Abuja To Receive Solar Electrification, Water Supply Boost As FCTA Signs MoU with Chinese Firms

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and the China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group for electrification, using solar power and provision of rural water supply.

The FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, signed the agreement at the weekend in Beijing, China with President of CCECC, Mr Chen Sichang and the Chairman of CGCOC, Mr. Lan Meizhong, while on President Bola Tinubu’s entourage to the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

A statement on Sunday by the Director Press, Office FCT Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, said Wike assured that the selected projects would be completed across the FCT in time for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the FCT.

 “The whole area of Maitama, Asokoro, Wuse, Central Business Area, Airport Road, down to Bill Clinton Drive will be handled by CCECC while CGCOC would handle the districts of Mabushi, Katampe and Garki,” said a quote ascribed to Wike.

As regards the provision of water, the minister also asserted that a lot of work had been done on the Greater Abuja Water Works which is being handled by CGCOC.

He said the project, which was awarded several years ago, had attained 75 per cent completion and would be completed by December this year.

On the need to equally ensure water supply in the satellite areas of the FCT, the minister said Tinubu directed that the focus must not only be on urban but on semi-urban areas.

“And so we are keeping up with this idea that there is need to have satellite town water supply in Gwagwalada, Kwali and Kuje. We have now signed the MOU with CGC for them to carry out this assignment,” he said.

The statement added that the projects which would further ensure the FCT’s development, were masterminded by  Tinubu at the FOCAC summit as part of his agenda to bring hope back to residents of the FCT.

Speaking on lighting up the city, he said: ” One key project which is very dear to us and one of the reasons why we are here today is to light up Abuja because Abuja will be 50 years by next year so it should be a jubilee year for us.

“And we want Abuja to be like other cities, like what we see in Beijing …we have gone round and we have seen light everywhere and that is how we want Abuja to be.”

He lauded the quality of work done by CCECC in the execution of projects, including facilitating the commercial operation of the Abuja metroline and thanked the company for the development of the FCT and Nigeria in general.

 The minister said the completion of the project as part of the activities to celebrate the first year anniversary of the president was a testament to the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He urged the CGCOC to ensure quick delivery of the project as well as ensure that water supply in the satellite towns becomes a reality. The signing of the MoUs was one of the fallouts of the just concluded summit in Beijing.

On the minister’s entourage were the Permanent Secretary, Treasury, Alhaji Adamu Wanki, Executive Director, Rural Water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), Dr. Mohammed Dan Hassan, Director of Procurement, Alhaji Musa Idris, and other senior officials of the FCTA.

Olawale Ajimotokan

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