By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
THE MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transforming Abuja’s infrastructure, while ordering the immediate demolition of structures built on waterways and right-of-way corridors across the territory.
Wike gave the directives on Tuesday in Abuja after inspecting ongoing road projects and flood-affected areas in the capital.
Inspecting the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way) and the service carriageways of the Southern Parkway in Gaduwa District, the minister expressed confidence that the projects would be completed by December 2026 or early January 2027.
He said the completion of the long-delayed projects would significantly change Abuja’s landscape, improve connectivity and decongest major traffic corridors.
“I am quite confident by December ending, God willing, these two projects will have been delivered to us, and you can imagine what the landscape will be,” Wike said.
The minister commended the main contractor, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC), for maintaining round-the-clock construction activities on the Southern Parkway and ISEX, describing the latter as a critical road originally awarded in 2014 but delayed for years.
He attributed the renewed pace of construction to the Federal Government’s financial support, particularly President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the full release of funds for ISEX Phase 1, covering two major interchanges and more than five kilometres of road infrastructure.
Wike also praised the involvement of local youths in the construction projects, saying their engagement had contributed to peaceful relations with host communities. He urged other contractors to prioritise contributions to the development of the FCT alongside profit.
On the recent flooding in parts of Abuja, Wike directed the Department of Development Control to begin immediately demolishing houses and other structures obstructing water channels and designated right-of-way areas.
He said the recent floods had exposed extensive illegal developments that blocked natural drainage routes, stressing that no individual, regardless of status, would be spared.
“Any house found on the water channel will go down. From today to Saturday, let the Development Control not find any excuse; they cannot,” he declared.
Wike said many of the structures were owned by wealthy Nigerians, including some politically influential individuals, and blamed previous administrations for lacking the political will to enforce the Abuja Master Plan.
He also identified other man-made contributors to flooding, including the conversion of public green areas into commercial parks, indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage systems and failure to desilt waterways.
While acknowledging that climate change contributes to flooding globally, the minister said the FCT administration would continue addressing factors within its control.
Wike dismissed claims that the current administration had allocated waterways to developers, challenging critics to produce evidence and approved building documents to substantiate such allegations.
He maintained that the FCT administration had made significant progress over the past three years, while acknowledging that more work remained to be done.
The minister also dismissed recent criticisms by Senator Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT in the Senate, describing them as political posturing and urging her to focus on legislation capable of delivering tangible benefits to residents.
With major road projects nearing completion and a fresh crackdown on illegal developments along waterways, Wike said the administration would continue enforcing the Abuja Master Plan and pursuing infrastructure projects aimed at modernising the nation’s capital.
