The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has outlined some projects that will be inaugurated in May to celebrate President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.
Wike inspected some of Abuja’s projects yesterday and identified the Abuja International Conference Centre (AICC), which Julius Berger is rehabilitating, as one of them.
He said that the AICC would come back to life in May as a befitting international conference centre that Nigerians would be proud of.
He expressed optimism that the centre would attract many activities and would no longer be business as usual.
“You know what happened last time. It was given out to one Senator, who was making money but destroying the edifice. When we finish, we will have maintenance contracts where we’ll pay them, and then they will maintain.
“One problem we have in the society is lack of maintenance culture, which is very bad. People will come and rent and use it and make money from there to pay the company that will maintain it.
“Nigeria needs an international conference centre of standard compared to any other one globally. So it’s going to attract a lot of economic activities.
The Minister added that the two interchanges on Wole Soyinka Way (N20) would also be inaugurated in May.
He said that Gilmor was constructing interchanges, one at Murtala Mohammed Way and the other at Shehu Shagari Way.
He said interchanges would connect Jahi, Jabi, Mabushi and Utako Districts and eventually connect to the FCT Division of the Court of Appeal.
Wike also said that the N16 interchange at NICON Junction would equally be inaugurated to connect Maitama and Katampe Districts through Gishiri village and be linked to Wole Soyinka Way.
“You can see all the other connecting roads leading to Judges Quarters are ongoing, and the contractor has promised that all these roads will be completed before May. We will also inaugurate the connecting roads to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office,” he said.
The visibly elated Minister added that projects in satellite towns would also be inaugurated.
He notably identified some roads, such as the A2-Pai rural road in Kwali Area Council, Aguma Palace Road in Gwagwalada, and the ongoing dualisation of Ushafa to Military Checkpoint Road in Bwari Area Council.
According to the Minister, another project to be inaugurated is the service lane from the Apo interchange to Wassa, which CGC is constructing.
“Overall, we are satisfied with the level of work. Indeed, I am very elated, and I thank President Tinubu for the support and encouragement given to us to achieve all these; it’s not easy,” he said.
Speaking about funding the projects, the Minister said that the 2024 budget, which was being used to finance the project, would be implemented until June.
He added that he had submitted the 2025 budget to Tinubu and expressed confidence that it would soon be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.
“By the time the 2025 budget is passed, we will not have a problem with funding,” Wike said.
