The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday decried the dysfunctional state of the Abuja light rail.

He immediately directed the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Olusade Adesola, to complete payment to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the concession company, to conclude rehabilitation of the rails within eight months.

Wike gave the ultimatum during an inspection of the Abuja Metro Station in Idu and at the Airport Station on his first assignment outside the office, less than 48 hours after the swearing-in of the 45 new ministers.

The minister stressed that the task of restoring the Abuja metro had become crucially fundamental as part of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians within the shortest possible time.

The Abuja Light Rail project was initiated by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, who commenced construction before the Goodluck Jonathan administration partially completed the project up to 80 per cent. The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration completed it and commenced operations.

The project was, however, abandoned during COVID-19 to date warranting the vandalisation of most parts of the facility.

At the main terminal of the metro station, Wike, flanked by the Minister of State for FCT, Mairiga Mahmud, and other officials, addressed the contractors, questioning the quality of work.

Proceeding on the tour, the FCT minister took the train ride from the metro station, through the Idu Station, and then to the Airport Station.

The rails, originally developed in six phases, were funded with loans from the China EXIM Bank. After the vandalisation of the vital rail infrastructure, the FCT Administration awarded a fresh N5 billion contract in August 2023 for its rehabilitation within 12 months.

The Abuja light rail commissioned at the metro station opened for business in 2018 and operated for about two years before the train service folded up, owing largely to vandalism.

Wike, who is the first southerner to become minister of the FCT, hopes to present a rehabilitated rail system to the President for commissioning by April 2024.

Addressing the press after the tour, Wike said, “This is a good project, this is one of the projects that we will hurriedly complete and put to use. The fund is available, I have directed the Permanent Secretary to pay the contractors.”

“People can only have confidence in the rail if the existing one is working, we will make this route work before we talk of another route,” he said.

Reacting to the issue of vandalism, Wike wondered why the facility would not be vandalised when it was not being used.

*Seeks expansion of route to densely populated FCT communities

Wike also raised an issue of concern as to why the area with the most traffic was not considered for the rail construction.

He said the ever-busy Nyanya axis would have been considered first, adding that the Airport route was not quite busy.

He called on the company handling the project, Chinese CCECC, to expedite action with a charge to give the best of their ability.

Earlier, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Adesola, who conducted the Minister round the project told him how the facility was vandalised when not in use.

Also, the Director of Transportation in the FCT ministry, Joseph Akinteyeen, told the minister that there were plans for the remaining routes in the Abuja rail project.