Wike Lines-up Projects to Mark Tinubu’s One Year in Office

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has expressed optimism that he would deliver key projects to mark celebration of President Tinubu’s one year in office.

Wike stated this on Wednesday during the inspection of ongoing projects in Abuja.

Some of the projects inspected which are expected for completion before May 29, next year include the Outer Southern Expressway, traversing AA Rano filling station, behind the Villa through Deeper Life Junction, SARS, Apo Roundabout to Wassa; the N20 road, off the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway), which stretches to Zuba.

The Minister, who expressed satisfaction with the quality of work so far done, noted that construction work had been suspended on both roads before his assumption of office, arising from challenges with sourcing funds to carry out the construction.

“When I came on board, these roads were abandoned, and I had to invite the contractors, and then we sat down, and we agreed on a way of funding. I am happy that it has worked out very well, and the contractors have assured us that these roads will be constructed on time, and we believe that by the special grace of God, it is one of those projects earmarked for one year in office for Mr. President,” he added.

“The contractors have done very well, very quality jobs, I commend them, and I still appeal to them not to lower standard, because at the end of the day, they will still come back to repeat and make sure that things are done well. I believe in them, and the other jobs they are doing, they have also assured us that they are going to complete them,” Wike stressed.

The Minister stated that arrangements had been made to get more funding for the completion of the projects; reiterating that he would rather not approve a project than award a project without funds or have to suspend the project due to lack of funds.

His words: “For me, we have made arrangements for funding. Mr. President has said severally that he doesn’t want to hear excuses.”

“He has given that directive, and they have approved the supplementary budget, and we believe that any moment from now, we will receive further funding, which will be channelled to most of these projects, so we won’t hear complaints about no funding, he remarked.

The Minister said that he would not initiate projects he wasn’t sure of funding, to avoid abandonment of projects in the Territory.

“I am not going to embark on any project where we know we have no funding; it does not make any sense. No project will be awarded where we know we have no funds. And even when there are funds, and it is not enough, I will not embark on such projects, so that we don’t need to suffer the people”, he emphasized.