We’re Here to Solve Problems -Wike
…Tours, Berates Abandoned Projects
By: Wisdom Acka
The new FCT Administration is here to solve problems and improve on the infrastructural development of the Federal Capital Territory.
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, made this declaration during a tour of some abandoned projects in the Federal Capital City (FCT), Thursday.
Wike decried that it was unfortunate for public funds to be tied up in uncompleted projects; saying it amounted to waste of public funds, hence it denies the people the benefit of using such projects.
Speaking at the construction site for residences of principal officers for the National Assembly, located within the NASS complex, he said: “it is unfortunate that we have found ourselves in this dilemma….part of our problem is that there are abandoned projects everywhere.”
The Minister promised to meet the leadership of NASS to resolve any possible impasse.
At another ongoing project, official residence of Nigeria’s Vice President, situated off the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in the Three Arms Zone, Wike frowned at lack of funding of the project for about six years; adding that “All these are public funds that could have been put into other uses.”
On rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat Complex, which has already gulped over N2.4 billion, the Minister ordered the contractor to complete it within seven months.
He stated the need for the FCT Administration to “attach projects to Internally Generated Revenue (IGR)”; stressing that if that was done, funding the projects won’t have been a problem.
Inspecting work at the Independence Avenue, by the US Embassy, the Minister told the contractor to deliver the project in about seven months, once the funding challenge was resolved.
His word: “If there is no funding problem, it should take about seven months to complete this project so that the people can use it”.
Funding was also identified by the Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, as a major obstacle slowing down completion of the Millennium Tower Abuja.
The Minister, in his response, stated that the FCTA would consider a PPP arrangement for completion of the project or make recommendation for outright sale of the project so that it would be completed for Nigerians to use.
