Over the weekend, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), expressed his confidence that several ongoing road projects in the FCT would be completed within the next eight months. This assurance came following his inspection of the progress of various projects in Abuja.
Among the projects he visited were the finalization of Roads B6, B12, and Circle Road in the Central Area, as well as the refurbishment of the Federal Secretariat, both of which are under the supervision of Julius Berger.
Additionally, he examined the construction of the southern Parkway from Christian Centre (S8/9) to Ring Road 1, managed by Setraco, and the expansion of the outer Southern Expressway, overseen by CGC. This extensive project covers the stretch from Villa Roundabout to OSEX/Ring Road 1 Junction, including the construction of four interchanges.
Furthermore, Wike inspected the comprehensive development of Arterial Road N20, which extends from Northern Parkway to ONEX, with spurs managed by Gilmor Engineering.
Following the inspections, the minister expressed his contentment with the quality of work, emphasizing that President Bola Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda” is not mere propaganda but a tangible reality.
He said: “So, sometimes it is good for you (journalists) to join us for inspection and see what we are telling the public, whether it is correct or just mere propaganda.
“The renewed hope agenda is not propaganda. It is the reality that Nigerians must see. So, I am very happy with what I have seen today. If you remember that on Monday, precisely, we were one month in office.
“What we did in the city is to invite all the contractors so that we will be able to identify quick deliverables in the next eight months and inaugurate the projects.”
Wike recalled that no contractor was on-site at the time he assumed office as the FCT Minister, stressing that all the contractors had left the sites due to non-payment.
Expressing a deep belief in Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, the minister said he had been reassuring Nigerians that there would be change: “and that change is what you are seeing today.
“Virtually most major companies have gone back to the site – Julius Beggar is on-site; Setraco is on-site; CGC is on site and Gilmor is on site, just the ones we inspected today.
“Other companies are also on-site; even though we could not visit them today.
“I am happy with B6 and B12, being handled by Julius Berger, you can see the quality of the job, and here we are (Arterial Road), being handled by Gilmor; you can see the quality of the job. We moved to CGC, you can see the quality of the job, and we have been to Setraco.
“Overall, we want to say that we are happy with what they are doing, and we have planned out how they would be paid so that nobody will leave the sites,” the minister added.
He expressed optimism that by the grace of God, in the next eight months: “all of us will begin to benefit in the construction of these very strategic roads”.
Some of the projects visited are the completion of Roads B6, B12, and Circle Road in Central Area and the rehabilitation of the Federal Secretariat, being handled by Julius Berger.
The minister also inspected the construction of the southern Parkway from Christian Centre (S8/9) to Ring Road 1, being handled by Setraco, and the expansion of the outer Southern Expressway being handled by CGC.
The project spanned from Villa Roundabout to OSEX/Ring Road 1 Junction, including four interchanges.
Wike also inspected the full-scope development of Arterial Road N20, from Northern Parkway to ONEX with spurs being handled by Gilmor Engineering.
