The Minister also questioned the capacity of the contractors to handle a project of such magnitude.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after inspecting the Apo Karshi road project, Wike noted that it was unfortunate to see a 13-year-old contract in which payment had been made up to 86 percent to still be at such level.
He noted that he was not sure of the capacity of the contractors going by the equipment they had on the ground.
He however promised to complete the road within six to seven months if the contractor demonstrates capacity by mobilising equipment to the site. He said that would be the basis for him to release funds for them for the remaining part of the job.
He said the reason the project was delayed was political as there is politicisation in the ward.
Briefing the press on site, Wike said, “The situation here is very unfortunate and that is why people have lost confidence in government.
“I can’t believe that for the past 13 years, this project was awarded. It is very unfortunate that for 13 good years, this road has been abandoned and I want to say clearly that part of the problem we have here is politics. Everything we politicise and that is why the development cannot get quickly to our people.”
He assured that with the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu administration, things were going to be corrected to restore hope to the people.
“I’m happy that this new administration of renewed hope agenda will do everything possible to see that the area from Karshi to Apo is completed.
“But my doubt is about the capacity of the contractor. I don’t need to be told when you go to a site and you see where the company is working, you can say that this company has capacity.
“We’ve been to several sites. All of us can attest to the fact that when you see equipment, you can say that if they tell you they can finish the work in the next month, you’d believe that they can finish in the next month. But this I don’t believe even if you put all the resources down,” he said.
He urged the contractor to wake up to the responsibility.
“I want to urge the contractor that it will no longer be business as usual. You must show that you will be serious. In the next few weeks, I want to see your equipment on the ground before funds are released. I will not release funds to you when I have not seen your capacity. So they must move their equipment to the site and then they can convince me. But I can tell you here that I am not happy. This is not what citizens bargained for.”
Two different contractors were awarded the road project. Kartata Nig. Ltd was awarded from Apo to Wasa, while LCC was awarded from Karshi to Ara, then Wasa to Nasarawa State.
However, for not being convinced with the rationale to construct a 25- kilometre road to Nasarawa State, Wike has cancelled a section of the contract.
“I don’t see any reason why we should do the road from Karshi to Arah, which is Nasarawa which means it is an inter-state road. Interstate roads have to do with the federal government. FCT cannot fund an inter-state road unless it becomes a joint venture. Therefore, I am not going to waste the resources of FCT to do inter-state road,” Wike stated.
