Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday declared that President Bola Tinubu’s administration can create 40,000 direct jobs in Abuja alone.
Wike said Tinubu can create 40,000 jobs for Nigerians by completing the Idu industrial park and getting it to work.
The minister disclosed this during the commissioning of the newly constructed right-hand service carriageway of Inner Northern Expressway (INEX) from Ring Road 3 (RR3) to Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway).
The road which links Idu to Zuba was commissioned to mark Tinubu’s second year in office.
Tinubu was represented by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin.
Speaking at the event, Wike disclosed that the road was awarded in 2014 at the cost of N7 billion but was increased to N31 billion due to inflation.
He also noted that the project was completed in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at impacting the lives and economy of Nigerians.
Wike said, “This road was awarded in 2014 at the cost of seven billion but was increased to N31 billion due to inflation variation.
“When we were inaugurated in August 2023, I was able to come to this place, passing through Idu – it was difficult for anybody to say he would continue with this project because I just asked myself and the FCDA, how did you people award this kind of road that you know you can’t finish?
“Did you ask yourself that a job of N7 billion in 2014 with commitment you can finish it, every month let the company collect from our IGR N500 million, in one year, we have paid six billion naira but the road has taken 11 good years.
“You don’t need to go and ask anybody the mathematics, so I thank Mr President for your commitment in making sure that projects of this nature are being completed.
“This is the industrial site of Abuja, if you have time the industrial park is somewhere there. I took time to go to that place and I said, look we are losing a lot and of course the people were not comfortable that they will continue, why? For years they had no C of O to assure them that they can continue with the job.
“When we came and saw that it was a problem and setback, I immediately ordered the C of O to be given to them and it was done within two weeks at that time.
“Mr President, I will encourage you that it will create not less than 40,000 direct jobs. What I saw, if we are able to give them the support, some of these problems will be solved and the company has applied and because here is an industrial base, they are willing to complete the left hand side but you know that it can’t come easily.
“There will be tax concessions, they have written to us and we have sent it to the Ministry of Finance on how much the job is going to cost.
“The point we are making is that this are the kind of things that nobody should waste time but to support, the contractors could not get approval to cross the rail line for them to complete this job and i hope Mr President that you will go through this way to Zuba and go back to Abuja.”
