Apo-Karshi Road Project Ready Soon – FCT Minister Assures

BY EDMOND ODOK – After years of abandonment, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to complete and commission the 13.25 kilometres Apo-Karshi road before the 2021 rainy season begins.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello, made the pledge while assuring residents of ongoing efforts at ensuring the road, which has suffered “error of design”, is opened to the public soonest.

He explained that the contractor has sorted out all initial challenges with the project and work is now approaching an advanced stage of completion.

Addressing journalists on the progress of work, Mallam Bello said; “The Karshi-Apo road is a project that should have been delivered by now. One of the main challenges faced on that road has to do with an error in the design whereby a huge rock outcrop on the alignment of the road corridor became very difficult to be able to arrange.

“But we are happy to say that it is now almost taken care of. I believe within a few months’ time hopefully before the onset of the rains this year, that road would be open.”

The Minister further disclosed that a portion of the road linking “Tundun Wada on the Abuja-Keffi Highway via old and new Karshi is now very motorable because of the bridge constructed there with the ecological fund, which was inaugurated about a month ago.”

Highlighting the economic importance of the road project, Mallam Bello said; “I believe this road will help on the Abuja-Keffi highway, particularly the portion from the military formation to Nyanya, which I’m sure you are aware the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is working on. It is being widened and all the alignment for the road proper has been graded.”

Reacting to the protest over insecurity and incessant abduction by Pegi community in Kuje Area Council of the territory, Bello said the administration is already addressing the disturbing security situation to protect lives and property of all residents in the area.

According to him; all security concerns have been raised at the FCT Security Council meeting, adding; “We are focusing on three things, vandalism; cultism and drug abuse; and communal clashes. We have looked at them and we are working on them.”

On the non-completion of the road leading to Pegi resettlement area, the Minister attributed the delay to insufficient funds, saying; “The road in Kuje leading to the resettlement centre has been affected by budgetary constraints, especially as you know that 2020 was a difficult year for everybody particularly in terms of our ability to fund our projects.

“But I hope in 2021, based on what we have in the budget we will work as much as possible to see that this project is completed.”

First awarded in 2011 by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for about N6.4 billion, the road project was later abandoned due to lack of funds and what officials described as “defective structural design”.

Initially conceived as an alternative route to ease daily gridlock on the Mararaba-Nyanya route into the Nation’s capital, the contract scope covered site clearance and earthworks; construction of culverts (pipe and box) of various sizes; and drainages.

Others include: construction of two bridges of three-span (45m) and five-span (75m); rehabilitation of one bridge as well as pavement and final surfacing of the road.