The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expressed shock over the state of the Central Metro Rail Station and the Kukwaba stations in Abuja on Thursday, January 11.
Wike warned that he would not tolerate excuses from the contractor, Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
He gave the warning when he inspected the Metro Train Station in the Central Business District and the Kukwaba II station in the Piwoyi district alongside top officials of the FCT Administration.
Wike also expressed shock over the state of insecurity at the Central station and the engineering design of the Kukwaba station. He said the contractor will have to work around the clock to ensure the delivery of the project by the given deadline of May 24.
Wike had promised that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would ride on the train and commission it on May 29 to mark his one year in office.
He said: “When we first visited the Metro station, I discovered that there were many security lapses, and I remember when I first came after our inauguration, I did say that we have to work on the issue of security by putting up the fence around the Metro Station to ward off criminals, but unfortunately, that has not been done.
“To my surprise, it was discovered that the contract was not even awarded to CCECC; it was a different contract awarded by the FCT, and this is my first time hearing that, and we are going to take it up immediately to see that it is being put in place.
“We must also talk about the kind of vandalism and stealing that is going on there. We have security companies that were awarded contracts to secure those areas, yet things are happening. Excuses are being given on how security agencies release those that are caught, but for me, that is not enough, and we are going to make sure that we have a different method to be adopted so that we can’t continue to give excuses every day. I have also directed that all the stations must be cleaned, and all the necessary things must be provided. There’s no room for excuses at all.”
On whether the state of work at the stations could affect the May 24 deadline, the minister said he was not a pessimist and expressed hope that the project would be ready before May. He added that companies handling the projects must speed up their work.
He noted: “This is one project that I’m so passionate about, and you know that Mr. President gave me a directive that must not be taken for granted. Therefore, we must come and make sure that things are in good shape. So, I’m not happy; the company must speed up, and those who are doing the access roads must also speed up.
“Here we are standing, and we have been assured that this road will be completed before May. We just hope so, and this is the best I can tell you now. I’m not a pessimist, but I also doubt. But by putting all our energies together, we might achieve it.”
