many people are very interested in because it will decongest some of these areas. As I said, we cannot continue to play politics when it comes to the welfare of the people”.

The contract for the road was re-awarded under emergency consideration and plans are being concluded for its official flag off.

Barr. Wike further disclosed that work has also commenced on a road leading to Kubwa from Bwari to provide an alternative to the Bwari/Dutse road, which he said was also awarded to SCC.