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Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to diligently complete the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) System project by May 29.
During an inspection tour of the Abuja project on Thursday, the Minister emphasized the importance of timely project delivery.
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In August 2023, the FCT Administration announced the award of a N5 billion contract for the rehabilitation of the ARMT system. The contract, assigned to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC), carries an expected delivery period of eight months.
Upon assuming office, Wike identified the ARMT as one of the projects scheduled for commissioning on May 29, marking President Bola Tinubu’s first year in office. Wike expressed his passion for the project and the directive from the President, stating, “This is one project that I am so compassionate about, and you know that Mr. President has given me a directive that must not be taken for granted.”
During the inspection, Wike addressed security lapses at the metro station and disbursed funds for access roads, emphasizing the importance of dedicating efforts to meet the project deadline.
However, the Minister expressed disappointment with the project’s implementation, citing persistent vandalization and theft of crucial facilities and equipment in the rail system. He highlighted concerns about the lack of a security fence around the metro station and discovered that a different contractor, not CCECC, was awarded the contract for this purpose by the FCT.
Wike pledged immediate action to address the security issue and reiterated the need to combat vandalism, insisting on implementing measures to curtail the problem.
Additionally, the Minister raised concerns about the quality of access roads linking the rail stations, expressing dissatisfaction and urging the involved companies to accelerate their efforts. Wike emphasized the need for a swift and efficient completion of the project.
