Follow Us on Google
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that the FCT Administration has implemented more than 60 per cent of its 2026 capital budget, despite the late release of funds.
Wike made the disclosure on Wednesday after inspecting ongoing road, bridge and recreational projects across Abuja, saying the release of the budget had enabled contractors to return to sites and accelerate work.
He said several major projects inspected would be completed between December and January, describing their delivery as a potential “Christmas gift” to residents of the nation’s capital from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The minister said: “We are implementing the budget steadily, we’re progressing, and we are happy with the work we’re doing. At least we can say for today, for the 2026 capital budget, we have not done below 60 per cent, in spite of the fact that the budget was released late.”
According to him, the delay in the budget had affected payments to contractors, particularly Julius Berger, but work resumed immediately after the budget was assented to and funds became available.
Wike said the administration had inspected four major project sites, including roads and bridges in Kaura District, the N5 road in Life Camp, the N16 project around Gwarimpa and the rehabilitation of the IBB International Golf and Country Club.
He said the Kaura District project, being handled by Infiouest, was expected to be handed over by December 15, while Julius Berger had given assurances that the N5 Life Camp project and the adjoining road linking it to the Old Keffi Road would be completed in December.
The N16 project, being executed by CBC Global, was described by the minister as a major undertaking involving bridges and difficult terrain.
Wike said the contractor had assured the administration that the project would be delivered by the first week of January.
“If that job is completed, obviously, the entire Gwarimpa area will be a different thing altogether. That is a very huge infrastructure going on,” he said.
At the IBB Golf Course, Wike said the facility was being rehabilitated by Julius Berger following its closure over a dispute among some members.
He said a committee headed by the President of the Court of Appeal had been constituted to address the issues surrounding the facility, while President Tinubu had directed the FCT Administration to ensure that the golf course was reopened.
According to him, the contractor had assured the administration that the facility would be ready for a tournament scheduled for November.
Wike said the golf course was important not only because it was used by the President but also because of its significance to diplomats.
The minister said the pace of work on the projects demonstrated what he described as a renewed infrastructure drive under the Tinubu administration.
“I think that we’re on track, we are happy, and we can see that the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu has redefined infrastructure as far as FCT is concerned,” Wike said.
He added: “I’m happy if these projects are completed before the election time; it will be a Christmas gift to the residents of Abuja by Mr. President.”
On political controversies surrounding the FCT budget, Wike said legislators seeking re-election should focus on explaining their records to voters rather than debating whether the FCT Administration obtained loans.
He said: “Those who are running in the election should go and tell the residents and the voters why they should be voted for, or why they should come back.”
Wike also addressed reactions to his recent comments about the 2023 presidential election and the role played by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) G5 governors.
He maintained that the G5 had a political strategy during the election and rejected claims that his comments suggested that election results were simply manipulated.
The minister said the PDP’s concern at the time was the potential strength of Atiku Abubakar, who was the party’s presidential candidate, particularly in relation to the South-South region.
According to Wike, the G5’s strategy included ensuring that the PDP did not secure all the votes in the South-South, thereby affecting Atiku’s overall tally.
“Our major problem and opponent was Atiku Abubakar and if we didn’t do that, something would have happened,” he said.
Wike dismissed claims that social media trends could be used as evidence of electoral victory, arguing that actual election results from polling units remained critical.
“Social media does not win elections,” he said, adding that those making claims about who won Rivers State should produce the relevant polling-unit results rather than relying on social media narratives.
He also denied that his comments amounted to an admission that he personally manipulated election results.
“How would I have done it? I just took the result sheet, I wrote it, and gave it to INEC?” he asked.
Wike maintained that every political organisation develops strategies around elections, saying the G5’s strategy in 2023 was designed around its assessment of the major political threat at the time.
He said: “Every election has a strategy. The G5 had their strategy. South-South was purely a PDP state, purely a PDP state, and so if we had voted for PDP all through, then Atiku would have won, and that was the threat.”
The minister further argued that claims about the performance of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in Rivers State should be considered within the broader national electoral arithmetic.
“Assuming Obi won Rivers State, for example, add it for him, would he have won the election?” Wike asked.
He urged commentators to rely on electoral facts rather than social media claims when assessing the outcome of elections.
