Wike vows to review Wassa housing project infrastructure
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to complete the access roads leading to the Institution and Research District in Jabi, Abuja, home to several prominent academic and research institutions within the nation’s capital.
According to Director of Press, Office of the FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, made this commitment during an inspection of projects on Monday, September 4, 2023. He was joined by Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, the FCT Minister of State, as well as heads and officers from relevant FCTA agencies.
Barrister Wike assured that the access road to the Institution and Research District, which houses significant institutions like the EFCC Corporate Headquarters, the Body of Benchers Building, Baze University, Federal Medical Centre, and the Institute of Human Virology, among others, would soon be completed. He emphasized the importance of this project, especially given the presence of critical institutions in the area.
The FCT Minister also visited the Kabusa Junction near the Apo Mechanic village, where recent clearance efforts by the Development Control Department removed shanties. He commended the department for its action and announced plans to introduce perimeter fencing in the area to prevent the return of miscreants.
Barrister Wike stressed the FCT Administration’s commitment to preventing shanty settlements from taking over the city, stating that Development Control had done a commendable job in clearing the area.
The next item on the Minister’s agenda was an ongoing project for providing engineering infrastructure to the Wasa affordable housing project in Wasa District. This project, initially awarded in 2014 at a cost of N28 billion but later revised to N85 billion, raised concerns for the Minister.
He expressed displeasure over the agreement between the FCT Administration and private developers involved in the housing project, indicating that the agreement would be reviewed to ensure fairness. Barrister Wike emphasized that the government should have a more active role in projects where it provides land and infrastructure, to control pricing and ensure affordability.
Wike announced a new approach to contract awards, emphasizing that contracts would only be awarded based on available funds to guarantee their completion. He denounced the practice of awarding contracts that later get abandoned due to insufficient funds and stressed the need for responsible project management.
