Di Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, don yarn say about 70 percent of di infrastructure projects wey im administration don finish under President Bola Tinubu na contracts wey dem inherit from previous governments wey dem abandon for about 15 to 16 years.
Wike tok say di decision to revive and complete those projects na to follow President Tinubu directive say make dem no waste viable government projects. Im stress say di administration deliberately prioritise inherited projects while dem still dey start new ones for di nation capital.
Meanwhile, di minister claim say im no dey popular among FCTA civil servants because im block di ways wey government money dey diverted. Im say im administration dey work to curb wasteful spending and redirect public funds to infrastructure development.
Wike yarn say im decision to block wetin im describe as channels wey government resources dey routinely diverted don attract resentment from some workers, but im insist say fiscal discipline remain central to di Tinubu administration development agenda.
Di minister wey speak yesterday during im monthly media chat for Abuja, say to abandon projects wey dem don already fund with public resources go be disservice to FCT residents wey don wait for years to benefit from critical infrastructure.
According to am, di president say make dem no abandon old projects and dem must also carry out new ones. Im say about 60 percent of di projects wey dem execute for di last three years na projects wey dem award 15 to 16 years ago but dem abandon. If dem allow dat, people go still dey ask questions about those abandoned projects.
Wike further explain say di administration adopt dual approach, completing inherited projects while dem dey start new infrastructure to expand di capital city road network and accelerate development for satellite communities. Im explain say di objective na to improve connectivity, decongest traffic, and open up new districts for residential and commercial development.
Im further attribute di pace of infrastructure delivery for FCT to President Tinubu continued support for di administration, particularly with di removal of FCTA from Treasury Single Account (TSA).
For di meantime, di minister criticise di practice of approving expensive overseas conferences and study tours, arguing say many such engagements offer little value to governance while dem dey put unnecessary pressure on public finances. According to am, requests to attend foreign conferences on issues like land administration no longer receive approval under im watch, as similar knowledge fit be acquired through visits to states inside Nigeria with established land administration systems.
Im say dem dey waste resources on frivolities. Im ask why dem go approve funds for somebody to attend one-week conference on land administration for America. If you want to study land administration, go to Lagos or Port Harcourt, see how theirs work or no work, and compare am with Abuja.
Im further state say im administration don fundamentally alter FCT budget structure by shifting emphasis from recurrent expenditure to capital investment, a move wey im say don already dey yield visible results through di execution of critical infrastructure projects across di territory.
Recalling say about 65 percent of FCT budget na recurrent expenditure before im assume office, leaving limited resources for development projects, im say di spending ratio don now be reversed, with 70 percent of di budget devoted to capital projects and 30 percent to recurrent expenditure.
Meanwhile, Executive Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Limited, Shao ZongHe, don attribute di completion of Collector Road C01 and bridge for Abuja within six months to wetin im describe as Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike hands-on supervision and insistence on results.
Speaking during di inauguration of di road wey dey link Body of Benchers to Nile University axis for di Institution and Research District, Shao say di project demonstrate how close monitoring and decisive leadership fit accelerate infrastructure delivery. According to am, Wike regular visits to di construction site distinguish di project from conventional public works where oversight often dey delegated.
Im say di minister inspect di project almost every month from commencement, personally review progress, resolve implementation challenges and consistently demand timely execution. Shao note say di direct engagement create enabling environment for di contractor and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to deliver di project on schedule.
Im say di minister no just issue directives from im office. Im come to di site, inspect di work firsthand, resolve challenges and demand results. Na under this kind of committed leadership wey dem complete dis project for just six months.
Im describe di road as more than transport corridor, saying e go significantly improve mobility for Body of Benchers, Nile University and adjoining communities while opening up di district for greater economic activities.
Di CCECC executive also say di project reflect President Bola Tinubu Renewed Hope agenda by translating infrastructure investment into visible improvements for di daily lives of citizens. Im add say di minister don already direct make dem extend di road to connect Ring Road III, a move wey im say go further unlock development opportunities inside di district.
Shao commend di collaborative efforts between FCDA and di contractor, adding say di partnership ensure di timely completion of di project. Im also speak as ordinary resident of Abuja, expressing appreciation to di FCT minister for not only initiating infrastructure projects but ensuring dem complete and put to public use. Im say residents ultimately benefit when projects dey delivered on schedule rather than remaining abandoned.
Meanwhile, Tinubu don describe di transformation of Abuja as model for di administration broader development agenda across di country. Di President say di newly inaugurated Collector Road C01 and bridge underscore di role of infrastructure in stimulating economic growth, attracting investment and improving access to public institutions.
Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, im recall directing Wike to urgently address di poor access road to Body of Benchers after concerns arise during di 2025 Call to Bar ceremony, noting say di project approve under emergency procurement and complete within months.
Di project form part of di ongoing infrastructure drive of FCTA aimed at expanding road connectivity, opening new districts for development and improving access to educational, research and residential communities across Abuja.
