Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned directors and top civil servants in the services of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to continue to do the right thing at the right time or face his anger.
The minister, who flagged off the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Gaba-Tokula road in Bwari Area Council yesterday, February 2, made it clear that he would not tolerate what he called: “bureaucratic sabotage” in the execution of the projects by officials of the FCTA.
He asked Directors to expedite action on payments of contractors working on the various projects to avoid unnecessary delays in the execution of the projects.
“This is not a period where you bring bureaucracy into what we are doing. They (would) minute a file to you to pay contractors, the file would stay in your office for two weeks. “Woe be onto you that will do anything that will not make this project to go on well because you will become enemy to the people.
“So, take it seriously so that when the file comes to you, do it immediately and see that the payment of contractors are being processed and paid to them because when you keep the file, you suffer the payment and who will suffer? The communities will suffer. I’m not going to tolerate that. Anybody who sabotages our efforts will also be sabotaged. So have it at the back of your mind.”
Wike emphasised that funds are available for every project awarded, assuring the contractors that their funds would be paid as and when due.
The minister said that the road being constructed is a part of the 30-kilometer road project that he was directed to construct in the six Area Councils, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said that in addition to the Gaba-Tokula road, the Administration will construct two more rural roads in the Bwari Area Council before the end the year.
Wike assured that abandoned roads would be completed, adding: “I can assure you, by the directive of Mr. President, go home and sleep with your two eyes closed. “Those projects must be started again. I can assure you that.”
The Minister blamed the problem of insecurity and rural urban migration in the FCT partly on the lack of basic infrastructure in the rural parts, saying that he is ready to change the narrative by providing the needed infrastructure.
The minister had earlier directed the six Area Council Chairmen to select roads for construction, as instructed by the President, adding that provision was also made in the 2023 National Supplementary budget for the construction of these roads.
“As I speak to you, all the Area Councils, apart from the one we are flagging off today, this year, will have two more roads.
“In essence, in this year, each Area Council will be having three roads, which has never happened since the creation of FCT as the Federal Capital Territory.”
Wike said that job creation is a priority of the administration of President Tinubu, even as he called on the contractors working on the projects to give opportunity to the youths, including men and women who are willing and able to work on the construction sites, to enable them fend for their families.
