Wike Sets 8-Month Deadline For Completion Of Abuja Light Rail Project

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the Abuja light rail and instructed the permanent secretary to expedite payment to the Chinese concession company. The aim is to conclude the rail rehabilitation within eight months.

During an inspection of the Abuja Metro Station in Idu and the Airport Station, Wike issued this ultimatum, marking his first official task after assuming office within 48 hours of the swearing-in of 45 new ministers.

He emphasized the significance of restoring the Abuja metro, aligning it with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating Nigerians’ suffering as swiftly as possible.

At the main terminal, accompanied by the Minister of State for FCT, Mairiga Mahmud, and other officials, Wike engaged the contractors, raising concerns about the work’s quality.

The FCT minister then embarked on a train journey from the metro station through Idu Station to the Airport Station.

Originally developed in six phases with funding from the China EXIM Bank, the rail project suffered vandalism, leading the FCT Administration to award a new N5 billion contract in August 2023 for rehabilitation within a year.

The Abuja light rail, inaugurated at the metro station in 2018, operated for about two years until vandalism prompted its closure.

Wike, the first southerner to hold the FCT ministerial position, aims to present a fully rehabilitated rail system for commissioning by April 2024.