The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said that reports that he was ill were false and politically motivated.
He said he took a deserved break from his busy schedule because of the need to be healthy to work.
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Mr Wike spoke on Thursday while flagging off the full-scope development of the Arterial Road N1 (Olusegun Obasanjo Way), which stretches from the Wuye District to Ring Road II (Olusegun Obasanjo Way) within Abuja.
“It’s unfortunate to hear that they said I was sick, they said you have a heart attack. God will continue to help them to have a heart attack,” the minister, who recently returned from an overseas trip, said.
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He also decried what he called the undue criticism of President Tinubu on social media, condemning a recent instance where a ‘popular activist’ referred to the president as a criminal.
Although he did not mention the name of the activist, the minister is believed to be referring to Omoyele Sowore, who recently described President Tinubu as a criminal in posts on X and Facebook.
The Nigerian government has charged Mr Sowore alongside Facebook and X to court over the activist’s posts. Mr Sowore has denied any wrongdoing and said he would not delete the controversial posts.
Mr Wike argued that such utterances were uncalled for, saying that Nigerians are fortunate to have a president who believes in the rule of law.
He drew a parallel with the United States, claiming that no matter how much Americans criticise their leaders, they would never publicly label a president a criminal.
He said, “This is a country where somebody will go on social media to say Mr. President is a criminal and nothing will happen. Anybody can wake up in the morning and say all kinds of things, and nothing will happen.”
On the planned protest by FCT resident doctors over claims that the FCTA was prioritising road construction over healthcare, the minister assured them that their concerns, including allowances and the employment of health officers, were being addressed.
The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT chapter, commenced an indefinite strike on Monday.
Mr Wike, who frowned at reports of purported plans by the workers to disrupt the project flag-off ceremony by staging a protest, cautioned against using the civil service for political purposes, stating that protest is a democratic right, but it will not stop decisions that are in the best interest of the administration.
“If you want to enter political party A, you are free to enter and face me when the time comes, but don’t use the civil service to play politics,” he said.
The minister added, “The people in health said we have not paid their allowances. We lost our Head of Service. We’ve just appointed an Acting Head of Service. I said okay, go and check how much they are talking about.
“They said, ‘we’ve not employed doctors. I said, ‘Chairman, Civil Service Commission, go and employ them. I will not be a doctor. Go and employ them.’ They are now talking about improving the health facilities. The 2025 capital budget for health alone is about N25 billion. Ask them, when did we get our budget? We got our budget in July from the National Assembly.”
Speaking on efforts to improve street lighting in the FCT, Mr Wike disclosed that the FCT Administration has devised new strategies, including four-year maintenance contracts with companies as well as the introduction of new technologies to prevent vandalism.
He warned officials against any acts of corruption that could derail President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda in the FCT.
Mr Wike stated that the Arterial Road N1 project, awarded to Messrs Arab Contractors Nigeria Limited, has a completion time of one year and eight months, and demonstrates the FCT Administration’s commitment to improving road networks and resolving traffic issues, thereby supporting the city’s long-term urban growth in line with the Abuja Master Plan.
He noted that the new road would boost socio-economic activity and improve residents’ living conditions, expressing confidence that the contractor, having shown its capacity in the ongoing Federal Highway 105 project from Airport expressway to Kuje, would also complete the work on time.
Presenting an overview of the project, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Richard Dauda, explained that the Arterial Road N1 begins from a place called the junction of Arterial Road S1 (Moshood Abiola Way in Garki District), traversing through the Central Business District, through Wuse District in phase one, and continues into phase two, through Wuye and Dakibiyu districts, and eventually terminates at Mbora district in phase three.
He said the segment of Arterial N1 under consideration is a continuation of the road from Wuye District to ring road II, which, when completed, will provide the needed connection of the sectors Centre B, comprising the districts of Wuye, Jabi, Utako and Dakibiyu, in phase 2, to other parts of the city.
Mr Dauda, an engineer, added that the scope of work includes a dual-carriage road with three lanes in each direction, a five-span bridge, drainage systems, water pipelines, power supply, and street lighting.
He said the project is also expected to create numerous direct and indirect jobs for the youth.
In her vote of thanks, the acting Head of Service, Nancy Nathan, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his unwavering support and dedication to the infrastructural development of the FCT, stressing that his encouragement and strategic focus on building a strong foundation have made projects like the arterial road N1 possible.
She also thanked the FCT minister for his visionary leadership and tireless efforts, which she said have continuously opened up the FCT for economic development and the welfare of the citizens.
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Expressing his commitment to the project delivery, the General Manager, Arab Contractor Nig. Ltd, Wa’el Faruk, thanked the FCT minister for his confidence in the company and assured him of the timely delivery of quality infrastructure in accordance with the highest standards.
Highlight of the ceremony was the symbolic flagging of the project, which involved the minister mounting a heavy-duty construction truck, starting the ignition, and declaring that the project be completed ‘to the glory of the Almighty God and for the benefit of our people’.
