FCTA, Nasarawa to Collaborate on Road, Rail Development
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Nasarawa State have agreed to cooperate on road and the development of a metro train to connect the nation’s capital from the Nasarawa State axis.
This collaboration was explored yesterday when the Governor of Nasarawa State Abdullahi Sule, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Wike said the FCTA would initiate discussion with Nasarawa on the development of the metro line from Apo to Keffi and ensure the completion of the road network from AYA Bridge to Masaka.
He described the Metro line as vital, adding that President Bola Tinubu had given instructions which he said would be completed in the next seven months.
The minister said that Abuja would not grow if he did not do anything that would impact positively on Nasarawa State.
“The role of Nasarawa State regarding the development of the FCT cannot be overemphasised. For everybody who understands that FCT is at the centre; we have boundaries with Niger, Kogi, Kaduna and Nasarawa states. But of all the states, Nasarawa is the biggest and the closest to us. So, if we want to talk about development, we must work together, which is very key,” Wike said.
He also stressed the need for stronger partnership with Nasarawa to address raging insecurity.
On his part, Sule stressed the need for partnership and development.
He noted that over 40 per cent of people working in Abuja were residing in Nasarawa State.
According to him, Nasarawa would also want to reap from the FCT additional metro line development.
“We discussed with the previous minister that whatever it is, we don’t want free meals, Nasarawa State will bring its own part of the bargain for the rail line development from Apo going all the way to Keffi.
“We have even initiated a discussion with CCECC Nig. Ltd and a Russian company that are willing to construct.
With this, we can say we are more than happy to work jointly with the FCT to develop that,” Sule said.
He said just after the border at Maitama 2, the government has about 13,000 hectares of land at Garku-Kubusu for housing development which, in collaboration with the FCT, can be transformed into a clean city like Dubai and Kigali.
