The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has declared his readiness to “fight” with contractors as he embarks on a new round of project flag-offs and commissionings in the capital city.
Speaking during the flag-off of the construction of Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II, Abuja, on Thursday, the Minister stated that contractors who are “uncomfortable with the new strategy” for project maintenance may “want to put up a fight.”
Wike announced that the FCT Administration will soon flag off a program to “light up the whole of Abuja,” which he anticipates will be met with resistance from those who previously benefited from maintenance contracts.
“Very soon we are flagging off to light up the whole of Abuja and you will see another fight,” he said. “All those contractors, everyday I see files with maintenance of street light here, maintenance of back road light here, you continue to pay and pay. Now we have come up with a strategy on how to pay, there will be a fight. So if you are not prepared don’t come up here, me, I’m prepared for it.”
He specifically called out those who benefit from generator supply contracts and other “political heads” who may lose their traditional sources of “overhead” income. “They will circumvent it… There are those from outside who believe that it’s their traditional title to produce generators, they will fight you; there are those politicians whose duty every time is to put street light, they will fight you,” Wike added.
The Minister’s statement comes as he is set to flag off and commission a total of 16 projects over a period of 16 days, which began on Thursday. He also reiterated his commitment to helping President Bola Tinubu achieve his plans for Nigeria, stressing that the FCT Administration is determined to make a difference.
“If you’re not prepared for this job, go home and sleep. I’m prepared to support and help Mr. President to achieve for this country to get to where we’re supposed to be,” he concluded.
