By Daniel Tyokua
President Bola Tinubu has said his administration would not let down the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike.
He stated this on Tuesday, during the commissioning of Southern parkway (S8/S9) from Christian centre to ring road 1, Nnamdi Azikiwe way, named after him, ‘Bola Ahmed Tinubu way ‘.
Tinubu who described Wike as a team leader and ‘Mr project’, commanded him for giving Abuja residents hope through sincere projects in the territory.
The president described infrastructure as an enabler of job and prosperity for people, which he said if not for Wike the project would have been abandoned..
He said the road represent the collective responsibility of the team, which he said more jobs, more work.
Tinubu said, ” The completion of the Southern Parkway underscores our commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as we strive to build a world-class capital city. We recognises the fact that infrastructure is an enabler of jobs, economic development and prosperity. We believe we are going to achieve all of that.
“The needs of our citizens is paramount on our minds, so for making our citizens the central focus of our development, we believe Nigeria will succeed. As we formally inaugurate this road, I am greatly honoured, I heard him mentioning my name as the beneficiary. Thank you very much; thank you for being a very good team leader, we all collectively will not let you down”
In his remarks, the Minister of FCT, Nyesom
Wike said the Southern Parkway is one of the principal arteries conceived and planned as a freeway to provide access and connectivity to the Southern development flank of the city as provided in the Abuja Master Plan.
He said other principal artery is the Northern Parkway which has been substantially developed over the years to service the Northern districts.
According to Wike, “Southern Parkway at par with the Northern Parkway, this project which was awarded in December, 2010 to Messrs Setraco Nig. Ltd. at the contract sum of N16,234,553,335.64 (Sixteen billion, Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Five Hundred and Fifty-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty-Five Naira, Sixty Four Kobo).
“Later it was revised to N35,757,763,310.18 (Thirty-Five Billion, Seven Hundred and Fifty-Seven Million, Seven Hundred and Six-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira, Eighteen Kobo) in March, 2021 due to changes in scope and other economic indices.
“The scope of work comprised the construction of 5.4km length of the road – made up of 2 main carriageways of 4 lanes each and 2 service carriageways of 2 lanes each, making a total of 12 lanes.
“It also includes the construction of 4 number Interchanges (a total of 8 bridges) in addition to the provision of associated underground engineering infrastructure facilities”.
