FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has directed the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to provide infrastructure in the area earmarked for constructing residential buildings for judges in Katampe District, Abuja.
The minister also directed FCDA to provide infrastructure, particularly roads, in the area designated for constructing the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal in Jabi.
Mr Wike gave the directive in Abuja on Tuesday, shortly after inspecting the areas. He noted that construction would not commence when there was no infrastructure.
“Remember we said we were going to build accommodation for judges of the Federal High Court.
“We also said that we are going to build for judges of the FCT High Court and the justices of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division.
“As part of it, we had to go and see the sites, and we found out that the needed infrastructure is yet to be provided.
“This made us direct the FCDA to quickly provide the infrastructure so that we can start the residential buildings. We can’t start residential buildings when there is no basic infrastructure,” he said.
The minister added that the location for the construction of the Appeal Court does not have the needed infrastructure, particularly roads.
“I have also directed the FCDA to make sure that that is done and then acquire some buildings for public purposes, pay compensation and annex them as part of the Court of Appeal Complex,” he said.
Mr Wike said the move was part of efforts to renew Nigerians’ hope and trust in the government through the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
The minister also said the FCT Administration has concluded plans to build a memorial centre at Jabi, on the site of a shopping mall that collapsed in 2018 and claimed seven lives.
Mr Wike said all the projects would commence immediately after the 2024 budget was passed and assented to by Mr Tinubu.
He added that the procurement process would commence when the budget is passed to build a befitting and world-standard memorial centre.
The minister said the projects would be funded with internally generated revenue and funds from financial institutions.
(NAN)