As part of the routine inspection of ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on Friday, July 26, 2024, inspected the ongoing construction of the 7.3km Gaba/Tokulo Road in Bwari. Area Council.
Addressing newsmen during the inspection visit, the FCT Minister expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of work on the road project and assured that it will be adequately funded to ensure its timely completion by December this year.
The minister, who disclosed that the project was 40 percent complete, said about 70 percent of the contract value had been paid to the contractor by the FCT administration and expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to deliver the project within the agreed time frame.
Bar. Wike also disclosed that the Gaba/Tokulo road, when completed, will not only improve transportation in rural areas of the FCT but also enhance food security in the nation’s capital by providing access to farmlands as well as markets.
The minister also underscored the commitment of the FCT administration to provide infrastructure in the FCT area councils in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.
Bar. Wike said: “A lot of people think we are only focusing on the city. Yesterday we were in Saburi, today we are in Bwari. Tomorrow we will be in Kuje, so that people understand that while we are developing the city, we are also developing the satellite towns and the rural areas because according to the Renewed Hope Agenda, development should not be concentrated only in the city, but also to bring the rural areas closer to improve the economy.
This is an agrarian area; without this road, how will they be able to move their goods? And this is part of the problems we have in terms of food insecurity. People talk about food shortage, but if we don’t have transportation, it is also a problem.
We are trying to solve this transportation problem so that farmers can bring whatever they have produced for people to consume or buy.
Bar. Wike, while thanking the people of Bwari for their support to the government, also reiterated that President Tinubu was committed to solving the economic problems of the country and called for their continued support.
He said: “We thank the people of Bwari and we also want them to know that the government of President Tinubu is serious about resolving the economic crisis we are going through. All we ask Nigerians is to be patient. It is not easy but the President knows that there are problems and that is why he said he will confront these problems and challenges.
“So I thank them for their support and they must continue to support so that at the end of the day, everyone in Nigeria will be happy because the Nigeria of our dreams is what we see.”
Bar. Wike also assured that the FCT administration will continue to collaborate with the FCT Area Councils for the benefit of all FCT residents.
Also, during the inspection tour with the Minister, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department, STDD, Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, the former Senator representing the FCT, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, some senior officials of the FCTA and the Managing Director of Setraco Nigeria Limited (the contractor responsible for the project), Eng. Ziad Mouannes and his team.
