By Philip Yatai
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has promised to deliver the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way) by December.
He said this in Abuja on Tuesday after inspecting the project, along with the ongoing construction of the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, Abuja.
He added that the 10-kilometre road project awarded in 2014 is from the Southern Parkway to Ring Road II at Galadimawa, Abuja, with five bridges.
He explained that “the road is the only project awarded by previous administration that is not completed by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, apart from the Apo-Karshi Road.”
The minister said the contractor would complete the remaining six out of the 10-kilometre road and hand it over by end of December, subject to availability of funds.
He described the road as a “major road” that would change the landscape of the FCT, if completed, adding that talks were ongoing with the Ministry of Finance to make the needed funds available.
“We’ll continue to dialogue with the Minister of Finance to see how we’ll be able to access the funds and pay off the contractor to finish that project.
“It is very, very key to us and that of course will change the entire landscape of the FCT.
“The Apo-Karshi Road awarded in 2010 is almost completed. We were there yesterday.”
Wike said that completing the projects would fulfill President Tinubu’s promise to complete all projects awarded by precious administrations from 2010 to 2023.
He noted that “it will be a remarkable achievement for this administration to finish all projects awarded by previous administration so that we don’t have abandoned projects everywhere.
“So, it’s a good development for us, continuity. So, we’re happy with what we’ve done,” Wike said.
The minister also inspected the ongoing construction of two service carriageways of the Southern Parkway, spanning from Arterial Road S20 (Oladipo Diya Way) in Gaduwa District to Ring Road II.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Southern Parkway serves as one of the most essential transportation corridors within Abuja’s southern development axis, linking multiple dense residential districts across Phases I to IV of the Federal Capital City.
“You know, this road was inaugurated during the inauguration of projects to celebrate President Tinubu’s third year in office. We have to come and see what they’ve done.
“The contractor promised to hand over the project by end of December and I believe them,” he said.
Reacting to Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers recent declaration that he has returned to the Rainbow Coalition and pledged complete loyalty to Tinubu’s re-election, Wike said “there is no sin in politics.
“If someone realises he made a mistake and decides to correct it, there is nothing wrong with that. What matters is recognising that you were on the wrong path and make the right decision.”
The minister said he welcomed Fubara back into the political fold, insisting that the governor had “no other choice” than to return to the political family that brought him to power.
Wike said Fubara’s decision to publicly align with his political camp was a step in the right direction, adding that the reconciliation would strengthen support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“I said during my last media chat that he had no other choice but to return to the same political family that produced him,” he said. (NAN)
Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu