Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has expressed satisfaction with the progress done thus far on the Abuja light rail project and assured that its May 29 delivery date is untouchable.
After examining the continuing construction of access roads to the train stations from Metro Train Station in Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, the minister provided the assurances on Wednesday.
Assuring the journalists that accompanied him on the inspection tour, the minister said that President Bola Tinubu would put the train project into service on May 29 to commemorate his first anniversary in office.
NAN reported that the stations visited are Wupa Station, close to Idu, and Bassanjiwa Station, close to the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see what the contractors have been doing.
“We are working day and night to see that we fulfil the promise we made to President Tinubu and residents of the FCT that by May, Mr President will ride on the Metro line.
“The goal is defeated if access roads are not created to the communities that will be using the train,” he stated. “That is why we want access roads to the various train stations.”
The minister expressed her appreciation for the contractors’ steadfast dedication to completing the project.
“You’ve heard that the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation representative is going to labor around the clock to see that the project is finished.
“For me, it is a major project so that it can reduce the influx of vehicles into the city. It is going to help us,” he said.
On the availability of funds, the minister said that the FCT Administration was fully prepared and had secured some funding sources to deliver the projects.
Speaking of insecurity that might affect the workers on site, Wike assured that security had improved significantly in the territory.
He asserts that the presence of nighttime workers in Abuja indicates the safety and security of the city.
The minister had earlier visited the work site of Salini Nigeria Ltd., which is building a single-lane expressway from Idu Industrial Layout to Zuba.
Wike clarified that the project’s delay was caused by the fact that it needed approval from the Federal Ministry of Transportation to cross a railroad track.
He states that the contractor will be able to begin work if approval is granted.
