By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike has stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s priority to pay attention to developing satellite towns and communities is the first in the history of Abuja.
Wike stated this on Monday after his visit to road project sites at Apo-Karshi, Bwari, ONEX Kubwa.
Speaking to newsmen after his short tour, the minister said, ” The whole essence of what we are doing is to let the world know that this administration means well, not only for the city but also for satellite communities.”
“It has never happened, never in the history of Abuja since Abuja was created, that we have such an attention to the rural communities. And this is what the Renewed Hope Agenda is all about”, Wike emphasized.
The minister expressed satisfaction that the residents and those doing business in these communities are enthusiastic and happy that development has come to them.
Wike pointed out that the ongoing drainage in Kubwa, when completed, the old lanes of roads that were dug will be resurfaced with new asphalt.
Earlier, referring to the Apo-Karshi road project, the minister said that it was reawarded to S.C.C Nigeria Limited, under an emergency project because of
its importance and the hardship the delay was causing the people.
“So because of the importance of that road, we felt that we had to relieve the hardship of the people there and then connect to Apo and Wassa. I think it’s a major decision we took and for the interest of the people of Abuja.”
When we came on board in 2023, one major project that was of very much concern had to do with Apo-Karshi Road, and that road was awarded sometime in 2010. And many variations had taken place before we came, he explained.
Also, the minister stated that the ONEX Kubwa is another major has been contracted to S.C.C. Nigeria Limited because of their competence in carrying out jobs.
However, the minister noted that he was not interested in recovery of any upfront money, which is left to the legal department to decide, but that the administration is just concerned about the completion of the Apo-Karshi road.
“That will be left with the legal department to tell us what to do. But for now, the whole thing is prioritized to make sure that job is completed. That is just our major task now, to see that the Apo-Karshi is completed, he stressed.
