On Tuesday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, officially commissioned the N50 billion second phase of the Lower Usman Dam Water Supply Project in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council. He also launched a N90 billion water supply initiatives aimed at transforming access to clean water in rural areas and satellite towns.
Wike emphasized the administration’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the dam’s rehabilitation, contracted in 2022 before President Bola Tinubu’s tenure, enhances water availability for Abuja residents.
“Water is life. This project increases the carrying capacity of the dam and improves supply to residents of Abuja. To underscore Mr. President’s commitment, phases one, three and four of this project were also awarded by the Federal Executive Council barely a month ago,” he said.
Highlighting further progress, Wike announced that new water projects, secured through agreements during Tinubu’s 2024 visit to China, will kick off in Bwari on Wednesday and Karu on Thursday, with a combined cost of N90 billion. Wike also addressed criticisms about unpaid contracts, firmly dismissing claims that he awarded projects without funding.
“I will never be intimidated. If anyone claims I awarded a contract, let them produce the documents. Many of the so-called contracts were awarded by civil servants without ministerial approval. It cannot be business as usual,” he stated, pointing out that most liabilities originated from past administrations.
In addition to water initiatives, Wike underscored the FCT’s broader investments in education and rural infrastructure, directing the Education Secretariat to release details of ongoing and completed school projects. He credited fiscal discipline for boosting the FCT’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N9 billion to over N30 billion monthly within a year.
Together with the Minister of State Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, Wike reaffirmed his focus on impactful projects, vowing to remain unfazed by “blackmail and criticisms” as the administration drives transformative change across the FCT.
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