Wike pledges completion of 13-year-delayed Karshi-Apo road

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced his commitment to completing the long-delayed Karshi to Apo Road construction project within the next six to seven months.

During a site visit on Tuesday, Wike assessed the progress of the project, which began in 2011, and expressed his determination to see it through.

Wike noted that despite the FCT Administration having paid over 86% of the contract sum for the 13-kilometre road, it remains unfinished. He attributed the delay to political issues, stating, “It is very unfortunate that for 13 good years, this road has been abandoned. Everything we politicise, and that is why development cannot get quickly to our people.”

Under the current administration’s renewed hope agenda, Wike pledged to make the completion of the road from Karshi to Apo a priority. “I will take this road as a personal project and make sure that we complete it,” he said.

Regarding the road linking Karshi with Ara in Nasarawa State, Wike clarified that it would not be funded by the FCT unless it was a joint venture, as interstate roads fall under the Federal Government’s responsibility. “I am not going to waste the resources of FCT to do an interstate road. The one that concerns FCT particularly is Karshi to Apo Road,” he noted.

Nyesom Wike also expressed doubt about the contractor’s ability to deliver and warned that it would no longer be business as usual. “I don’t care who you are; I don’t know where you came from; you must show that you will be serious and in the next few weeks, I want to see your equipment on the ground before funds will be released,” he asserted. The contractor must demonstrate the capacity to complete the project within six to seven months.

The project will maintain its single-lane design for now, with plans to expand to a dual carriageway as the area develops. Wike appealed to the affected communities for patience, promising that the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu would ultimately benefit them.