The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has said that the administration is set to revive the multi-billion Naira Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also known as Abuja Light Rail to cushion the effect of transportation in the nation’s capital.
Wike who disclosed this yesterday during a tour of facilities at the Metro Station with the top management staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said that transportation is one of the palliative measures of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
According to him, transportation is one of the sectors he intends to transform in a short time to improve public transportation and reduce traffic congestion within the city.
“I know that we have a metro station in Abuja, and it is not working, why is it not working? Can we fix it within a short time?” he asked.
He further noted that while there were lots of other projects that were not completed, people would have confidence in the one that was completed and working.
“It was not a good idea to begin another rail project while the one that was finished is not working, saying, every project that commenced must be finished before embarking on another one, considering the availability of resources.
“I assure the public that the rail transport system is a project we will take to a logical conclusion. Before commencing another project, we will need to determine which areas have the most traffic areas. This is very important to decongest areas with traffic congestion,” he said.
The minister told the management of the CCECC Nig. Ltd, the construction company handling the rail construction and rehabilitation projects to deliver quality projects.
“This is one of the projects we will complete and put to use. The money for the rehabilitation is on the ground and I have already directed the permanent secretary, (FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade) to make sure that the contractor is paid. We will work to ensure that in the next coming months, this project is commissioned and put to public use,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, also added that assessing the problems affecting rail transport and finding ways to address them would help in putting the system to public use.
“The transport system is one of the palliative measures that President Bola Tinubu wants to provide to the public. We are in the ARMT Metro Station to look at what is on the ground, what the challenges are, and what is expected of the ministry to move the transportation system to the next level,” she said.
Earlier, the permanent secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, hinted that Wike was known to many as a master project, adding that it was not surprising that his first assignment outside the office was a visit to a project site.
