Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has solicited for further collaboration with the FCT administration for a metroline from Apo to Keffi, as well as partnering to build the 13,000 hectares Gurku/Kabusu mega city that is only 5km away from Maitama 2.
Engineer Sule made this known when he paid a working visit on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike in his office on Friday.
The Governor expressed optimism that with the Gurku/Kabusu project, Nasarawa State and the FCT could collaborate to build another Kigali or Dubai, that would be the pride of all and sundry.
Pressing in further, Engineer Sule made it known to the FCT Minister that close to 40% of those working in the FCT live in Nasarawa State.
“In Nasarawa State, about 5km away from Maitama 2, we do have about 13,000 hectares of land. It is an initiative of the previous Governor. It is in Gurku/Kabusu area. We can jointly build another Kigali, another Dubai; We can’t do it alone, we can only do it with FCT and build a clean city that everybody will look up to,” he said.
On the Apo-Keffi metroline, the Governor recalled that his administration had earlier approached the immediate past FCT minister, where Nasarawa State made agreed to fulfill its part of the bargain regarding the construction of the metroline linking Apo to Keffi.
“We discussed with the previous minister that whatever it is, we don’t want free meal. Nasarawa State would bring its own part of the bargain. What would link Apo to Keffi and we have even initiated and met with CCECE that are willing. We also met with a Russian company that is willing. And with that, we said we are more than happy to come jointly with the FCT to be able to develop that. Once we develop that, again it would open up another area of land administration for housing for us, not only for Nasarawa State but for the FCT,” he stated.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity of the visit to thank the FCT for initiating work from the Abacha Barracks all the way to the border between Nasarawa State and the FCT.
He however said that the expectation is that the work would extend to Masaka, especially that his administration has already fulfilled its part of the bargain by collapsing all the 22 motor parks causing gridlock on the Abuja-Keffi road and building the Sani Abacha Mega Bus Terminal with 900 vehicles capacity.
He assures the FCT Minister that his administration would provide the necessary security towards ensuring that there is no encroachment on both sides of the road.
Engineer Sule lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Wike as FCT Minister, expressing hope that Wike would replicate the exceptional performance he demonstrated during his two-term governorship of Rivers State, particularly in the area of infrastructure development.
“I want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to come in because we are your biggest neighbour, we are the ones next to you, we are the ones that will always feel what you feel here in the FCT and we believe we should be among the first to come and congratulate you.
“We have no doubt in our minds that the FCT needs a person like you. I have told you in private, I have told you in the open that anybody can say whatever they want to say. One thing they can never take away from you is that, indeed, you are Mr. Project among all the governors in Nigeria during our time,” he added.
Responding, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike underscored the need to deepen cross -border ties and enhance development, between the FCT and Nasarawa State especially on infrastructure and security.
Wike reiterated the readiness of the FCT administration to collaborate with Nasarawa government on their request to work on the Abacha road-Keffi and the Metroline from Apo to Keffi.
He however emphasized that any project he would initiate would be based on available funds to guard against having additional uncompleted projects.
The Minister announced plans to convene a security meeting involving the neigbouring states of Nasarawa, Niger, Kaduna and Kogi, with a view to addressing prevailing security challenges.
“One of the problems we have here, I must tell you is the problem of award of contracts without conclusion. Metroline from Apo to Keffi is key, but very expensive.We will discuss further with you.
“I’m trying to see how we can arrange a meeting between neighbouring states and FCT, so that we can put our heads together and get a system that we can see how we can tackle insecurity, because we cannot do it alone. So people like you, I think will make sure that the renewed hope agenda of the President can be achieved. Be assured that together we will work together, and make sure that the problem is tackled or reduced to the barest minimum.
”You are the first elected Governor that has come to pay us a courtesy call.The role of Nasarawa state as regards the development of the FCT cannot be overemphasized. FCT is at the centre; we have boundaries with Niger, Kogi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. But of all the states, Nasarawa is the biggest, and very close to us. So, I assure you that we could work together for the development of FCT and Nasarawa State ” Wike stated.