The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has reiterated the commitment of the Administration to the ongoing water project in Abuja.
The Minister while conducting members of the Senate Committee on FCT led by Chairman, Senator Tolu Adebiyi during their second day of Oversight function to critical infrastructures projects within and outside Nigeria’s capital appealed to the lawmakers to pay urgent attention to the project, so that the administration will meet up with its 20 percent counterpart funding for the project.
The committee touring the water project and other sites in Abuja said the project was conceived to solve water problems in many parts of the city.
The Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Tolu Odebiyi said the purpose of the project tour was to determine FCT’s priority projects, so as to know where to appropriate funds, during the budget presentation.
Odebiyi noted that having seen the projects and their importance, he would galvanize the support of other lawmakers to ensure that the water works and other projects were completed in time.
“We want to know what their priority projects are so that when they will present their budgets, we will know Which funds to be made available for which project
“I must also commend the team of FCTA for the extent of the work which they are doing. We have seen a number of projects and we are highly impressed.
“The greater Abuja Water Works is also very impressive work and is being funded by China EXIM bank, a foreign currency bank. I think it is important that we look at that so that we can make plans for the counterpart funding,“ he added.
Also, the Project Manager of CGC, Zhang Xiang, the contractor handling the project, said the speed of the water works was impeded by the paucity of funds.
Xiang urged the Lawmakers to expedite action on the release of 20 percent counterpart funding which the Nigerian government through FCT was supposed to provide.
According to him, the China EXIM bank has released about $150 million dollars from its 80 percent counterpart funding, and may not release more if, FCT fails to provide its own 20 percent.
Other project sites visited are the Extension of ISEX, Construction of Access Road to Rail station at KuKuwaba, Access Road to Institutions District and Development of Arterial Road.
The oversight tour of projects will continue for the third day outside the city centre which they intend to go to the satellite town for the continuation of the projects tour.
PIAK
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