Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has sought approval of the National Assembly to spend over N61bn on critical projects in the FCT before the end of this fiscal year.
He disclosed that the FCTA has consequently submitted N61bn 2023 supplementary budget, which President Bola Tinubu, has endorsed for transmission to the National Assembly.
The Minister, who made this disclosure during inspection of projects, expressed optimism that, particularly the millennium tower project, when completed, would change Abuja’s landscape greatly and boost tourism in the FCT.
The Minister who visited the formally abandoned Vice President’s residential building assured that it would be completed before Mr. President’s one year in office.
Wike also noted that he had forwarded a supplement budget of N61bn to the President to be forwarded to the National Assembly for 2023.
IPoB factional leader, Ekpa, sabotaging peace in S’East –CDS
The minister disclosed this while on an inspection tour of various project sites across the capital city and expressed optimism that various projects would be completed before May 2014.
At the official residence of the Vice President, Wike said, “Remember when we came on board, we did say we will prioritise and we will discuss with contractors that we have the funds. If we give them the funds, what time will it take them to complete these projects?
“The first thing we did was to identify projects that we think can be completed within one year in the office of Mr President and this is one of the projects. We have funded them and we will continue to fund them.
“What is important to me is that the commitment we have given to them, they have reciprocated. Look at the vice president’s residence that was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N7bn, it was abandoned and we called back Julius Berger to know if they could complete the project within eight months and they replied with an affirmation but they can’t continue with it at the same cost, which is obvious. They have indicated that they cannot do it for less than N15bn.
“Looking at the inflation in the cost of building materials, we have just come to see what they are doing and we have told them that we will start funding them before the end of the month.
“So we are happy that the promises made by Mr President of Renewed Hope have come, because just like Nigerians have asked, the residents of Abuja are now seeing a different thing, projects abandoned are now being completed.
“That is the Renewed Hope that those who have lost hope in this country can now see and say that there’s still hope for this country and will commend Mr President.
“We won’t just rely on the federation’s account. We have done well in terms of IGR and this money will be directed to specific projects so that we will not later say that we do not have money to do some projects.
“For example what we are doing now is that we have submitted a supplementary budget of 2023 and Mr. President has approved to transmit it to the National Assembly, now we are asking that we should be allowed to spend N61bn before 2024, because we have the money and to use that money for specific projects so that by May 29th these projects are completed then we take new other projects for 2024.”
*To complete VP’s official residence, seeks NASS approval to spend N61bn
Meanwhile, Wike vowed to make funds available for the completion of the hitherto abandoned construction of the official residence of the Vice President before May 29th, 2024.
According to him, “When we came here last time, bushy it was, and you made a promise to us that you will be a able to complete this project in the next eight months, even though we have not mobilised you, I do know that you have confidence in us, let me assure you that we will mobilise you before December, God willing.
“Then, you have to expedite action to see that this is completed before May 29, 2024. I believe you have that capacity, I believe you don’t need to wait, you know I will not make a promise I will not fulfilled, as far as I have gotten the support of Mr President and the Vice President, I can tell you to go.
“Put everything you have so that we can achieve this so that all these stories about abandoned projects will be a thing of the past. The manpower seen here shows that you are serious, so, just go ahead, you are going to be mobilised.”
The representative of Julius Berger, the company handling the project, Mr Oliver Berger, commended the minister’s faith in the project and assured of timely completion of the project.
