Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Barrister Nyesome Wike, has pledged to commission three bus and taxi terminals next year.
The minister disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the official flag-off ceremony for the construction of the Central Business District bus/taxi terminal.
Wike who said that the FCTA does not carry out projects where there is no money, stating that the money for is ready for the project.
He said: “Before now we have a flagged off two of the bus terminals, one in Mabushi, and the other one in Kugbo.
“This one is for the Central Business District, which is at the center of this city. So many of us who have had the privilege of traveling overseas and other countries, when we see some of these facilities there, i think what comes to mind is, why is it that we can’t also have the same kind of facilities that we enjoy when we go outside the country?.
“Abuja is a beautiful city. By the grace of God, through the support of Mr. President we have continued to expand the road infrastructure. If we expand the road infrastructure without linking it with the various bus terminals, i don’t we have been able to achieve what we want to achieve.
“What we are trying to do is to integrate and improve our transport system. It is going to cut all these so-called one-chance crime, that is always committed.
“Here, this is the bus and taxi terminal where you can come in and the management of these bus and taxi terminals will know that these are the vehicles that are going to so so place, and these are the vehicles you have boarded. So for security reasons, you’d be able to identify. Unlike when you would go and stand on the road, you don’t know who is plying the vehicle and you wave, and then the person will ask where you are going to, you enter and from there that is the end of the story. And then, people will be asking what we are doing to stop these one-chance crime and so on.
“So part of what we are doing today is the establishment of robust bus and taxi terminals, that you can go there and say “I’m going to Gwagwalada” and we are aware if anything happens, this is the vehicle and this is the driver that would be held responsible.
“Also, you can come here and relax yourself until when your own bus or taxi will take you out, with all the modern facilities. Sometimes when we go train stationa overseas, we see the facilities, restaurants, people go and watch films, people just relax.
“That is the way it is supposed to be in a city like Abuja, and I can assure all of you that by the grace of God that, this Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President like I have said severally, is not just by talking, it is by reality, as seeing is believing.
“I believe by the Grace of God, next year as the contractor has promised us, we will formally commission these three bus and taxi terminals to the Glory of God.
“This is not a project that is being awarded and then you will say there are no funds. We have told the contractor that there is no augmentation. We are not going to do any augmentation. I am not going to rush back to the Federal Executive Council or to Mr. President to tell them ‘please augmentation’, the money is being provided.
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“I’ve told the contractor the funding of this project will not be a problem. So do all you can and tell us when the next payment will be, be assured you’d get your money.
“The FCT does not carry out projects, where the funding is not there. We are not going to do that. We are not going to award contracts just to satisfy people. We must award contracts when we know the funding is there. No amount of pressure will make us to go and award projects in order to satisfy particular individuals or group of individuals.”
Earlier, Biodum Otuola, head of the company, Planet Project, handling the project promised to complete the project before time, if funds were made available.
