WIKE REITERATES DECEMBER DELIVERY TIMELINE FOR APO-KARSH, BWARI- KUBWA ROADS, TARGETS OVER 10 PROJECTS
By: Wisdom Acka
The much-awaited 13.25-kilometre Apo-Karshi Road, awarded 16 years ago under the Bala Mohammed-led FCT Administration, will finally be completed in December. Similarly, the about 14-kilometre Bwari-Kubwa road, which was awarded last year by the current Wike-led FCT Administration, will also be delivered within the same period.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, gave the commitment today, 22 August 2026, during an inspection tour of ongoing grassroots road projects across the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) and Bwari Area Council.
Addressing members of the press during the project site evaluation, the Minister expressed immense satisfaction with the pace and standard of construction achieved by the contractor, SCC Nigeria Limited.
He noted that completion of the long-stalled Apo-Karshi corridor stands as a fulfilled promise of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to residents who have suffered years of severe commuter hardship.
”Today is supposed to be a weekend, and you’ve joined us to look at the projects that we flagged off during the 1st anniversary of Mr. President.
“You know the Apo-Karshi road has been a topical issue -awarded in 2010 as one of those inherited projects. Because of its critical importance and persistent outcry by residents, we had to terminate the initial contract and re-award it to SCC, which possesses the proven capacity and capability to complete the job,” he stated.
Wike praised the construction firm for maintaining operations on-site regardless of funding disbursements, describing them as dependable partners determined to help the current administration honor its pledges.
He disclosed that while the company projected a November completion and delivery time, formal handover will take place by December.
Turning to the Bwari-Kubwa road construction, the Minister stated that the massive infrastructure development demonstrates the administration’s resolve to prioritize impact over political rhetoric.
He said: ”I don’t think the people of this area ever dreamed that there would be a road here connecting to Kubwa. Again, it is part of the Renewed Hope agenda.
“When people ask me about campaign, I say, ‘What is campaign?’ See the campaign (pointing to the road). Campaign is about what you have done for the people and what the government has to show. It is not about raw promises; it is about taking concrete action that positively impacts their lives.”
Reflecting on his administration’s stewardship over the past three years in office, the FCT Minister declared that despite unforeseen hiccups and administrative challenges, his team remains undeterred and committed to transforming the Territory.
Going philosophical about his three years in office, the Minister said: “I didn’t even know that yesterday was three years, I was thinking that I’ve stayed in office more than four years.
“Well, first of all, we thank God Almighty for using the President to allow us to contribute our own quota to changing the narrative as far as the FCT is concerned.
“Nothing in life is easy. You can’t expect that from day one to the end it will be smooth, no. Sometimes you have hiccups, and sometimes you have setbacks -that’s all about life. And there is no life without challenges. In fact, you appreciate life more when you are able to face challenges.
“I’m happy that in these three years in office, our team has been committed to doing the job. Challenges have come, we’ve been able to surmount those challenges, and the residents can attest to the fact that, indeed, things have changed in the Territory.
“Most importantly, I thank Mr. President for giving the Honorable Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, and my humble self that opportunity to serve.
The Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration will publicly release a comprehensive record detailing all inherited projects completed alongside newly executed works since assuming office, allowing Nigerians to judge the administration by its performance.
He further expressed optimism that the Administration is on track to surpass its initial target of commissioning 10 high-impact infrastructure projects ahead of upcoming milestones, asserting that his team can comfortably go home with pride knowing that their duties have been effectively executed.
However, he dismissed political distractions surrounding campaign structures, reiterating that political success relies strictly on local delivery and grassroots performance rather than titles, emphasizing his continuous focus on driving economic development and executing transformative governance across every area council in the FCT.
Wike emphasized that he was not the Director-General of the APC Presidential campaign before supporting President Tinubu to victory in 2023. He listed some presidential campaign DGs, including Rotimi Amaechi, Bukola Saraki and Aminu Tambuwal who lost their states and their own elections, saying he does not want to lose his state, but deliver Rivers State and FCT for Tinubu in 2027.
