By Festus Fifen.

The Nigeria Federal Capital Development Authority says Despite prevailing financial challenges faced by the present administration, significant progress has been made on efforts to deliver key infrastructural development in Abuja, the Nigeria Federal Capital.

The Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engineer Shehu Hadi Ahmad who stated this while briefing newsmen on some of the recent approvals from the Federal Executive Council attributed the achievement to the decision of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello’s led FCT Administration to complete ongoing and abandoned infrastructural projects in the nation’s capital.

Engr. Hadi opined that paucity of funds for infrastructure development was not just a problem of the FCT alone, but rather a national issue, as the continued depleting Federal allocation has continued to affect infrastructure development in the Territory.

In his “Infrastructure development is not a bane of Abuja alone, but a national problem. As it is, funding for infrastructure in Nigeria currently runs into trillions of naira and Abuja, as we all know gets funding for infrastructural projects from national budget which is not enough.

“That is why the FCT Administration is the engaging private sector through the land for infrastructure swap like we have in Gwagwa District and we are looking at other Districts like Buru Shareti where we have received interest”.

Engr. Hadi explained that through the goodwill of the FCT Minister, several efforts are in place which has changed the narrative in the delivery of infrastructure to help realise the dreams of the founding fathers of the capital city, adding that with more political will, a lot can still be done towards the inclusive and rapid development of the city.

According to him, about 18 projects proposals are before the Federal Executive Council (FEC), out of which 9 are being processed as approvals have been given for award of contracts, which are going to be delivered in the phase of sequence, in line with the policy of executing infrastructure of most impact on the city.

He disclosed that on Monday, the FCTA got FEC’s approval for a series of projects which includes the revised estimated total cost of the contract for the construction and equipping of 220-Bed Gwarimpa District Hospital (Phase I) at
Plot 79 Sector Centre E, Gwarimpa District, Abuja, awarded to Messrs Mabelt Construction Company Limited at the total cost of
N5,652,680,046.09.

The FCDA Boss noted that approval for the revised estimated contract for the construction of three Solid Waste Transfer Stations at Mpape, Apo and Kubwa in the FCT, were awarded to Messrs Goodness International Resources Limited, at the total cost of N6,230,103,458.37.

” Similarly, the FCT also got approval for the Award of contract for the provision of Electric Power and Water supply to Apo-Tafyi Federal Integrated Staff Housing site, awarded to Messrs Olivec Ventures Limited, at the total cost of N3,578,679,582.19.

“Approval for the award of contract for the construction of Access Road and Car Park for Abuja Light Rail at Stadium and Kukwaba Stations, awarded to Messrs Datum Construction Engineering Limited
at the cost of N4,600,479,947.25

“Approval for the award of contract for the construction of Access Road and Car Park for Abuja Light Rail at Stadium and Kukwaba Stations, awarded to Messrs Datum Construction Engineering Limited, at the total cost of N4,600,479,947.25.

“Approval for the Award of contract for the construction of 15km Road from A2 Junction(Abuja-Lokoja Road) to Pai in Kwali Area Council, FCT, awarded to Messrs COAN (West Africa) Limited, at the cost of N11,584,613,858,.61.

“Approval for the award of contract for the construction of Nanda-Pandagi-Dangara-Agyena Road, FCT Abuja, awarded to
Messrs COAN (West Africa)Limited, at the cost of N9,133,302,039.00”.