By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Senate has commended the FCT Minister Barr. Nysome Wike for his unprecedented projects commissioning in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, under his one year in office.
The Senate members who unanimously lauded the FCT Minister on Wednesday during his 2025 budget defense at the National Assembly for beating the records on projects commissioning, also promised to give him the needed backing for the FCT 2025 statutory budget for the completion of critical projects.
Wike had presented a proposed N I.78 trillion 2025 statutory budget for the commissioning of critical projects in the Capital city before the Senate and House of Representatives Committees.
In a breakdown during the budget presentation, the minister stated that the ongoing projects to be commissioned include the completion of roads B6 and B12, the full-scope development of Arterial Road N20, the provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape, Wuye, and Maitama II Districts, the extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), and the full-scope development of FCT Highway 105 (Kuje Road).
He explained that N1.28 trillion 72.3% of the total budget will go to capital projects, while N494.1 billion (27.7%) is earmarked for recurrent expenditure.
The Federal Capital Development Authority ,FCDA, will oversee projects within the city centre, at the cost of N801.5 billion, while the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) will oversee all rural infrastructure, allocated at the cost of N137 billion, he explained.
“Also, other critical projects slated for completion include, Roads B6 and B12; Full scope development of Arterial Road N20 (Northern Parkway to ONEX); Engineering infrastructure in Guzape, Wuye, and Maitama II Districts; Extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) to Ring Road II; Highway 105 (Kuje Road) and spur to Kyami District; Northern Parkway (Ring Road II to III); Old Keffi Road rehabilitation; Access roads to FCT bus terminals.”
Others are the dualisation and upgrading of the Ushafa-War College Road, Pai to Gomani Road in Kwali Area Council, and the Kuje-Gwagwalada Road.
The minister gave the assurance of completion of all the 14 projects by the wnd of 2025 fiscal year, adding that among other things the improved quality of road network will ease traffic congestion, reduce travel time, and boost connectivity across the capital and surrounding communities.
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