By Daniel Tyokua
The Nasarawa state Governor, Abdullahi Sule on Friday, met with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike on the development of rail line and roads transportation network.
During the meeting, Sule said over 40 per cent of people working in the Federal Capital Territory were residing in Nasarawa, and there was the need to partner for development.
The gov noted that the road from Abacha barracks in Abuja down to the border was difficult to define in Nyanya.
“We have challenges on transportation. But thanks to the FCT for the road network from Abacha to the border. We understand that the road will continue all the way to Masaka in Nasarawa state.
“The FCT has a part to play, and the state government will do its parts.
He explained that based on the agreement, the Nasarawa government was to provide the needed security, collapse the 22 motor parks causing traffic jam on the road and build a terminal in their place.
The governor said a terminal that could accommodate 900 vehicles had been built on seven hectares of land and already in use.
“So, we have met our part of the bargain in order to see that the project is concluded.
“I am hoping that Mr Project (Wike), without any doubt on my mind, will meet the other side of the bargain so that we will have the clean city we are looking for,” he said.
On the metro train rail line, Sule said his government wants to tap from the FCT additional metro line development.
“We discussed with the previous minister that whatever it is, we don’t want free meal, Nasarawa state will bring its own part of the bargain for the rail line development from Apo going all the way to Keffi.
“We have even initiated a discussion with CCECC Nig. Ltd and a Russian company that are willing to construct. With this, we can say we are more than happy to work jointly with the FCT to develop that.
Sule said the development of the rail transport linking Abuja city with Nasarawa would open another area of development for housing, not only for Nasawa residents but also for the FCT.
The governor further said the border, just about five kilometres from Maitama 2, the government has about 13,000 hectares of land at Garku-Kubusu for housing development.
Responding, the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike acknowledged the closeness of Nasarawa state to the territory, and stressed the need for working synergy for the development of the two entities.
He said the FCT Administration would open discussion with the Nasarawa government on the development of the metro rail line from Apo to Keffi, and the completion of the road network from Abacha Barracks to Masaka.
According to him, the metro line was key but very expensive, but efforts were on top gear to rehabilitate the metro line as directed by President Bola Tinubu, which he said would be completed in the next seven months.
He attributed the key challenge affecting the development efforts of the FCT to shortage of funds, adding that many projects and contracts have been awarded but without execution due to insufficient funds.
Wike said that the FCT Administration was identifying major projects with high impact that can stimulate development to be financed and completed.
He, however, said that Abuja cannot grow if it did not do anything that would equally impact positively on Nasarawa state.
