The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said President Bola Tinubu views governance as a serious responsibility that must deliver results, attributing the ongoing infrastructure transformation in Abuja to the President’s leadership and financial reforms.
Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Thursday, Wike said Tinubu’s administration introduced measures that enabled the FCT Administration (FCTA) to overcome funding constraints and fast-track the execution of critical infrastructure projects.
The minister explained that one of the major reforms was removing the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), allowing it to leverage its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to secure financing from commercial banks.
According to him, the arrangement has eliminated delays in funding government contracts and restored the confidence of construction firms.
“The President saw that governance is business. This business must succeed,” Wike said.
“He pulled us out of the TSA. We can now approach commercial banks, negotiate with them, and use our Internally Generated Revenue as collateral. We don’t have to wait until we get N200 billion in cash; we tie our IGR to these loans, the banks pay the contractors, and the jobs keep moving.”
He noted that the new funding model has enabled projects awarded just six or seven months ago to be completed within record time.
‘We won’t tolerate illegality’
On the demolition of illegal roadside markets and structures affected by road expansion projects, Wike defended the administration’s actions, insisting that unlawful activities cannot be justified as a means of survival.
“We will not encourage illegality to be a source of livelihood,” he said.
He argued that allowing traders to occupy roads and public spaces would undermine urban planning and public safety.
“You build a road, and people turn it into a market. How can a well-thought-out government allow that?” he asked.
The minister also announced the establishment of a special task force to remove hoodlums and illegal operators from major intersections across the FCT, including Area 1 and Wuse 2.
“We are going to chase them out. I hope the media will not turn around to criticise the government and say we are attacking poor people when we take action,” he said.
Completing abandoned projects
Wike expressed frustration over the number of abandoned infrastructure projects inherited by his administration, citing the Apo-Karshi Road, which was awarded in 2010 but remained unfinished for 16 years.
“The Apo-Karshi road was awarded in 2010. We are now in 2026. That is 16 good years of people complaining,” he said.
He assured residents that the project would be completed and commissioned before the end of the year.
The minister reiterated that more than 70 per cent of projects completed under his administration over the past three years were inherited contracts abandoned for up to 15 years.
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Responding to questions on why Mandate Secretaries rarely speak on government projects, Wike said accountability ultimately rests with him as the chief executive of the FCT.
“Who is the chief executive? It is the minister. If anything goes wrong, it is not the Mandate Secretaries you will hold responsible; it is the minister.
“I know virtually everything happening in all the departments, and that is why I am in charge. Is it not better to hear from me directly and hold me responsible?” he said.
Wike assured residents that although the administration cannot address every infrastructure challenge at once, development would continue in a gradual, structured and sustainable manner across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.