Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital
Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, inspected the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT)
System rehabilitation project as first official assignment.
Wike told journalists during a visit to the ARMT Metro
Station, in Abuja, that the measure was part of his resolve to address
challenges affecting public transportation in the FCT.
According to him, transportation is one of the sectors he
intends to transform in the short time to improve public transportation in the
capital city.
“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 asked.
He noted that while there were other lots of the project
that were not completed, people would have confidence in the one that was
completed and working.
He stressed that it was not a good idea to begin another
rail project while the one that was finished remained unusable.
He said 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.
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After a train ride from the Metro Station to 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 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 the rail transport and finding ways
to address them would help in putting the system to public use.
According to her, the transport system is one of the
palliative measures that President Bola Tinubu wants to provide to the public.
“We are in the ARMT Metro Station to look at what is on
ground, what the challenges are and what is expected of the ministry to move
transportation system to the next level.”
The permanent secretary had earlier noted that Wike was
known to many as a ‘Mr project’, adding that it was not surprising that his
first assignment outside the office was a visit to a project site.
Olusade explained that the ARMT system was challenged by
massive vandalisation of rail infrastructure during COVID-19 lockdown, adding
that private security companies have been engaged to salvage the situation.
He added that a major hurdle in the operation process has
been addressed, adding that the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company has been
assigned to manage the operation.
“We are already developing a framework for the assignment,
and we look forward to this project contributing significantly to the reduction
of the pains of the removal of fuel subsidy,” he said.
Also, the Director of Transportation, FCTA, Mr Joseph
Akinteye, explained that the ARMT system rehabilitation project consists of
Lots 1 A and 3 spans 45.245 kilometres (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.
Akinteye, however, said that only Lots 1 A and 3, made up of
45.245 km, were completed in 2017 and commissioned in 2018.
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