Wike: FCTA Will Complete Abandoned Millennium Tower in 24 Months

•FCTA to pay N825m as compensation, resettlement for second Abuja airport runway

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has said the iconic Millennium Tower, which has been abandoned due to paucity of funds would be completed in the next two years.

He disclosed this after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

The Millennium Tower that straddles the Central Business District in Abuja is a tourist site designed to showcase the country’s unity and strength and provide study and relaxation.

Last year, the federal government said that $400 million would be required to complete the 170 metres high tower, which construction was started in 2005, by Salini Construction Nigeria Limited but has been abandoned due to lack of funds.

Wike described the Millennium Tower project as a very important project that would change the landscape of Abuja.

“It is a very, very ambitious project, but again if we are talking of Abuja being one of the best cities in the world, then we must have such a facility.

“I can tell you it is not easy to go into that project, but we have decided that whatever it takes, it is going to be one of the legacy projects for President Bola Tinubu.

“In fact, we are looking at the next two years, if the way we are going to structure our payment is agreeable with the contractor,” Wike said.

The project had reached 40 per cent completion and was expected to upon completion, self-finance itself from revenue generated from all the commercial activities in the complex.

The project, which dominates the National Square has space for 1,100 cars and houses the National Museum at various levels, the National Theatre as well as a five-star model hotel with 55 luxury rooms and nine suites for about 130 persons.

Its expansive arcade which consists of a 40,000 square metres platform was designed to host national and other events.

In addition, it boosts of offices, passive and active recreational facilities, 1200 capacity auditorium and conference rooms.

Others are exhibition halls, shops, a sport centre with an indoor pool, gyms, fitness, squash courts and a two-level 1,200 capacity basement car park.

The key feature of the structure designed like a flower surrounded by transparent wings is a revolving panoramic restaurant for more than 130 diners.

Wike noted that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team revealed that most of the projects were abandoned for lack of funds.

“The Minister of State, myself, the permanent secretary, and directors have concluded that it is not possible to carry on with the entire projects in the FCT.

“Therefore, we agreed to take them in order of priority. We have tried to work out most of the projects being handled by Julius Berger and agreed to see that these projects are fully completed,” he said.

He also disclosed that the Villa Roundabout being handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in the next six to eight months, while the FCTA would also put a facelift on Garki, Wuse and part of Maitama in the next one week.

He said contractors would be mobilised immediately, adding that Asokoro would equally have a facelift in no distant time.

On the Abuja light rail rehabilitation project, the minister said an agreement had been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they could go to work.

Wike pointed out that part of the problems of the projects was because they were not being funded by the national budget.

Meanwhile, Wike yesterday, said N825, 819,000 would be paid as compensation and resettlement to the Jiwa community affected by the proposed construction of the second Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja runway.

He disclosed this at the meeting between him and Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, and community leaders over the compensation and relocation of Abuja indigenes who were affected by the planned construction of a second runway.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had in March 2022, approved the second runway, with the project broken into four components. The project was also meant for commissioning by June of 2023.

However, the Jiwa Community which hosts the runway, protested their eviction from their ancestral lands, demanding compensation from government.

Wike said Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) would release the money approved for the compensation and settlement of those affected by the project while following amicable resolution with the community the contractors will now move to site and commence work immediately.

He added that as part of the incentive package to the Jiwa community, the ministry of aviation and its agencies would provide 12 immediate employment opportunities while the FCTA would offer 10.

The Tuga Madaki Bridge with a 5km link road already captured in the 2024 budget would also be constructed while provision would be made for a modern healthcare facility for the community.

The minister said the Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Aviation and the FCTA, Sarkin Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, AMAC Chairman and the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission (FCT) would sign the agreement reached between government and Jiwa Community and after the contractors receives money, they would move to the site immediately and commence work.

“I know how you are feeling. I am from a community where government has taken virtually all our land for development. So, if there is anything that should be done to make you happy, I will carry it on my head.

“But the truth remains that what is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. If the Aviation ministry then had concerned themselves with the runway project alone, we wouldn’t have found ourselves here but they came to usurp the job of the FCTA.

“We have only one runway. How would you feel if something happens to that runway tomorrow? It means there will be no flights. In a city as big and cosmopolitan as Abuja?” Wike said.

In his remarks, Keyamo admitted the ministry erred in the past by dabbling into issues outside its remit.

“The timeline to commission the second runway was sometime in June or July 2023, and we have not even mobilised to site by now.

“It is not the business of aviation to assess compensation in matters of land in the FCT. So, I want to appeal to the community whatever you discussed with aviation before was totally outside the powers of aviation.

“It is within the powers of the FCTA to do that. There is a certain legal schedule by which compensation is paid. We know the implications of not following the provisions of the law. When they say rule of law, it does not apply to government alone. It applies to all,” Keyamo said.