The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said on Monday that the ministry will deliver the Millennium Tower project in the next two years.

After a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT, Mr Wike stated that the tower was a critical 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,” said Mr Wike.

The tower in Central Area, Abuja, is a multifunctional edifice with facilities for cultural exposition, tourism, socialisation, recreation, hospitality, and commercial activities.

The project was being handled by Salini Construction Nigeria Limited but was abandoned due to lack of funds.

“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,” Mr Wike said.

The project, conceived in 2005, has reached 40 per cent completion and is expected to, upon completion, self-finance itself from revenues generated from all the commercial activities in the complex.

The minister added that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team has 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.

Mr Wike added that the Villa Roundabout, handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in six to eight months.

He said the ministry would ensure the completion of the projects handled by Cetraco Nigeria Ltd. and put a facelift on Garki, Wuse, and parts of Maitama in the next week.

He said the 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 has been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they can go to work.

(NAN)