Be vigilant to safeguard public investments, Bello tells FCT residents

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has called on the citizens of FCT to support the Administration’s efforts to safeguard public infrastructure by being vigilant to the activities of hoodlums bent on sabotaging the huge investments government is making to procure them.

Malam Bello made the appeal while in continuation of his inspection tour of ongoing projects in the Federal Capital City. He reiterated his Administration’s desire to deliver critical road, water and railway projects commenced by successive FCT Administrations but which were stalled or abandoned.

Malam Bello lamented the sabotage by mean spirited persons who vandalise important components of public infrastructure before they are completed. He expressed pain that there have been reports of the vandalism of bridge railings, manhole covers, electricity poles, etc.

The bright of side of the occasion was the evident surge of activities on various project sites, a testament that the Administration’s investment in ongoing projects is yielding positive dividends.

The Director of Engineering Service, Engr. S. H. Ahmad, in briefing the Minister, was unequivocal that these major FCC arterial roads would breathe a fresh air into the city while expressing optimism that they would bring about a dramatic improvement in the transportation, commercial and cultural lives of the city.

These projects, it would be recalled, had become a kind of indictment because they were regularly rolled over in annual budgetary estimates year in, year out, because of lack of cash backing. However, following the Administration’s policy of prudent management of resources, nearly $58 million were paid to various contractors recently, making them return to site.

Malam Bello while commending the various contractors handling the projects, expressed satisfaction that the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) was coasting to an early completion by the end of the year.

When finished, the 10 lane central drive way traversing A.Y.A, National War College and Ship House in Area 10, across to Games Village and stopping in Galadimawa, would stem traffic gridlock in the heart of the city.

In the same vein, the Villa Roundabout and Interchange – a major component of the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), is set for completion and handing over in three weeks’ time, Engr. S.H. Ahmad, the Director of Engineering Services, informed the Minister.

The supervising official also revealed that work on the bridge over the railway underpass near Jibi, which was part of the current push for project completion, has been finished.