…Operations to Commence Within Three Weeks, Says FCT Minister
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has revealed that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has officially approved the management contract for the operation of the newly constructed Abuja bus terminals.
The FCT Minister shared this update, while briefing journalists during an extensive routine inspection of ongoing infrastructure projects across the city on Friday.
Addressing the readiness of the transport hubs, Barr. Wike explained that the commencement of operations was put on hold due to the contract value exceeding ministerial approval limits.
He said with the FEC’s green light, the transition to full service is now imminent, the Deputy Director, Press, Office of the Minister, Rabi Musa Umar, said in a statement.
The Minister said, "As I speak to you, when we had the last Federal Executive Council meeting, the management of that (the bus terminals) has been approved. Why we did not start it is because it was above the ministerial approval and so we had to go to the FEC.
“Now that it has been approved, the management team was with me today and they are putting finishing touches to see that they commence operations in the next two or three weeks. The FEC has given us a go ahead for the management of the bus terminals”.
Speaking on the projects inspected, which included the access road to the Mabushi bus terminal and the Arterial Road N1, connecting, Wuye, Dakibuyi and Mbora Districts, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work. He explained that the access road to the Mabushi bus terminal would be part of the projects to be commissioned during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third year anniversary.
The FCT Minister also emphasized that his frequent visits to project sites, rather than relying on official reports, was driven by a commitment to ensuring that contractors adhere to the highest standards. He noted that as the nation’s capital, the FCT serves as a critical window for visitors to gauge the quality of infrastructure and development obtainable across Nigeria.
"The people of Abuja deserve the best because this is what will launch Nigeria. This is the capital city of the country and when people come here, they can use this place as a yardstick to see how other cities are", the Minister stated, and pledged to ensure timely payments to the contractors to avoid delays.
Responding to questions regarding his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and its upcoming convention, Barr. Wike confirmed that he is personally overseeing the venue preparations and has held constructive talks with the Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed to ensure the event proceeds without interruption.
"PDP has come to stay. People are angry and when a child is angry, you try to pacify him. But that does not mean that you allow the child to destroy the house that you have built. We have discussed and agreed that the convention has to go on. Nobody will stop us", the Minister stressed.