FCT Minister inspects ongoing ICC renovation, road construction in FCT

Barely two weeks after the flag off of construction of some critical road projects in the FCT, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Monday, November 4, 2024, paid an inspection visit to the sites of the road projects in Life Camp and Katampe District to assess the progress of work.

He also visited the renovation of the International Conference Centre in Abuja and expressed satisfaction with the speed and quality of the work on the project.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspections, the Minister expressed confidence in the contractor handling the ICC and assured that the project would be completed by April next year, giving the country a more fitting conference centre of international standard.

He said, “I’m quite satisfied with what I’ve seen Julius Berger doing. By the grace of God, by April next year, they will have handed over this project, and it will be available for Nigerians to use.

“What is important is that we are going to have an International Conference Centre that can meet the standard of International Conference Centres in the world. So, I’m quite happy with what we have seen”.

Speaking on the N5 and N16 roads in Life Camp and Katampe district, Barr. Wike also revealed that he had directed the extension of the Arterial Road N16 within the Cadastral Zone B07 in Katampe District to further link it to Arterial Road N20 in Jahi District, which, he said, underscores the need for the relocation of the communities to pave the way for the project.

He said, “We also went to Katampe, where CGC is, and we have to extend the road because it will be more meaningful if it links to N20. The contractor has agreed that they will still complete it within the agreed timescale of May next year. So, we are happy with that commitment”.

The Minister also said that the FCT Administration had concluded plans to compensate communities affected by the road works, directing the FCDA and the Department of Resettlement and Compensation to expedite action on the plan.

The Minister said, “We went to Life Camp to see the obstruction that may delay finishing that job. But by the grace of God, that has been sorted out. We believe that in the next two days, the communities and those who own some crops will have been compensated. That job is being handled by Julius Berger.”

Speaking on the possibility of relocating the affected communities, the Minister said the FCT Administration was working with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that compensation is applied where necessary.

He said, “First of all, the one we went to in Life Camp has to do majorly with the crops. Then they have some small houses that we need to compensate them for. If it requires relocating them, we will do it. If it requires just compensation, we will do it. It depends on what is available.”

L-R: Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmad, FCT Minister, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Regional Manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, Oliver Berger, during the Minister’s inspection visit to the Abuja international Conference Centre under renovation on Monday