By Abbas Nazil
After nearly a decade in the works, the $470 million Greater Abuja Water Supply Project has officially been commissioned, bringing a major milestone to the Federal Capital Territory’s infrastructure development.
The commissioning ceremony, held on Monday, was presided over by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to completing essential public utilities beyond road construction.
Initially awarded in 2017, the water project was financed through a collaborative arrangement involving the Chinese government and the African Development Initiative.
China contributed 85 percent of the funding, while the Federal Government of Nigeria and the FCT Administration supplied the remaining 15 percent, covering Loops 1, 2, 5, and 6 of the water distribution network.
Minister Wike emphasized that although the project was stalled for years, the intervention of the Tinubu administration led to its final completion and delivery.
“Under this administration, the job has been completed, and today you are commissioning the water project,” Wike stated during the event.
He acknowledged that the President had previously expressed concerns about uncompleted infrastructure in Abuja, including the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project and the dormant mass transit train system.
According to Wike, it was President Tinubu’s insistence on reviving these projects that catalyzed the renewed momentum leading to Monday’s milestone.
Minister Wike also announced that further steps were being taken to ensure water accessibility reaches beyond the city center.
He revealed that during President Tinubu’s visit to China in 2023, a new agreement was signed to facilitate the extension of water supply to satellite towns like Bwari, Kubwa, and Karu.
Procurement processes for this extension are reportedly in the final stages, with Wike promising timely execution.
“This project took eight years, but the rural water extension projects will not,” he affirmed, pledging that the new projects will be commissioned by the administration’s third anniversary.
Wike took the opportunity to commend the National Assembly for its unwavering support in facilitating the funding and oversight needed to drive infrastructure projects across the territory.
He closed his remarks with a pointed statement addressing ongoing political scrutiny, asserting that the administration’s progress is visible to all.
“Every day, we’ll make sure that people will see.
Those who want to see will see.
Those who don’t want to see, it’s not your fault because they decided not to see,” he said.
The successful commissioning of the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project is regarded as one of the largest urban water investments in the region.
It is expected to significantly enhance water access across the Abuja metropolis, contributing to both urban development and public health.
With new projects targeting underserved communities already underway, the administration has set a renewed tone for infrastructure delivery in the nation’s capital.
