ABUJA — Determined to align project delivery with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s third anniversary, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday came down hard on underperforming contractors, declaring that delays on critical infrastructure projects in Abuja would no longer be tolerated.
During an inspection of multiple ongoing projects across the capital city and satellite communities, Wike issued a direct ultimatum to contractors failing to meet agreed timelines, particularly those handling strategic road infrastructure.
“I am satisfied with the quality of work, but I am not happy with the company,” Wike said pointedly after inspecting a road project in Wuse. “We agreed that by the end of May or June that job would be delivered. What we heard today is different. I will not accept that. By the second week of June, that project must be handed over.”
The minister’s remarks signal a tightening of oversight as the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) races to deliver a cluster of high-impact projects earmarked for commissioning as part of activities marking Tinubu’s third year in office.
Wike stressed that routine site inspections were not ceremonial but a deliberate strategy to enforce accountability and ensure value for public spending.
“We don’t sit in offices. We go out to see things for ourselves check the quality and confirm whether contractors are keeping to schedule,” he said.
While expressing frustration with delays in Wuse, the minister commended other contractors, particularly those handling the N16 interchange and the Institutions and Research Centre located near major academic hubs in the city, for maintaining both quality and pace.
“At the N16 interchange, you don’t need anyone to tell you the job is of high quality. They have assured us it will be ready. The same with the Institutions and Research Centre; we are confident it will be delivered for inauguration,” he noted.
In Tudun Madaki, where a major access road and bridge linking Bill Clinton Drive to adjoining communities is nearing completion, Wike described the project as a strategic intervention driven by community demand following the development of a second runway in the aviation corridor.
“This project is key. The community insisted on access when the second runway project began, and we responded. What you see here is nearly completed they are putting finishing touches,” he said.
Beyond the immediate works, Wike disclosed that the administration had concluded plans to extend the road corridor from the bridge to Zuba, with procurement processes already underway and compensation arrangements being handled for affected residents.
“Once completed, this will open up a critical corridor from Bill Clinton Drive to Zuba. It is part of our broader commitment to integrate satellite towns into the city’s development framework,” he said.
Reinforcing the administration’s multi-sectoral approach, Wike highlighted parallel investments in water supply, education, and healthcare infrastructure, noting that several projects in these sectors would also be ready for commissioning within the anniversary window.
“We are not focusing on roads alone. The satellite water projects in Bwari, Karu, and Orozo will be inaugurated. In education, we have renovated and furnished schools across satellite towns. We have also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of health facilities,” he stated.
On the lingering water scarcity affecting parts of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the minister traced the disruption to infrastructural damage caused by a private developer, warning of imminent sanctions.
“A major water pipe was damaged during private construction. That is unacceptable. We will investigate, and if necessary, we will shut down that project. You cannot inconvenience the public and continue your development as if nothing happened,” Wike declared.
He, however, assured residents that the Water Board was working to restore supply, appealing for patience while corrective measures are underway.
The minister’s firm stance underscores a broader push by the FCTA to enforce discipline in project execution, accelerate infrastructure delivery, and demonstrate tangible progress under the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda particularly in historically underserved satellite communities.
