By Dr Nafisat Makinde
Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike on Monday terminated the Apo-Karshi Road contract that had been stalled since 2011 and handed the project to a new contractor with a 12-month completion order.
Wike announced the decision Dec. 1 during an inspection of road projects in Abuja Municipal and Bwari area councils. The 14-kilometer road, previously held by Kakarta Construction Nigeria Limited, is now awarded to SCC Construction Company.
The minister said Kakarta failed to mobilize equipment or perform significant work despite a six-month ultimatum he issued when he took office in 2023.
Using emergency procurement rules, Wike skipped the regular bidding process to prevent further delays for residents who have waited 14 years.
SCC deployed more than 50 pieces of heavy equipment to the site within 24 hours and began reconstruction this week.
The completed road will connect Karshi communities to Apo and Wasa districts and reduce traffic on major routes into the city center.
Residents cheered as work resumed, with many calling it the first real progress since the contract was first awarded in 2011.
Wike warned all FCT contractors to mobilize immediately or lose their jobs, declaring that abandoned projects have no place under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
