Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says the Ministry of Finance has released N50 billion to the FCT to fund ongoing capital projects.
According to the minister, the amount is 50% of the N100 billion 2023 supplementary budget approved by the National Assembly.
On Thursday, Wike announced an inspection tour of some ongoing projects in the FCT in Abuja.
The minister stated that he has directed the Permanent Secretary to make immediate payments to contractors working on FCT projects.
He said:
“I am happy to announce to you that the Ministry of Finance has released 50 per cent of the national supplementary budget.
“That in a way, has given us that hope that the contractors will be paid anytime from now.
“We have also gotten assent to the FCT Statutory Budget, which again, has given us hope that no project will be left uncompleted as promised.
“As you can see, these are quality projects, which we are very satisfied with.
“We believe that the arrangements made by the contractors will enable us to commission the projects to celebrate Mr President’s one year in office.”
He thanked Abuja residents for their support. The Minister assured them that no promise made would go unfulfilled, emphasising that any promise made would be kept.
Wike expressed confidence in the projects’ ability to be completed on time.
He said:
“We are quite hopeful; we are quite convinced that they would keep to the time schedule as agreed.”
“We are happy with what we have seen, and we will continue to do things to the satisfaction of the residents of Abuja and assure them that the renewed hope agenda is not a mere talk.”
“So, it is a promise and a promise kept.”
Wike acknowledged some difficulties in completing the projects but added that the difficulties were surmountable.
He went on to say that with President Bola Tinubu’s support, there were no obstacles he couldn’t overcome.
Wike inspected the Outer Southern Motorway, which ran from A.A Rano to Wasa District via Deeper Life Junction, SARS, and Apo roundabout.
China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited is building the road.
Wike also inspected the Northern N-20 Motorway in Jahi District. The district is being built by Gilmor Construction.
Yong Hong, Area Manager of CGC Nigeria Ltd., assured the minister that the Outer Southern Motorway would be completed by May.
Similarly, Julius Berger’s representative, Mr Oliver Berger, stated that the team had been on site for the past two months and had completed a significant amount of work on the VP residence project.
Berger said:
“We have done a lot of cleaning inside and outside.
“As you can see a lot of infrastructural work has happened; earth work around the fence line has been done, sewage and other trenches have been done.
“All the procurement processes have commenced already and from the preparation point of view we are in a good position to turn all our plans and procurement activities into action.”