Tinubu to inaugurate Abuja light rail on May 29 – Wike
Minister for the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed satisfaction with the project’s current pace for the completion of the light rail in Abuja.
He also assured that the May 29 deadline for its completion remains untouchable.
The minister said this on Wednesday,, following an inspection of the work being done on the access roads leading from the Metro Train Station in Central Area to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.
Addressing journalists while on inspection tour, the minister said that President Bola Tinubu would put the train project into service on May 29 to commemorate his first anniversary in office.
The stations that were visited were Bassanjiwa, which was near the airport, and Wupa, which was near Idu.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see what the contractors have been doing.
“We are working day and night to see that we fulfil the promise we made to President Tinubu and residents of the FCT, that by May, Mr President will ride on the Metro Line.
“We want to have access roads to the various train stations, because if you do not create access roads to the communities who will be using the train, then the aim is defeated,” he said
“You have heard what the representative of the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd. said that they will be working day and night to see that the project is completed.
“For me, it is a major project, so that it can reduce the influx of vehicles into the city. It is going to help us,” he said.
Regarding funding, the minister stated that the FCT Administration had obtained money sources and was ready to carry out the projects.
Speaking about potential security risks for the site’s employees, Wike gave assurances that things had greatly improved in the area.
He asserts that the presence of nighttime workers in Abuja indicates that the city is safe.
The minister had earlier visited the work site of Salini Nigeria Ltd., which is building a single-lane motorway from Idu Industrial Layout to Zuba.
According to Wike, the project’s delay resulted from the need for approval from the Federal Ministry of Transport and its crossing of a train line.