The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of the Kuje area council that the ongoing construction of the Airport Junction – Kuje Road would be completed and ready for inauguration by the third year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister gave this assurance yesterday during an inspection tour of key infrastructure projects, including the engineering provisions in Wuye District and the critical Kuje road.
Wike while fielding questions from journalists at the Kuje project site, a visibly impressed heaped praises on the contractors for the quality of work, particularly in handling the challenging rocky terrain.
“For a regular passerby who knows this area very well, if you come here now, you will give it to them, the contractors, Arab Contractors, that have done a good job. You can see how they have cleared the rocks and how beautiful the landscape is.
“By the time this road is commissioned, which is not less than 8 lanes, dual carriage, you are already in the city centre. And that’s what development is all about. That’s what the Renewed Hope agenda is all about,” he said.
Earlier at the Wuye District, the minister revealed that the district development contract, initially awarded in 2009, had been successfully revitalised by his administration.
He announced that contractors had promised to complete the final road works within the next ten days.
“What they are doing now, and which they have promised in the next 10 days, they would have finished the road on Monday,” Wike said, describing the infrastructure as amazing and a testament to the government’s expenditure for the people.
Responding to concerns about security in the capital, the minister defended his record, arguing that occasional incidents should not be used to label the city as unsafe, drawing parallels to international events to make his point.
“You will give us the credit, the security agencies, that we are doing quite a lot to make Abuja safe. And Abuja has been safe.
“Just look at what happened in America, Michigan. Would you say that America is not safe? These are bound to happen. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is,” he said.
On the issue of indiscriminate refuse dumping, Wike acknowledged the problem and revealed that a new contract for refuse disposal would be formally awarded within two weeks.
He blamed the situation on what he termed political contractors who lacked capacity.
“We are doing everything to see that only those who are competent, those who have the equipment are given the contract. Just be patient with us,” he said.
When a journalist appealed for the minister’s intervention in the terrible road conditions at Federal Housing estates, Wike responded with a touch of humour, suggesting a spiritual solution. “Tell them to continue fasting,” he said
