ABUJA – Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, on Monday admitted that he initially lacked confidence in an indigenous contractor awarded the Karu road project but said the firm’s outstanding performance has changed his perception of Nigerian construction companies.
Speaking during the commissioning of the newly completed Karu road project by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Wike said years of dealing with contractors who abandoned projects after collecting mobilisation funds made him reluctant to hand over the contract to a local firm.
“I was initially sceptical about allowing this company to handle the project because of my experience as a local government chairman and governor. When you give some local contractors mobilisation, they start spending the profit before commencing the job. Before long, government starts chasing them around, even involving the police. I didn’t want that experience again,” he said.
According to the minister, the contractor personally appealed for an opportunity, prompting the FCT Administration to first test his capacity with the construction of the War College-Ushafa Road, which was commissioned last year.
“This young man came to my office crying that we should give him the opportunity. We first tested him with the War College-Ushafa Road project. He proved himself and showed me that local contractors have come of age and can deliver projects just as well as foreign companies,” Wike stated.
The minister praised the contractor for keeping work going even when payments were delayed, describing the commitment as rare.
“I noticed that whether money was available or not, he never abandoned the site. He kept working and told me, ‘Mr. Minister, I believe in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. I know I will be paid.’ That kind of commitment is uncommon these days.”
Wike said the contractor fulfilled his promise by completing both the road and drainage works ahead of the President’s third anniversary project commissioning.
“I was afraid we wouldn’t complete the project in time, but he assured me he would finish it, and today he has kept his word. On behalf of the FCT Administration, I thank him for believing in this government.”
He urged government institutions to continue giving competent indigenous contractors opportunities, saying Nigerian firms have demonstrated the capacity to execute projects that meet international standards.
The minister also disclosed that President Tinubu approved the construction of all roads within Karu Town, noting that residents’ requests, including the EFCC Road, DSS Road, hospital road and other connecting roads, had all been delivered.
“As you enter Karu today, you can see that the entire landscape has changed. We promised the people that every road they requested would be constructed, and today we have fulfilled that promise,” he said.
Wike stressed that development should not be judged on political grounds.
“It doesn’t matter the political party you belong to. When you see good work, you acknowledge it. Nobody can hate this road because this is what development is all about.”
He thanked President Tinubu for his continued support to the FCT Administration and assured residents that infrastructure development would continue across all districts of the Federal Capital Territory.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, development will get to every community in the FCT. We only ask Nigerians to continue supporting this government because everyone will benefit,” Wike added.
