As President Bola Tinubu commenced the commissioning of projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to mark his one year in office, he has vowed not let down the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike.
Tinubu stated this yesterday when he commissioned the Southern Parkway (S8/S9) from Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, Nnamdi Azikiwe Way, named after him, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way.
The president described Wike as a team leader and “Mr Project”.
Tinubu, who commended Wike for giving Abuja residents hope through legacy projects in the territory, described infrastructure as enablers of jobs and prosperity for people.
He said if not for Wike, the project would have been abandoned.
Tinubu said the road represented the collective responsibility of the team.
He said, „The completion of the Southern Parkway underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as we strive to build a world-class capital city. We recognise the fact that infrastructure is an enabler of jobs, economic development and prosperity. We believe we are going to achieve all of that.
“The needs of our citizens are paramount in our minds, so by making our citizens the central focus of our development, we believe Nigeria will succeed.
“As we formally inaugurate this road, I am greatly honoured, I heard him mention my name as the beneficiary. Thank you very much; thank you for being a very good team leader, we all collectively will not let you down,“ he said.
Earlier, Wike said the Southern Parkway is one of the principal arteries conceived and planned as a freeway to provide access and connectivity to the Southern development flank of the city as provided in the Abuja Master Plan.
He said the other principal artery is the Northern Parkway which has been substantially developed over the years to service the Northern districts.
“Southern Parkway at par with the Northern Parkway, this project which was awarded in December 2010 to Messrs Setraco Nig. Ltd. at the contract sum of N16,234,553,335.64.
“Later, it was revised to N35,757,763,310.18 in March 2021 due to changes in scope and other economic indices.
“The scope of work comprised the construction of 5.4km length of the road – made up of 2 main carriageways of 4 lanes each and 2 service carriageways of 2 lanes each, making a total of 12 lanes.
“It also includes the construction of 4 number Interchanges, a total of eight bridges, in addition to the provision of associated underground engineering infrastructure facilities,“ he said.
