Why Tinubu Sacked Apo-Karshi Road Contractor After Full Payment – Wike

The original contractor handling the Apo-Karshi road project was fully paid but failed to complete the job, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, said on Wednesday.

Wike said the failure of the contractor, who was awarded the project in 2010, eventually led President Bola Tinubu to approve the termination of the contract and its re-award to SCC Nigeria Limited.

The minister disclosed this during an inspection of the road in Abuja.

According to Wike, attempts by the FCT Administration to get the contractor to return to the site and complete the project did not yield results.

He said the matter was subsequently brought to the attention of the president because of the importance of the road to residents in the affected communities.

Wike said, “This road was awarded in 2010 to an indigenous contractor. We did all we could to persuade the contractor then to see that the job was fully implemented, even though we were fully paid, but nothing was forthcoming.

“When it was brought to the attention of Mr President, considering the importance of this road, he directed that the contract be terminated and awarded to a more competent contractor.”

The minister said criticism had followed the re-award of the project, particularly over the contract sum, but argued that the decision was necessary to get the road completed.

The Apo-Karshi road, one of the major projects handled by the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), passes through difficult terrain and required extensive engineering work.

Wike said the FCT Administration was considering the road for inauguration along with several other completed projects, although the final date would depend on the President’s schedule.

He said projects at Idu, the Southern Parkway and Karu District had also been inspected, while between 10 and 12 projects being executed by Arab Contractors were being lined up for commissioning.

The minister said he hoped the Apo-Karshi road would be inaugurated before the end of November.

On plans for facilities around the road, Wike said the relevant FCT departments would determine what public amenities were required, noting that the STDD’s primary responsibility was road construction.

“But be sure that I will make it happen as a tourist centre,” he assured.