By Ben Adoga
Certainly, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the leadership of Mr Nyesom Wike as the Minister is in charge will not remain the same at the end of 2024.
Since he assumed office there has been a beehive of various developmental activities going on virtually everywhere in the FCT.
Most of the quick-fix projects like road rehabilitation and resurfacing are going on simultaneously to commemorate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s one year in office.
It is, therefore, expected that days around May 29 which will mark Tinubu’s one year in office will witness massive commissioning of projects by the President in the FCT.
Already, most city roads in Garki are waiting for commissioning as they have been resurfaced in the first phase of 135 roads resurfacing, which kicked off in September 2023.
The second phase of the project kicked off in December with 49 major roads in Asokoro and parts of Maitama will bring the total number of roads to 184 undergoing resurfacing and rehabilitation.
Having achieved these feats just within three to four months in the city centre, the ‘great expectation’ is for Wike, Mr. Project to mobilize earth-moving machines, the way he is known to do, and contractors into the satellite towns of the FCT.
Satellite towns like Kubwa, Karu Site, and Gidan Mangoro Resettlement from zones A to D are practically inaccessible as contractors have since moved out of the site after Nasir el-Rufai left as minister of FCT.
Kuje town which has the resemblance of a tourist location in the past remains the shadow of itself but the expectations are high that the FCT minister will change the narrative.
Another road that calls for his urgent attention is the Apo-Ara–Karshi Road, which has been neglected over the years.
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This crucial road, when completed is expected to ease the traffic gridlock on the Abuja Keffi road. The road was the first port of call of the former FCT Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello, who bemoaned the state of the road when he was first appointed in 2015.
When the former Minister was reappointed for a second tenure, still could not complete the project despite changing the contractor that initially started the project.
However, hope rises under this new dispensation that this project in question may be a done deal in 2024 under Wike’s watch.
The N13bn Vice President’s official residence which Julius Berger is handling is one of those projects that Mr President will commission to mark his inauguration day.
The project is well captured in the supplementary budget proposal for 2023 which the Minister defended before the Senate and Reps Committees on FCT.
Another very important project that the FCT residents are expecting in 2024 is the revitalisation of the Abuja Urban Mass Transit buses and the defunct Abuja Leasing Company.
The FCT Minister had earlier promised to resuscitate the Urban Mass Transit before the end of 2023, it appears the process of budget approval may have caused the delay.
It is most likely that in the early parts of 2024, Abuja commuters will enjoy the Urban Mass Transit again.
These articulated buses are supposed to provide shuttle services from the satellite areas to the city centre, while the Abuja Leasing Company will provide smaller vehicles for hire services, or shuttle within the city centre.
This project, if it is achieved, will reduce to the lowest minimum the notorious ‘one chance’ crime.
The need to upgrade the security architecture within the city centre and environs cannot be over-emphasised.
Also, it is noteworthy to say that all the road contracts and the resurfacing projects awarded contain provision of street lights.
At the moment, work is ongoing on Goodluck Jonathan Expressway and other major roads.
After these projects, Abuja will not be described as a dark city any longer.
While these are going on, the solar lighting of satellite towns would have been fully implemented to complement the delivery of the ongoing projects in those areas.
Agriculture and food security are important to the Wike administration.
The Minister has taken bold steps to initiate partnerships with foreign countries like Mexico, Cuba, Israel, and others to collaborate with FCT in agriculture and modern agricultural practices.
Following the repositioning of the FCTA with a Civil Service Commission and its attendant benefits, the FCTA staff are full of praise for Nyesom Wike.
