The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike on Thursday flagged off the construction of the Lot 2 expansion of water supply to Karu and other satellite towns in the capital city.
Wike flagged off the project in Karu town, saying it is a fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise of providing potable water to residents of the FCT and satellite towns.
He said: “I don’t know why they should still refer to Karu as a satellite town, I think that it’s vertically a city now, I don’t know why it should be a satellite town.
“Be it as it may, this is one of the promises made by Mr President when he commissioned it in June, two months ago, of the Abuja Greater Water. He said he was going to do this in the Satellite towns and we have started with Bwari and AMAC area councils.
“By the grace of God next year, we will get to Kuje and before Mr President completes his first tenure we will get to either Gwagwalada or Abaji. And so, Mr President would have fulfilled the promises he made of providing portable water to the satellite town.
“Because we did not commission this road, all of you have forgotten that this road was not passable – from here to Karishi – 17 kilometers – we came and did it.”
When completed, Wike said the project would provide water to Karu, Orozo, Kurudu, and other areas.
The minister stressed that water is life and more important than road, hence the need to fulfill Tinubu’s promises.
He added: “Now again, we are here to provide water for Karu, Orozo, Kurudu and other neighbouring communities. Water is key, water is life, water is even more important than road because we can’t do without water.
“All I appeal to the community leaders and our youths is to see that we should support the company so that they will be able to finish this job on time.”
He disclosed that the project would have taken 18 months but with the president’s approval of 50 percent payment, it will be ready by June next year.
Wike further said: “Initially, this job was to be done in 18 months but with the appeal to them and the approval of Mr President that 50 percent of the sum should be paid to them, the contractors have promised that by the special grace of God, by June next year, we will come back here and thank God and you will all get water.
“Do you will no longer depend on digging your own borehole, drinking water that is not treated, now you will drink water that will give you good health.
“One thing that is clear and you should ask yourself this question. Is this the first time that you have seen a government in place in the FCT? I think we have had government b fore? We have had government who had stayed there for eight years, is it not correct? We have had government who had stayed there for five years is it not correct? We have had government who have stayed there for eight years is it not correct?
“Has any government come to Karu to say we will provide you water? Have you had water before? Did this government promise to give you water? Have we come now to give you water?
“So you believe that you have a covenant with this government and the covenant is like somebody said ‘agreement is agreement’, if you do for me, I do for you; if you fall for me, I fall for you; if you hate me, I hate you. So the people of Karu, you will always remember the government that remembered you, is it not correct?
“Will you remember those who had the opportunity and refused to do anything for you? Friendship is like when you see me I see you, if you don’t see me, will I see you? So we have come to fulfill the promise we made to you that you must have clean and potable water.”
