The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has inaugurated a major water supply project to serve Karu, Orozo, Kurudu, Jikwoyi, and other neighbouring communities in Abuja.
Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, Wike urged residents to support leaders who deliver tangible development rather than those who engage only in rhetoric.
“Support those who have the capacity to bring something to the people, not those who only go on television to talk. Leadership must be measured by impact. Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the FCT has witnessed both road infrastructure and now the prioritisation of potable water for satellite towns,” he said.
The minister also pledged to construct a 2-kilometre road in Karu Site, declaring: “Consider it done.”
Wike credited his commitment to the project to the advocacy of Sen. Philip Aduda and commended the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) for facilitating several road projects across the council.
“This government made promises, and today, you can see them being fulfilled. Unlike those who stayed in power for years and did nothing, President Tinubu’s administration is here to provide what you were denied for decades,” Wike said.
Emphasising the significance of the water initiative, he added: “Water is life. It is even more important than roads because we cannot do without it. By June 2026, by God’s grace, you will all have access to treated water and no longer rely on unsafe boreholes.”
He disclosed that President Tinubu had approved a 60 per cent advance payment to the contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited, which has shortened the project timeline from 18 months to June 2026.
Also speaking, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described water as essential for life and development.
“Water sustains human health, supports agriculture, drives industry, and maintains ecosystems,” she said, appreciating the President for translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into projects that directly impact rural communities.
The Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Richard Dauda, described the Karu water project as a strategic initiative aligned with the Abuja Master Plan.
He said the project was part of the broader Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, commissioned in June, which includes the supply and integration of about 195 kilometres of pipeline, ranging from 60mm to 600mm in diameter, alongside essential fittings.
Dauda explained that the project aimed to expand access to potable water in Karu, Kurudu, Jikwoyi, and other AMAC communities while creating employment opportunities. He appealed for community cooperation to ensure smooth and timely delivery of the project, stressing that it would significantly enhance public health and wellbeing.