On Wednesday, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, expressed concern over the state of the Abuja light rail and asked the permanent secretary to finalise payment to the Chinese concession business in order to finish rail restoration within eight months.
Wike issued the ultimatum while inspecting the Abuja Metro Station in Idu and the Airport Station on his first assignment outside the office, less than 48 hours after the 45 new ministers were sworn in.
He went on to say that the mission of restoring the Abuja metro has become critical as part of President Bola Tinubu’s vow to ease Nigerians’ suffering as soon as possible.
At the main terminal of the metro station, Wike, flanked by the Minister of State for FCT, Mairiga Mahmud, and other officials, addressed the contractors, questioning the quality of work.
Proceeding on the tour, the FCT minister took the train ride from the metro station, through the Idu Station and then to the Airport Station.
The rails, originally developed in six phases, were funded with loans from the China EXIM Bank. After the vandalisation of the vital rail infrastructure, the FCT Administration awarded a fresh N5 billion contract in August 2023 for its rehabilitation within 12 months.
The Abuja light rail commissioned at the metro station opened for business in 2018 and operated for about two years before the train service folded up, owing largely to vandalism.
Wike, who is the first southerner to become minister of the FCT, hopes to present a rehabilitated rail system to the President for commissioning by April 2024.