Getting the Apo-Karshi Road for economic, social benefit of FCT residents
By Ismail Abdulaziz
The Apo-Karshi stretch road was first awarded at the cost of N6.4 billion to Kakatar Engineering. The road project is aimed at reducing the hardship experienced daily by commuters coming into the Federal Capital City from the AYA-Nyanya-Mararaba-Keffi road in the FCT and Nasarawa State.
Work on the project stopped after the 2015 general election, but on assumption of office as FCT Minister, Muhammad Musa Bello, on May 2015, ordered the contractor back to the site to continue with the construction of the Apo-Karshi road project.
Karshi-Apo road contract was awarded to Kakatar by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) at the sum of N6, 355, 609, 124.53, on Jan. 19, 2011, but actual work commenced on March 23, 2011.
An official had revealed that:A substantial part of the road has already been completed. What is happening is that there is about 200 metres not completed because there is a hill of about 50metres high which has to be chopped off otherwise vehicles wont be able to use the road.
After the Federal Executive Council meeting on Feb. 16, 2021, the minister pledged that the Apo- Karshi road would be completed before the rainy season sets in and attributed the delay in completion of the road project to the error of design whereby a huge rock outcrops on the alignment of the road.
That had been the delay in the project seen as a legacy project by residents of FCT because it will ease the daily gridlock, improve productivity of civil servcant as well as open up new site within the territory. Many rural areas would be opened up when the project is completed.
Thousands of people who reside in Karshi, Orozo, Gidan Mangoro, Kurudu, Wasa, Kyami, Takushara, and other communities, would be direct beneficiaries of the road project.
The Coordinator of the FCT Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Mr Francis Ogwuegbu, told NAN that happily the Apo-Karshi road construction projects fund has been paid recently, I think last week. They are on site working.
The staff of the STDD were also on the site overseeing the activities of the contractor during our visit.
In a statement a fortnightago, the contractor handling the project, Kakatar Engineering, announced that work would commence because the Federal Capital Territory Administration has reached an agreement on the various grey areas that had been encumbering the completion.
A statement by MrAzibaola Robert,Chairman/Managing Director of Kakatar Engineering, disclosed that the project would soon be completed and handed over for use by the public.
The issue relating to design has since been taken care of and being implemented on ground, while the issue of review of rates is being tackled with zeal by the authority.
It will be recalled that the Karshi Apo road project was awarded to Kakatar CE in 2011 as an addendum to the Apo Ara project at rates which were poor even at 2011.
In 2022, these rates have become even so unappealing for a contractor to make any margin, and we appreciate the Honourable Minister of the FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, the Honourable Minister of State, Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, and the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) for their understanding.
It is on this note that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) authority has graciously approved the review of the rates of the project for its immediate completion. This has now given us a renewed momentum and the impetus to expedite the completion of the project without further delay.
We are, therefore, grateful for this gesture and assure Abuja residents that this road shall sooner than later be completed and handed over for their use.
Already work has commenced at the site with equipment and staff at work with the Chief Executive of the construction company leading the team himself; the hill that had been an great issue between the contractor and the FCTA had been cut through and vehicles were seen plying the road even though it was still untarred.
The road project, no doubt, would be of great benefit to Nigerians as well as improve the visibility and economic life of people in FCT and those living in the rural areas along the route.(NAN)
Source: NAN News