Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has vowed to resign from office if anyone can prove that his administration’s claims on road construction projects in Abuja’s satellite towns are false.
Speaking on Friday during the inauguration of the reconstructed Arab/Gbazango Road in Kubwa, Wike challenged critics to publicly refute the figures released by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) within 48 hours.
According to the minister, the FCTA has, since President Bola Tinubu assumed office on May 29, 2023, awarded contracts for 317 kilometres of roads in the satellite towns, completed 221 kilometres and is currently executing another 96 kilometres.
“As I speak to you, since the assumption of office by Mr President, roads covering 317 kilometres have been awarded in the satellite towns. Out of that, 221 kilometres have been completed, while 96 kilometres are ongoing,” he said.
Wike stressed that the statistics relate only to satellite town projects and do not include other road projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
He also assured residents that key infrastructure projects, including the Apo-Karshi Road and the Bwari-Kubwa Road, would be completed before the end of the year.
“Let me assure you, Mr President, the road from Apo to Karshi will be completed before the end of this year. The road from Bwari to Kubwa will also be completed before the end of this year,” he stated.
The former Rivers State governor said the road projects had significantly improved living conditions in communities outside Abuja’s city centre, arguing that residents of satellite towns were now benefiting from the dividends of governance.
“How will satellite town people say they have not benefited from government? They have felt the impact of governance. It has never happened in the history of the administration of this country,” he said.
Throwing down the gauntlet to his critics, Wike insisted that all the figures announced by the administration were verifiable.
“If there’s anybody who has a contrary view, let him come out and challenge us that all this you are saying is not correct. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he declared.
Reiterating his position, the minister challenged any individual or group to appear on national television within the next 48 hours and prove that the administration had neither awarded 317 kilometres of roads nor completed 221 kilometres in the satellite towns.
“I challenge you in the next 48 hours to come on national television and say that since this administration came, we have not awarded roads of 317 kilometres in the satellite towns and we have not completed 221 kilometres. I will resign as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory,” he added.
Wike attributed the pace of infrastructure development in the FCT to the support of President Tinubu and the cooperation of the National Assembly, pledging that the administration would continue to deliver projects across the territory.
“On your mandate, we shall stand,” the minister said.
