…flags off provision of engineering infrastructure In parts of Guzape and Asokoro
By Emmanuella Oghenetega
Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has warned against the unauthorised naming of major roads and streets in the Abuja city center after private citizens by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), without prior authorization.
Wike issued this stern warning during the flag-off of the construction of road networks in the Guzape District, a project that extends into the AIT neighborhoods of the Asokoro cadastral zone.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Minister stated that the practice of the council authority, under the Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, assigning names of private individuals to roads built and funded by the FCT Administration in the city center was “unacceptable”.
He clarified that street names should be reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the nation or the FCT, to properly immortalize them, and advised that naming streets after individuals who pay a fee to the Area Council should be restricted to satellite towns where the council provided the infrastructure.
“We cannot be doing roads and even infrastructure… you wake up in the morning, I don’t know who writes to you, before I wake up, you name the street and the roads that we are doing with our money”, the Minister stated and firmly instructed the AMAC Chairman to “go and refund them their money”.
The Minister emphasized that the FCT Administration should be aware of and approve the names, saying: “You don’t just name an important street after somebody when you don’t know where the money is coming from. You will not do that again”, he warned the Chairman.
Speaking on the Guzape road project (Cadastral AO9, Lots 1 & 2), the Minister affirmed that the development was a testament to the promises of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which, he said, were being fulfilled.
“Those who are living here, will they say that they have not felt the impact of President Tinubu’s administration? They’ve been here for years with no road. But Tinubu has come, and now there is a road”, he stressed.
Barr. Wike reiterated that President Tinubu intends to provide essential infrastructure and road networks across all parts of Abuja to ensure the city takes a different look and competes with other cities of the world. He urged residents to continue to support the present administration.
He commended the contractor, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Nigeria Limited, urging them to use their extensive experience to complete the job on schedule to discourage the need for project variation, while tasking the company to employ local youth and residents to provide them with economic opportunities.
Earlier, while delivering the vote of thanks, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, lauded the commencement of the Guzape road project, describing it as another bold step in transforming the nation’s capital.
She affirmed that the projects are “testaments to the vision, commitment, and also dedication and determination of the administration of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, and extended gratitude to the FCT Minister, whom she referred to as “Mr. Project”, whose leadership, she said, was making the Abuja project a reality.
In his project overview, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, explained that engineering infrastructure had already been fully provided in Asokoro and Guzape Districts, however, later in the course of the development, additional layouts were created, which had not been captured in the original scope.
He said the new layouts consisted of 24 short roads totaling about 9.2 km, adding that the infrastructure to be provided included earthworks, surface water drainage pipe networks, box and pipe culverts, streetlights, power supply, and telecommunication ducts.
Engr Dauda also stated that once completed, the road will improve accessibility, enhance security, improve interconnectivity, and the standard of living of residents of Asokoro and Guzape districts. He requested the cooperation of residents to ensure a smooth and timely project completion.
Giving his commitment to the project, Managing Director, Dantata and Sawoe Nigeria Limited, Mr. Udo Heidschuster, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to partner with the FCT Administration, pledging to deliver to the highest technical standards. He further lauded the FCT Minister, saying that under Barr Wike, the FCT had witnessed extraordinary infrastructure, pointing out that new works springing up across Nigeria’s capital speak louder than words.
