Apo-Karshi Road: FCTA Won’t Pay, Until Contractor Mobilizes To Site

By: Wisdom Acka

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has said that the FCT Administration would only pay contractor handling the Apo-Karshi road when he shows commitment to completing the project.

Wike disclosed this while speaking to journalists after inspection of the project on Tuesday.

The Minister decried that work on the much awaited project, awarded since 2011 and substantial payment made, was yet to witness significant progress.

He warned that he would only release funds when the contractor indicated capacity by moving equipment to site within two weeks.

“The government has paid 86 percent and look at where we are. The contract was awarded 13 years ago….I will take this road as a personal project to ensure that the road is completed,” he said.

“In the next two weeks, I want to see the equipments on the ground before I commit funds. I am not happy; this is not what the citizens bargained for,” Wike stressed.

The Minister continued: “We will have him sign undertaking that if funds are provided, they will be able to complete it.”

Stating that the FCT Administration would not fund extension of the interstate road from Karshi to Ara, Wike explained that the FCT was not willing to waste resources on it; saying, “The one that concerns FCT is the Apo-Karshi road.”

According to him, the critical infrastructure project has been delayed for too long, owing to political interference and mismanagement.

The Minister re-affirmed commitment to completing the project with a view to restoring public trust and ensuring timely completion of the project.