The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, directed the permanent secretary to complete payment to the Chinese concession company to conclude rehabilitation of the rails within eight months.
Wike gave the ultimatum during an inspection of the Abuja Metro Station in Idu and at the Airport Station on his first assignment outside the office, less than 48 hours after the swearing-in of the 45 new ministers.
He further asserted that restoring the Abuja metro had become crucially fundamental as part of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians within the shortest possible time.
At the main terminal of the metro station, Wike, flanked by the Minister of State for FCT, Mairiga Mahmud, and other officials, addressed the contractors, questioning the quality of work.
Proceeding on the tour, the FCT minister took the train ride from the metro station, through the Idu Station and then to the Airport Station.
Politics Nigeria learnt that the rails, initially developed in six phases, were funded with loans from the China EXIM Bank.
The Abuja light rail commissioned at the metro station opened for business in 2018 and operated for about two years before the train service folded up, owing mainly to vandalism.
