“Part of our predicament; part of our major headache is the procurement law. The procurement law, yes, it’s to protect and make sure our money is safe. “But then, if you look at the overall situation, it drags us backward.”
These were the bitter complains made public by the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyeson Wike when Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Ibrahim Bomai, flagged off the full scope development of Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from the Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III in Abuja.
Wike called for amendment of the procurement law to remove the bureaucratic bottlenecks that are slowing down the execution of projects in the nation’s capital.
He regretted that in most cases, it takes almost four months before the procurement is approved, “before it goes to the Federal Executive Council and before you know it, six months is over. Six months of procurement alone is half of the year.”
Still on the procurement challenges which he faced as the then Governor of Rivers State, Wike said that he was compelled to move for the amendment of the procurement law in the State.
According to him, such amendment helped to quicken the pace in infrastructure development and eliminate the problem of contract variations.
“We amended the law to say that in every job we have done with Julius Berger then, we will pay 70 percent. That’s how we were able to do 12 flyovers in four years.”
Wike said that the series of infrastructure projects that commenced in the FCT in the course of the week will not only reduce travel time but also have the ripple effect of reducing the cost of food items, in addition to creating employment for residents.
The Minister disclosed plans to commence the provision of infrastructure projects in Kwali, Kuje, Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils by next week.
“By the time Tinubu finishes his first tenure, Abuja people will say yes, we have no choice but to continue to follow you because you have brought back our hope.”
This was as the Senate President stressed the importance of a good road network to the socio-economic development of the country, saying that the construction of the Arterial Road N5 will not only improve the traffic situation in the area but also boost socio-economic activities in Abuja.
Senator Akpabio commended the ingenuity of the FCT Minister in improving the revenue base of the FCT and ensuring the provision of vital infrastructure in the nation’s capital.
“The commissioning of the road will definitely reduce traffic and also shorten the driving time and also boost socioeconomic activities in the city. On behalf of the entire Senate, I once again commend the Hon. Minister, Minister of State and all the staff of the FCT for this milestone in the development of the FCT.”
He reiterated the commitment of the Senate to providing the necessary support to the FCT Administration to deliver its statutory function.
The Executive Secretary FCDA, Engineer Shehu Hadi Ahmad, in his welcome address, said that the Arterial Road N5 will cover a distance of about 4.4 kilometers with two carriageways of six lanes.
He said that the road will provide the much needed relief to the Old Keffi Road which connects the Lifecamp Junction up to Dei Dei in Abuja, adding that the project will also open up economic activities in the Districts of Kado, Karmo, Gwarimpa I, Dape, Ido Gwari, as well as Saburi and Dei-Dei.
Engineer Hadi said that procurement is ongoing to rehabilitate the Old Keffi Road which will serve as a relief while the arterial road N5 project is ongoing.
