By Kelechi Esogwa-Amadi
The recurrent traffic congestion in the nation’s capital, Abuja, will soon be a thing of the past. This is because the new minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has commenced moves to improve the transport system in the city by ensuring the completion of the ongoing rail project. He, on Wednesday, inspected the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) System.
The former Rivers governor, during the inspection, identified transportation as one of the sectors he intends to transform in a short time to improve public transportation in the capital city.
Wike explained: “Transportation is one of the sectors we intend to intervene in the short term to reduce traffic congestion within the city.
“I know that we have a metro station in Abuja, and it is not working, why is it not working? Can we fix it within a short time?
He noted that while there were other projects that were not completed, people would have confidence in the one that was completed and working.
Known for not hiding his feelings on situations he is not comfortable with, Wike said it was not a good idea to begin another rail project while the one that was finished remained unusable.
He therefore declared that every project that commenced must be finished before embarking on another one, considering the availability of resources.
“I assured the public that the rail transport system is a project we will take to a logical conclusion.
“Before commencing another project, we will need to determine which areas are the most traffic areas. This is very important to decongest areas with traffic congestion,” he said.
He told the management of CCECC Nig. Ltd, the construction company handling the rail construction and rehabilitation projects to deliver quality projects.
After a train ride from the Metro Station to the Airport and Idu Stations to inspect the ongoing rehabilitation project of the rail system, the minister described it as a “good project.”
He added that if completed, it would significantly reduce traffic congestion in the city.
“This is one of the projects we will complete and put to use.
“The money for the rehabilitation is on the ground and I have already directed the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Adesola Olusade to make sure that the contractor is paid.
“We will work to ensure that in the next coming months, this project is commissioned and put to public use,” Wike said.
Earlier, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, said that assessing the problems affecting rail transport and finding ways to address them would help in putting the system to public use.
Director of Transportation, FCTA, Mr. Joseph Akinteye, explained that the ARMT system rehabilitation project consists of Lots 1 A and 3 and spans 45.245 kilometers (km).
Akinteye explained that the ARMT system phase 1, which comprises Lots 1 and 3, made up of 77.775 km, out of six Lots designated by the Transportation Master plan was awarded in 2007. He however said only lots 1 A and 3, made up of 45.245km, were completed in 2017 and commissioned in 2018.
