Wike promises compensation for FCT residents affected by road project

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says residents affected by the construction of Arterial Road N5, from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III will be compensated.

Wike made the promise after inspecting some ongoing projects at Life Camp, Katampe, and International Conference Centre in Abuja on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Minister had on Oct. 25, inaugurated the construction of the 4-kilometre six lane dual carriageway from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III, somewhere in Ido-Gwari.

The Life Camp Junction to Ring Road III road project is the continuation of Arterial Road N5, also named Obafemi Awolowo Way.

The road, when completed, will connect the districts of Kado, Karmo, Gwarimpa I, Dape, Ido-Gwari, as well as Saburi and Dei Dei.

After inspecting the ongoing project being executed by Julius Berger, the minister noted that some cash crops and a number of houses along the road corridor would be affected.

He assured that in the two days, the communities of those who own some crops and those who would lose their houses or part of their structures would be compensated.

“What we went to do at Life Camp has to do, majorly, with some crops and some small number of houses that we need to pay compensation for, but if it requires relocating them, we’ll do; if it requires just compensation we’ll do, depending on what is feasible.

“What is important to us is that we are working together with the various communities to solve the problem,” he said.

Wike expressed satisfaction with the pace of work so far, adding that the people residing along the road corridor were happy that the road was being constructed.

On the construction of access road from Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway by N16, to Judges Quarters, in Katampe District, the Minister disclosed that the scope of the contract had been extended.

He said that the scope of work had been extended to link with N20, named after Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka.

This, he said, would make the road to be more meaningful instead of terminating at Judges Quarters.

“The contractor has agreed that it will still complete the project with the additional job within the same time frame of May 2025.

“So, we are happy with that commitment,” he said.

Wike, who equally inspected the ongoing renovation of the International Conference Centre by Julius Berger, expressed satisfaction with the quality of the job.

“With what I have seen Julius Berger doing, I am quite satisfied and by the grace of God, by April next year, they will hand over this project, and it will be available for Nigerians to use.

“What is important is that we are going to have what is called an International Conference Centre that can meet the standard of any other international conference centre in the world,” he added.

He assured that most of the project would be completed and inaugurated in May 2025 to celebrate the second year of President Bola Tinubu in office.

He said that the FCT Administration would do all that it could to give Nigeria a befitting capital city that could compete with any capital city in the world.

The minister added that beyond the city centre, satellite towns were also undergoing transformation to improve the quality of life of the residents.

He also said that attention was also being accorded to schools, with more than 32 schools undergoing renovation and rehabilitation.

(NAN)