Light up Abuja: Wike warns against sabotage of project

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has warned against any attempt to sabotage the recently inaugurated ‘Light Up Abuja’ project.

Wike gave the warning on Thursday, during the inauguration of the construction of Collector Road CN2 (Emmanuel I. Ogala Street), from Arterial N16 (Yemi Osinbajo Way) to N20 (Wole Soyinka Way), including Road
ILS 5 within Katampe District, Abuja.

He explained that the warning was triggered by a recent incident where street lights on the Airport Road failed while President Bola Tinubu was returning to the capital city.

The minister said he had already summoned the contractor, CCECC, for an explanation and had been briefed on their efforts.

He urged all parties involved not to relent, emphasising his administration’s resolve not to be distracted.

“I Know that all those things are just to distract us and weaken us, but I can assure you that my team and I are very determined.

“If there is one project we must achieve, it is the ‘Light Up Abuja’ project,” he said.

Woke also explained that the road project was part of a major infrastructure overhaul planned to commemorate President Tinubu’s third year anniversary in office as well as the FCT’s 50th in 2026.

He revealed that the new road was essential to give functional meaning to the recently commissioned Gishiri-Maitama road and interchange.

“Recollect that sometime in July this year, Mr President came and commissioned that interchange. So when we came, we found that without this road being linked up, it will not make sense,” Wike said.

He commended the contractor, China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC), for commencing work based on trust before the formal contract award, highlighting their confidence in the President’s government.

While painting a vivid picture of the project’s immediate economic impact, Wike predicted a dramatic surge in property values.

“If a property here was worth 200 or 300 million, within the next one month, its value will go to 700 million or 1 billion Naira. That is what good administration is; that is what the real essence of making the economy thrive is,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the new Collector Road is expected to significantly decongest traffic in the Katampe and Gishiri Districts.