President Bola Tinubu conveyed to Nyesom Wike, the minister
of the federal capital
territory (FCT), that he should abstain from offering
him free land upon any request. Instead, Tinubu urged Wike to concentrate on
delivering the Abuja metroline for the betterment of the city.
Speaking in Abuja during the commencement of the annual
conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Sunday, the President
characterized Wike as the “caretaker of Abuja.”
Tinubu articulated, “I have a desire to utilize your metroline.
Should I express interest in obtaining land without cost, kindly decline my
request. Rather, prioritize the completion of the metroline to benefit a larger
portion of the Nigerian populace.”
Wike, a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party
(PDP), was appointed as one of the 45 ministers by Tinubu.
During an inspection tour on Wednesday, Wike expressed that
the Abuja rail mass transit (ARMT) should be finalized within the span of eight
months. The FCT minister embarked on a train journey starting from the metro
station, passing through the Idu station, and concluding at the airport
station.
This rail project, executed in six phases, received financial
support through loans from the China EXIM Bank. It was initially inaugurated by
former President Muhammadu Buhari on July 12, 2018, but subsequently faced
operational challenges, largely attributed to acts of vandalism.
Wike expressed his displeasure with the ineffective state of
the rail system, highlighting that addressing issues concerning public
transportation in the FCT is among his foremost priorities. He additionally
stressed that upon completion, the train system could considerably alleviate
traffic congestion within the city.
