Wike issues sack threat over refuse as Abuja infrastructure drive gains momentum
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday issued a stern sack threat to the Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, over uncollected refuse along the Apo–Karshi corridor as he said Abuja’s rural infrastructure drive was gaining strong momentum across satellite towns.
Wike spoke while briefing journalists after an extensive inspection tour of ongoing road projects in Karu, Karshi, Bwari and Kubwa, undertaken as part of the administration’s plan to expand development beyond the city centre. The inspection took a sharp turn when journalists drew attention to heaps of refuse encroaching on parts of the road while heading to Karshi, prompting an immediate response from the minister.
“In fact, you’ve taken it away from my mouth. I was about to tell the coordinator of STDD, that by Monday, if I see that refuse, I will not look that, I will terminate his appointment. I thank God you asked it because I was about to call him privately, but let the public hear, it’s unacceptable to us” Wike said. Summoning the STDD coordinator on the spot, the minister warned, “If I see that refuse from Orozo down to Apo–Karshi by Monday or Tuesday, your job will be terminated. Whatever you can do, make sure this is handled. Look at this, it’s very embarrassing. Those places are no longer villages, development has taken over all the whole area. Nobody will accept that.” Wike said
He said the projects were being executed in line with a directive by President Bola Tinubu that satellite towns must benefit from massive road construction, not just the Abuja city core. According to him, all internal roads in Karu had been reconstructed by an indigenous contractor, Abdul-Val, expressing satisfaction with the quality and pace of work being delivered on the project.
Wike also explained the decision to terminate the long-delayed Apo–Karshi road contract, noting that the project was initially awarded in 2010 but had suffered repeated setbacks due to what he described as excuses by the former contractor. “Because of the importance of that road, we couldn’t wait again any longer, so we had to seek the permission of Mr. President and we got that job terminated, and it was awarded to SCC,” he said, pointing to the company’s equipment and seriousness on site.
The minister said the Bwari–Kubwa road was another major intervention that would significantly boost economic activities in the area, describing it as a critical infrastructure that many journalists were seeing for the first time. He added that the ongoing reconstruction of the Gbazango–Kubwa road further underscored the scale of infrastructure work taking place across both the city and satellite towns.
Wike said the combined impact of the projects would be far-reaching, noting that many residents in the affected areas were experiencing quality road infrastructure for the first time, with positive implications for mobility, trade and overall economic growth. He stressed that the projects were part of efforts to support President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that visible development across rural and peri-urban communities was central to the administration’s goals.
