By Festus Fifen

The Nigeria Federal Capital Territory Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has defended the N1.78 trillion 2025 statutory Budget of the administration before the both chambers of the National Assembly.

In separate presentations,on Wednesday, May 21, the FCT Minister highlighted that a significant 72.30% of the total proposed budget, amounting to N1,289,690,124,776, was earmarked for capital expenditure while the remaining 27.70 %, totaling N494,133,583,616 was for recurrent expenditure.

A statement by the Assistant Director Press Office of the Minister Rabi Umar gave a detailed overview of the capital budget estimates presented by the Minister which reveal key allocations of N80 billion for SUKUK loan projects, N25 billion for the Abuja Light Rail project, N15 billion for Abuja Greater Water Supply, and N250 billion from commercial loans to complete ongoing capital projects in the FCC and satellite towns.

According to the statement, the remaining N919,690,124,776 was dedicated to the completion of ongoing capital projects and counterpart-funded initiatives aimed at boosting socio-economic activities across the FCT.

Further breakdown of the capital expenditure showed that N801.5 billion was allocated to the FCDA, N137 billion to the STDD, and N351.2 billion to other Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs) for their capital expenditures and select new projects.

During the Presentation, the Minister Nyesome Wike emphasized that the 2025 capital budget prioritizes the completion of critical ongoing infrastructure projects. These include the completion of roads B6 and B12, full scope development of Arterial Road N20, provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape, Wuye, and Maitama II Districts, extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX), and full scope development of FCT Highway 105 (Kuje Road).

Other vital projects are the construction of Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring Road III, full scope development of Arterial Road N20 from Arterial Road N5, rehabilitation of Old Keffi Road, full scope development of Arterial Road N1, and provision of access roads to Bus Terminals. Additionally, the upgrading of Ushafa War College/Army Check Point Road, the construction of Pai-Gomani Road, and dualization of Kuje-Gwagwalada road are also included.

Wike reiterated the FCT Administration’s commitment to completing ongoing projects, many of which were initiated by previous administrations. He expressed the current administration’s determination to see the projects to conclusion.

The Minister acknowledged and commended the consistent support of the National Assembly to the FCT Administration, specifically praising the swift consideration of the 2025 statutory budget proposal. “It’s not been long that Mr. President sent this to you and expeditiously, you’ve done the first and second reading and now we are in Committee stage. It has never happened. Since your inception, you have always given us that support. We have never suffered any delay in budget passage. We want to say that we will not take this for granted. We will continue to cooperate with you for the development of the FCT,” he stated, while urging for an accelerated passage of the FCT’s 2025 statutory budget proposal.