By: Tersoo
…calls on residents not to sabotage government’s development efforts.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),
Nyesom Wike, has conducted an extensive inspection tour of some major infrastructure projects slated for inauguration in May, to coincide with the second anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The projects include the construction of the 15-kilometer Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Ring Road 1 (RR1) to Wasa junction, the Life Camp to Karmo dual carriageway, and the comprehensive renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC).
Following the tour, the Minister expressed profound satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the projects.
He expressed confidence in the contractors, to deliver high-quality jobs within the agreed timelines.
“I can tell you I’m very pleased with the quality of work going on by the contractors…the contractors are very reputable, Julius Berger, CGC and others. So, I’m very happy with what we have seen,” the Minister stated.
On the ongoing renovation of the ICC, the Minister recalled the vision behind its establishment, as recently highlighted by former President, General Ibrahim Babangida, in his memoirs noting that the aim of constructing the ICC was to create a world-class venue for international conferences and meetings.
He lamented the deterioration of the ICC under private concession.
However, the Minister expressed delight at the significant progress now being made in its rehabilitation.
“This is at the cost of N39 billion that we are spending and all the materials are on ground. So, I can say that they are 70 percent (complete) and they have assured that they will complete it and handover by May,” he said.
The Minister emphasized that the ICC, upon completion, will be a source of national pride.
He also used the opportunity to call for the continued support of FCT residents, including traditional rulers and youths, for the government’s efforts to deliver impactful projects.
“We are not here to bring hardship on anybody but to improve our lives. I know how difficult it is but again everybody has to make sacrifices.
“We are pleading with residents to cooperate with the various contractors that are building road projects so that we can have it completed on time. When the rains come now, it will be a problem and they will begin to say it’s because of the rainy season. Now that we have good weather, let them utilize it for the benefit of the public. So, I still implore the traditional rulers, youths, chiefs, everybody to support what we are doing,” the Minister stressed.
In a similar vein, the Minister expressed deep concern over attempts by some indigenous inhabitants to sabotage the developmental efforts of government in the FCT over the issues of compensation and relocation.
Speaking during his monthly media chat, the Minister said compensations have been made several years ago by the Federal government to the original inhabitants of communities in the FCT, while the process of relocating them was also ongoing.
He condemned attempts to disrupt the developments efforts of government.
The Minister regretted that some of the people who have already been compensated were still demanding further compensation from the government, adding that the government will only pay what is appropriate.
On complaints about the adequacy of compensation, the Minister clarified that “the FCTA has tried to give a human face to its relocation exercises and has in some cases, doubled the amount originally provided by law for compensation.
He said, “Compensations have been made several years ago, I can tell you that. For example, where I live near Kpaduma, in Asokoro, compensation has been given to them more than 20 years ago.
“But the government has not been able to move them out. We are now saying we want to develop this area. They’ve come back to say they want compensation. But compensation has been paid years ago. There is nothing you do that people will not complain”.
Speaking on the structures recently demolished along road corridors in the FCT, the Minister said they were removed to pave way for road projects in the interest of the public, adding that the government has also offered to compensate and relocate the affected residents.
He frowned at the demands for construction of alternative houses by the original inhabitants.
The Minister clarified that the FCT Administration will only construct houses for the residents when an entire community is being acquired by government, not when a few houses on the road corridor were being removed.
“The point we are making, if we are coming to a community to say let the entire community relocate, then you talk about building houses for them, not road corridor where 20 houses are affected”, the Minister stressed.
On efforts to improve public transportation in the FCT, the Minister announced plans to “partner with the private sector to provide a safe and efficient transportation system in the FCT, and highlighted the construction of bus terminals in various parts of Abuja as part of ongoing efforts.
“One of the reasons why we are doing bus terminals is to have a new strategy for public transportation. So, we are going to partner with some private persons who are committed to public transportation. All we are doing is to provide infrastructure to enable the private sector to participate effectively”, the Minister said.
Regarding youth empowerment, Mr. Wike expressed disappointment at the attitude of youths to empowerment programmes of government. The FCT Minister said he was “reliably informed that the vehicles procured for youth empowerment in the FCT have been sold off by the beneficiaries, as against the original purpose.
He said, “You remember we tried to empower the youths by giving them vehicles. I tell people, all these theories about youth empowerment, nobody has asked, are the youths willing to work? It’s not about government bringing policies to help you.
“We bought vehicles, have you seen any of the vehicles on the road? They’ve sold them. We are trying to empower you to own a business and you are sabotaging it.
The Minister however expressed confidence that his recent investment driven trip to Italy where he interacted with the Lombardy Regional President, Attilo Fontana, alongside key agribusiness and vocational education investors, will provide further opportunities for the youths to be trained to become meaningfully engaged.
He said, “I’m very happy that it’s one of the trips that yielded results. The Mandate Secretary of Education and Mandate Secretary of Agriculture were part of the delegation, so they are working at the details now with the officials of Lombardy. I feel so happy that our youths will now have several areas where they can be trained and then try to be self-employed. I believe in the next one week, they would have finished all the documentations and then we will be able to send the first set of our youths to Lombardy for training”.
Giving insight into planned engagements in the FCT for the May 29 celebration, the Minister assured that key projects in both the city centre and satellite towns have been scheduled for commissioning to commemorate the event.
The Minister also spoke extensively on political developments in Rivers State during the media parley.