Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, yesterday in Abuja inaugurated the resurfacing of 189 roads and remedial work on bridges in the Maitama, Garki, and Utako districts.
The roads cover 57 kilometres across the three districts- all in Abuja Municipal Area Council.
The Minister said the measure was part of a commitment to maintain and optimise public infrastructure in the federal capital territory.
He said that the project was also part of efforts to renew the hope of residents in good governance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Wike called on Nigerians to believe in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the policies and programmes therein were not intended to make the people suffer.
He urged residents to be patient as the resurfacing of the roads would cause them some inconvenience.
He told the well-to-do in the nation’s capital not to expect infrastructural developments if they wouldn’t pay their taxes.
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“This is the big men’s place. But when they tell them to pay tax now, they’ll begin to complain. They are happy the road is being resurfaced, but ask them where the money will come from if not tax.
“When we started to see how we could get more tax and more revenue, there was nothing they did not do to fight me. I’m not worried. I will not shake. I will do what is right. So, don’t expect to have good roads without paying tax,” Wike said.
The Minister commended the National Assembly and FCT area council chairmen for their support to deliver the dividends of democracy to FCT residents.
Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, said the project would be delivered by May.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, noted that roads in Maitama were weak because of long usage, adding that the resurfacing was timely.
Maikalangu called on the minister to address the problem of water shortage in Maitama District which had compelled residents to drill boreholes.
He pledged the support of the area council in the ongoing efforts to transform the federal capital territory.
Also speaking at the inauguration, a traditional leader, Sapayi of Garki, Alhaji Usman Nga Kupi, commended the minister for the efforts to transform the FCT landscape and the improvement of security in the territory.
He pledged the support of the traditional council and appealed to the minister to ensure the completion of the Karshi-Apo Road to address the traffic gridlock experienced there.
In 2023, the Minister inaugurated similar projects covering 184 kilometres in Garki, Wuse, and Asokoro Districts.
This brings the total number of roads being resurfaced and rehabilitated in Abuja to 373
