…Wike begins commissioning of 6 roads in Abuja Communities
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, is not a leader to be pushed aside when it comes to taking infrastructural and community development to the doorsteps of Abuja residents in the rural areas.
In less than two years in office, Barr. Wike has broken the jinx of neglect and abandonment of communities by past administrations.
No sooner than his assumption in office as the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Wike had hit the ground running with several road projects spanning across the City in addition to roads at the six Area Councils.
The Gwagwalada Market and Paikon Kori – Ibwa are two major roads to be commissioned by the minister in fulfillment of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by bringing back the lost hope of ever having good and motor able roads to easy the business of the people and enhance security of lives and property of the people.
Traders, buyers, and residents alike said that they had suffered and even lost hope that their roads would ever be fixed until the administration of Wike came on board to award contracts and flag-off the commission of Gwagwalada and the Paiko Kori roads, in addition to other roads across the six Area Councils.
Some residents said it is like a dream come true that after 10 years of meandering the bad road, they can now ply good roads to do their businesses, to transport their goods and boost their bank accounts.
Now the Gwagwalada market road is beautiful motor able, and time-saving for us, Monday Onoja, a businessman who hails from Kogi, said.
“For ten years, we have been suffering from this road. As of last year, even leg couldn’t pass this road. But we thank God thank Mr. Wike awarded the contract of this road. We pray that God Almighty should help him more and more in the name of Jesus.”
“Since they repaired this road, everything is moving well. Our businesses have improved because before we were not following the way. We were following the other side, and there’s queue. Now, everything is very okay. Everything is clear.”
An over joyous Onoja said he used to make 3,000 or 4,000 Naira a day. “But now, for people who don’t have enough, they can make 8,000 Naira a day because of the road. But before, it was 2,000 or 3,000 Naira a day”.
Another businessman Friday Onoja, a businessman expressed his happiness that the road is now motor able and that he is feeling the presence of government and the touch of the public finance as a resident.
One Aliyu Suleiman from Katsina State said that he had lost hope in the past 15 years of living in Gwagwalada because he had been financially down due to the bad state of the road, Wike has changed his life with the good road he said.
With this road, “Wike don help me. Before l dey here dey find food o, me and my family, I no see one Naira. Now, this year. Now this year na em I dey see my account dy rise AlhamduliLlah.”
Construction of the Paiko Kori – Ibwa road and the rehabilitation of the 9 kilometres Aguma Palace – Radio Nigeria road 9 flagged off by the Wike is another Renewed Hope project for the people of the community.
The Senior Project Manager of Setraco Nig. Limited, contractor handling the Paikon Kori road, Senaku Rupanetti disclosed that the company has adhered to the Minister’s order to engage locals in the project.
According to Rupanetti, locals without skills were employed. Construction of the Roads has boosted job employment for the locals.
“Except for skilled workers, all the helpers and labourers who were engaged in this project are from all of these two communities.”
“So, in addition, because of the skill we need, we brought outsiders as well. But most of the people we engaged are from these two communities.”
“From the community, they have given full support to us, and they are happy with us. Moreover, if there are any disturbances come, they will engage themselves.
