By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the Central Business District (CBD) Bus Terminal but declared total displeasure over the slow progress on the 15-kilometre Pai–Gomani road project in Kwali Area Council. He spoke during an inspection tour of ongoing infrastructure projects across the FCT and its satellite towns.
Wike announced that the FCT Administration would begin operations of the bus terminals with government-branded Abuja-coloured buses and taxis before admitting private operators, explaining that the new system is designed to eliminate the “one-chance’’ menace by ensuring every commercial vehicle is identifiable. He said private individuals would join the scheme once the government’s initial fleet stabilises operations.
The Minister, who described the CBD terminal as superior to the recently completed Kugbo and Mabushi terminals, commended the contractor for maintaining quality and meeting timelines. He assured that the project would be completed before year-end, noting that the buses procured for the initiative would arrive before the terminals become operational.
On the other hand, Wike was visibly angered by the contractor handling the Pai–Gomani road, faulting the slow pace of work, poor supervision, and an unauthorized variation request he said was nearly equal to the original contract sum. He stressed that the project, awarded long before the A2–Pai section, ought to have been completed by now, adding that the contractor’s performance fell far below expectations.
The Minister warned that any official in the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) who recommended or approved variations outside due process would be sanctioned, noting that only the President, the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), and the Federal Executive Council (FEC) have the authority to approve variations of that magnitude. He insisted that all contractors must comply strictly with procurement guidelines and established approval thresholds.
Despite the setback, Wike announced the award of a new 13-kilometre Gomani–Yangoji road to Zeberced Construction Company, assuring that the project would be delivered ahead of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third-anniversary celebrations. He reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to strengthening rural infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda, listing the Apo–Karshi and Kubwa–Bwari road projects as proof that satellite towns are now receiving unprecedented attention.
