BY VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG
ABUJA — MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Senator Bala Mohammed, said Wednesday that the on-going Airport/Kubwa roads rehabilitation and expansion will be delivered on schedule to put to rest permanently the perennial traffic currently being experienced on the road.

According to the Minister, the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (Airport) and Murtala Muhammad (Kubwa) expressways, which form the major gateways into the Federal Capital City, must be expanded in consonance with the desire of Abuja Master Plan.
Senator Mohammed added that adequate funds will be made available to ensure that planned targets were met.

Speaking yesterday while reviewing the activities of the FCDA Department of Engineering Services, Senator Mohammed who noted that the Administration was mindful of the stress residents as well as visitors into the Abuja metropolis experience along these routes everyday, reiterated that when these projects are completed, they will improve productivity as well as reduce the man hour being wasted daily in traffic hold-ups.

According to him, the rehabilitation and expansion of the 26.5 Airport Expressway Lots I and II which include 10-Lane Expressway with bridges, interchanges, culverts, drainages, streetlights and other associated works are 51 and 30 percent completed respectively.

The Minister stated that the rehabilitation and expansion of 39.4 Kubwa Expressway Lots I and II which include 10-Lane Expressway with bridges, interchanges, culverts, drainages, streetlights and other associated works are 38 and 32 percent completed respectively.

On the Nyanya/Keffi Gateway into the Federal Capital City, the Minister declared that the construction of Flyover Bridge and Road Channelization at Mogadishu Cantonment/Sunrise Hills Estate, Abuja is 58 percent completed.

“This work comprises of road works of about nine kilometres; an Interchange; 2.55 kilometres storm water drainage; a box culvert and extension of a pedestrian bridge amongst others,” he said.

It would be recalled that these projects were awarded by the former Minister, Senator Adamu Aliero to three construction companies, they were Julius Berger Plc, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited and CGC Nigeria Limited at the cost of N257 billion to provide ten lanes on the Kubwa and Airport roads projects respectively and as at the time of the signing of the projects, they were billed to be delivered in twenty-four months, and with the level of work so far, this will not be feasible.

It will also be recalled that a member, House of Representatives, Dino Melaye of who is now of the All Nigeria’s Peoples Party, ANPP had brought to the notice of the House how the FCT Administration (FCTA) during Senator Adamu Aliero awarded the contract in 2009, at government expense, without recourse to due process.

According to him, the award of the contract was in utter breach of a prior presidential approval by the late Umaru Yar’Adua, under the Public Private-Partnership (PPP) guarantee with 60 percent government involvement and 40 percent in favour of private partners.