…As He Inspects On-going Road Projects In The Area Councils
1. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has said that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is working in the FCT.
2. The FCT Minister stated this when he inspected the ongoing 7.3 kilometer Gaba-Tokulo road in Bwari Area Council, as well as the 5km temporary access road from the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) to the old Keffi road in AMAC, also known as Saburi road.
3. Barr. Wike who acknowledged challenges posed by the difficult terrain in the Bwari Area Council and the attendant security threats in the recent past, said hope has returned to the council with the ongoing construction of the critical Gaba-Tokulo road.
4. He also assured that the 5km temporary access road from the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX) to the old Keffi road in AMAC which elicited a lot of excitement when it was flagged off, would also be completed this year.
5. The Minister said the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was not only for the FCT city centre but also to ensure that those at the rural areas also feel the impact of governance. He said the FCT Administration was currently constructing rural roads in all the six Area Councils to ensure that residents in those areas are provided with basic infrastructure facilities.
6. He said provision has also been made in the 2024 statutory budget of the FCT, adding that, as soon as the President accents to it, the construction of more rural roads will commence.
7. According to the FCT Minister, “I’m very glad to say that the Renewed Hope Agenda is working, particularly as it concerns the Area Councils. The renewed hope agenda is not for only the cities. It’s also to make sure that those in the rural areas feel part of the administration”.
8. The Minister also said “We are here in Saburi, which is under Abuja Municipal Area Council and you can see the work going on. When we came to flag off this project, you could see the enthusiasm amongst the people.
9. “The contractors are doing very well and by the grace of God, all the projects particularly the six projects in the six Area Councils will be completed before the end of this year. Also, that will not stop us from starting the 2024 infrastructure provision in the Area Councils as we promised”.
10. Barrister Wike also reiterated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu was not only in theory but also in practice and thanked the President for the opportunity to be part of the administration and for his tremendous support.
11. He said, “Frankly speaking, all of us will see that the renewed hope agenda is not just in theory; it’s in practice. Seeing is believing and I want to sincerely thank Mr. President and Commander in Chief for giving us the opportunity to be part of his administration and for the tremendous support he has been giving to the FCT Administration.
12. “That’s why we can say that we are very happy and everything we have started, there are signs that they will be completed soon”.
13. Also speaking on the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget, the Minister said 58 percent of the capital component of the budget has been allocated to the completion of ongoing infrastructure projects, while 42 percent is for new projects and assured that the budget was realistic.
14. He said, “We have allocated 58 percent of the capital budget to the ongoing projects and 42 percent for new projects. After the assent of Mr. President to the statutory bill, then we will start the implementation of the new projects in the 2024 statutory appropriation.
15. “It will not be proper to abandon old projects because they are all public funds. We believe in the projects that have been awarded before we came and by the mandate of Mr. President, we have to make sure those projects are brought to a logical conclusion.
16. “So, I can tell you that it’s a realistic budget and once the President assents to it, full implementation will commence”.
17. With the Minister for the inspection were the Permanent Secretary, Area Council Services, Dr. Olusegun Olusa and other senior officials of the FCTA.
28/03/2024
