FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, expresses his displeasure over the abuse of contract variation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), highlighting the case of the Ushafa-Bwari Road contract. He vows to overhaul the engineering services of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and stresses the importance of judiciously utilizing the FCTA's revenue.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has strongly condemned the abuse of contract variation in the FCT, specifically addressing the case of the Ushafa-Bwari Road contract. The contract, initially valued at N50 billion, has now skyrocketed to N200 billion, which the Minister deems unacceptable.
In a stern statement, Minister Wike expressed his shock and disappointment at the extent of contract variations within the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA). He highlighted cases where contracts had ballooned from N10 billion to N120 billion and N50 billion to N200 billion, emphasizing that such practices would no longer be tolerated. The Minister further announced his intention to overhaul the entire engineering services system within the FCDA, determined to curb these irregularities.
Regarding the Ushafa-Bwari Road contract, Minister Wike revealed that the job was originally awarded in 2017 at a cost of N20 billion. However, by 2020, the contract sum had been revised to N50 billion. The FCTA has already disbursed nearly N50 billion and only N900 million remains outstanding. To add to the complexity, the N900 million shortfall will not be sufficient to complete the project, resulting in yet another variation. Minister Wike expressed his firm refusal to accept such circumstances.
The Minister emphasized the need to judiciously utilize the FCTA's revenues and tackle the issue of abandoned projects. He announced plans to link the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) specifically to prioritized projects, thus reducing project abandonment within the FCT. Wike assured the public that the repair of major roads within Garki and Maitama would commence the following week, with contractors being promptly paid.
Wike's administration plans to fund ten priority projects as part of its strategy to combat abandoned and uncompleted projects in the FCT. Additionally, the Minister expressed his commitment to ensuring the swift completion of the Usuma Water project, crucial for improving water supplies to Abuja and its surrounding areas.
During a tour of the Usuma Water project, Minister Wike expressed his disappointment in the delays. He revealed that the contract, initially treated as an emergency, had not been fully awarded since August of the previous year. Given the significance of the project and its impact on the populace, Wike insisted on restarting the procurement process, allowing other companies to bid. The Minister's determination to rectify the situation underscores the importance of ensuring efficient and timely execution of critical infrastructure projects.
Source of content: OOO News 2023-09-07 News
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