An aerial view of ongoing construction of the Karu township roads on Friday
By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced that the much-talked-about Apo-Karshi road will be completed by August this year.
The minister made the announcement on Friday during a routine inspection of major infrastructure projects in the FCT’s satellite towns.
Addressing the long-standing controversy surrounding the completion of the Apo-Karshi road, which was first awarded in 2010, the Minister acknowledged that the project, which he described as very important to residents and business people.
He also confirmed that the long-awaited relocation of Apo Mechanic traders to Wasa was firmly on track, saying, “We believe that before August, they will be moved to Wasa. This is the first time all promises made, including those inherited from previous administrations, are being fulfilled.”
L-R) Managing Director, Abdul Val Limited, Otunba Abdullahi Suleiman Bello, FCT Minister Barr Nyesom Wike and the Coordinator, STDD, Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkifli during the Minister’s inspection of the Karu township roads project in Abuja on Friday
Wike declared that the FCT Administration had successfully bridged the developmental gap between the city center and suburban areas through the provision of key infrastructure.
According to him the administration’s focus had transformed peripheral districts into vibrant, functional urban areas.
The minister’s inspection tour covered the Karu township roads reconstruction, the 13km Apo-Karshi road and the rehabilitation of the Gbazango/Kubwa road.
Wike noted that the FCTA was prioritizing projects that provide immediate relief and value to residents and commended the quality of work seen across the sites.
Ongoing construction of a section of the Karu township roads project on Friday
“This is the first time an administration is going outside the city. We have turned some of these satellite areas into cities. You don’t need to go and live in the city center before you can go to work. We are very happy because when the people are happy, it shows that governance is impactful,”, the Minister said.
Barrister Wike also expressed his satisfaction with the pace of development, noting that the influx of real estate interest in areas like Wasa serves as a testament to the administration’s successful urban renewal strategy.
He confirmed that several projects in the FCT satellite towns, including the Karu roads reconstruction and the Gbazango road project, are set for inauguration during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third-year anniversary celebrations.
Regarding the logistics of the commissioning ceremonies, the Minister noted that the FCTA is coordinating with the Presidency, the Vice President, and the National Assembly leadership to manage the high volume of completed projects.
In addition to infrastructure, the Minister also addressed the critical issue of sanitation in the FCT satellite towns, revealing that the administration recently had cause to cancel existing refuse disposal contracts due to poor performance and a lack of accountability regarding waste disposal sites.
He noted that the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) has taken over operations temporarily while the administration prepares to engage more competent and reliable service providers.
“One big problem all over the world is waste evacuation. I was not comfortable with the previous contractors because they could not tell us where they were dumping the refuse. For now, the Satellite Town Development Department is managing the process directly while we finalize arrangements for new, more reliable contracts”, the Minister explained.
The Minister used the opportunity to address residents of Kubwa who had come out to welcome him during the inspection, assuring them of the administration’s commitment to continued development of the satellite towns.
FCT Minister, Barr Nyesom Wike, addressing some residents of Kubwa, when the Minister inspected the ongoing Gbazango-Kubwa road in Abuja on Friday
One of the residents who spoke out, Proper Onyenaucheya praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the FCT Minister for prioritizing projects that directly impact on the lives of the residents.
