…Flags off construction of Arterial road in FCC
By Emmanuella Oghenetega
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has today reassured residents that every sector of the FCT would be given the attention it requires.
Stating, “I have said that no sector will be left untouched. Now, we are also entering the health sector. I will continue to develop other areas, not only the city but also the satellite towns. We have very massively, started again to reconstruct most of the schools.
The Minister who made this statement today, while flagging off the construction of Arterial Road N20 (Solomon Lar Way) from the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) to the Airport Expressway, noted that the provision of road infrastructure was key to the development of the FCT.
He further reassured that adequate attention was being given to other sectors like health and education, vowing that the FCT would be comparable to other developed cities of the world by the end of President Tinubu’s first term in office.
He said, “I want to assure residents of Abuja, by the grace of God, before the first tenure of Mr. President ends, Abuja will compete with most of the cities of the world. That is a bank draft I have given to you to go home with.
Reiterating the commitment of President Tinubu in creating employment opportunities for Nigerians through the provision of infrastructure, he said, “the President’s support for the FCT Administration’s infrastructure development drive, as evidenced by the flag-off and commissioning of 16 vital road projects, has translated into job opportunities for Nigerians.
“With the number of jobs we are doing in the FCT, you can see the number of people that will be engaged one way or the other. If we are using 16 days to flag off projects of different categories, then see the number of persons that will be engaged in these projects. 16 days means 16 companies being involved in these projects.
“So, Mr. President, through the provision of infrastructure, is also creating employment for our people”.
“We want to sincerely thank Mr. President. I also want to thank the Area Council Chairmen for their support of Mr. President and this administration. I urge you to continue because we are all partners in progress”, Barr. Wike added.
Speaking on the vital arterial road N20, the Minister said the contract was awarded in March this year by the Federal Executive Council to Messrs Gilmor Nigeria Limited, adding that the road, when completed, will boost the value of properties in the area and encourage investments in real estate, ultimately improving the quality of life of FCT residents.
He pledged that the project would be adequately funded to ensure its timely completion and further urged the contractor to engage the youths during the construction phase to provide them with a means of livelihood, while calling for the support and cooperation of the residents.
In her vote of thanks, the Acting Head of the FCTA Civil Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, said the road project, when completed, will stimulate economic activities by improving access to commercial areas and the Airport expressway and will further attract investments, boost local businesses, and enhance safety and convenience for commuters.
Giving an overview of the segment of Arterial Road N20 being developed, the Acting Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said it will link the northern part of the city to the southern part through the Airport Express Way, and when completed, will significantly reduce traffic congestion in the phase two districts of Wuye, Jabi, Utako, Dakibiyu, and Kukwaba as well as the sector centres.
He added that the scope of work for the project includes the construction of a dual carriageway of three lanes each, with a parking lane, which makes it a total of eight lanes, as well as the construction of two river bridges of four spans each and a dual bridge of three spans that will cross the rail lines at Kukwaba.
Others, according to the Executive Secretary, included surface water drainage, water supply distribution network, street lighting, and telecommunication ducts, among others, adding that the contractor had mobilized to site and commenced work.
Making a public commitment to the timely completion of the project, the General Manager, Gilmor Engineering Services, Mr. Shay Goldhar, thanked the Minister for the confidence reposed in the company and assured that the project will be delivered in accordance with the highest standard of quality in line with the vision and expectation of the FCT Administration and the people of Abuja.
