FCTA, Nasarawa mull partnership on metro rail, road network development

Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), says the administration will partner with the Nasarawa state government on the development of metro rail lines and road networks.

Wike spoke on Friday when Abdullahi Sule, governor of Nasarawa state, visited him in Abuja. 

The minister said the FCT administration will enter into talks with the governor on the development of the metro rail line from Apo to Keffi town in Nasarawa and the completion of the Abacha Barracks road to Masaka.

He added that efforts are on to rehabilitate the Abuja metro line as directed by President Bola Tinubu, which he said would be completed in the next seven months.

Wike said that the FCT Administration is identifying major projects with high impact that can stimulate development to be financed and completed.

While speaking on the challenges facing the FCTA, Wike said many projects in the capital city are uncompleted due to the paucity of funds.

Speaking during the meeting, the governor of Nasarawa congratulated Wike on his “well-deserved appointment as the minister of the FCT”.

He said there is a greater need for developmental partnership between his state and the FCT noting that more than 40 percent of people working in Abuja are residing in Nasarawa

“This is why we have this road from Abacha Barracks down to the border that is so difficult to define in Nyanya,” NAN quoted Sule as saying. 

“We have challenges on transportation. But thanks to the FCT for the road network from Abacha Barracks to the border. We understand that the road will continue all the way to Masaka.

“The FCT has a part to play, and the state government will do its parts.”

Sule said that based on the agreement, the Nasarawa government was to provide the needed security, collapse the 22 motor parks causing traffic on the road and build a terminal.

The governor said a terminal that could accommodate 900 vehicles had been built on seven hectares of land and is already in use.

“So, we have met our part of the bargain in order to see that the project is concluded. I am hoping that Mr Project (Wike), without any doubt in my mind, will meet the other side of the bargain so that we will have the clean city we are looking for.

“We discussed with the previous minister that whatever it is, we don’t want free meals, Nasarawa state will bring its own part of the bargain for the rail line development from Apo going all the way to Keffi.

“We have even initiated a discussion with CCECC Nig. Ltd and a Russian company that is willing to construct. With this, we can say we are more than happy to work jointly with the FCT to develop that.