By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu administration is prioritizing development in satellite towns by opening up satellite communities through massive road construction.
Wike stated this on Tuesday while inspecting some ongoing projects in Abuja.
Projects inspected by the Minister includes the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre annex and access road to the complex being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation CCECC, also inspected are several road projects which he disclosed are nearing completion and would be inaugurated to mark President Tinubu third year in office.
“Today is a very good day. The work at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre annex is 95 per cent completed. The furniture has been installed and what is left is just to tidy up a few things,” Wike said.
“The road has been completed and they are now putting up the street lights. Like I said, that road will be part of the projects to be inaugurated during Mr. President’s third anniversary,” he stated.
Wike further inspected the completed Tudun Wada road project linking Old Ushafa Road, where he said asphalt work and installation of streetlights would be concluded within days.
According to him, the administration’s major focus is to extend infrastructure development beyond the city centre to rural and satellite communities.
“My greatest happiness is that we have also started going to Zuba. The entire communities around that axis will now be opened up. That is what development is all about opening up the satellite areas as directed by Mr. President,” he said.
The minister commended contractors handling the various projects for keeping to agreed timelines while maintaining quality standards.
“I am so impressed with the quality of the job and the timely completion. I commend the contractors for fulfilling their promise that they will complete the projects on time,” Wike added.
Responding to concerns that Area Council chairmen were allegedly underutilising allocations because of the FCT Administration’s intervention in infrastructure development, the minister dismissed the claims as unfounded.
“I don’t know about that. Those who elected them should take action if there are issues,” he said.
Wike noted that most Area Councils grapple with huge salary obligations, especially payment of teachers, insisting that claims that allocations were being wasted lacked factual basis.
“How much do they receive monthly and how much goes into payment of teachers’ salaries? People make assertions without having the facts,” he stated.
The minister also commented briefly on the ongoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primaries, expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.
“All I know is that we have completed our screening and the primaries are going on. INEC officials were present at the primaries and I am happy with the way the PDP is conducting the process,” Wike said.
