The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration will partner with the Nasarawa State government on developing rail lines and road transportation networks.

Mr Wike stated this when the Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa visited him in his office in Abuja on Friday.

Acknowledging the closeness of Nasarawa to the FCT, the minister stressed the need for synergy to develop the two entities.

He said the FCTA would open discussion with the Nasarawa government on the development of the metro rail line from Apo to Keffi and the completion of the road network from Abacha Barracks to Masaka.

Mr Wike added that efforts were on top gear to rehabilitate the metro line as directed by President Bola Tinubu, which he said would be completed in the next seven months.

He attributed the key challenge affecting the development efforts of the FCT to a shortage of funds, adding that many projects and contracts had been awarded but needed to be executed due to insufficient funds.

The minister also emphasised the need for a stronger partnership with the Nasarawa government to tackle insecurity.

Earlier, Mr Sule pointed out that more than 40 per cent of people working in Abuja were residing in Nasarawa State, stressing the need for partnership for development.

He explained that based on the agreement, the Nasarawa government was to provide the needed security, collapse the 22 motor parks causing traffic on the road and build a terminal in their place.

The governor said a terminal that could accommodate 900 vehicles had been built on seven hectares of land and was already in use.

On the metro train rail line, Mr Sule said his government wanted to tap additional metro line development from the FCT.

Mr Sule said the development of the rail transport linking Abuja city with Nasarawa would open another area of development for housing, not only for Nasarawa residents but also for the FCT.

(NAN)