By, Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has sanctioned the design and construction of official residences for the heads of key federal courts, while also approving a series of major water supply and infrastructure development projects across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, made this known to State House correspondents after Thursday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The Minister noted that the new residences will be built for the President of the Court of Appeal, the President of the National Industrial Court, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court.
Wike further explained that the decision was part of the administration’s commitment to providing suitable accommodation for judicial officers in the nation’s capital.
“The Federal Executive Council ratified the approval of the design and construction of residences for heads of courts. This project has been flagged off, and work is ongoing,” Wike said.
The minister also announced that the Council approved the provision of potable water to satellite towns including Karu, Karshi, Orozo, and Bwari.
He recounted that President Tinubu had earlier inaugurated the Greater Abuja Water Supply project and directed that the network be extended to outlying communities.
“Mr. President promised that the water supply would reach the satellite towns, and we have flagged off that project. By the grace of God, we believe it will be inaugurated by May next year,” Wike said.
The Minister further revealed that the Council ratified the emergency rehabilitation works carried out at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, which was upgraded to international standards before the inauguration of the last ECOWAS Parliament session.
“The rehabilitation was done under emergency approval as directed by Mr. President to bring the centre to international standard, and that has been completed and inaugurated,” he added.
Describing the approval of engineering infrastructure for the Maitama 2 District — a new city district covering about 786 hectares, as the “most important” FEC decision of the day, the Minister emphasised that the contract was first awarded about five years ago but was stalled.
“When Mr. President came in, the contract was terminated. Today, Council has approved a new contract to provide the engineering infrastructure for Maitama 2. This is one of the most ambitious projects the FCT is embarking on, and we will give it all the support it requires,” he said.
Wike, however, reaffirmed that the Tinubu-led administration is firmly committed to advancing the development of satellite towns, completing previously abandoned projects, and opening new districts to accommodate the rapid population growth within the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Olusola Akintonde