FCTA Clears N150b Liabilities To Contractors

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said over N150 billion liabilities inherited from previous administrations have been cleared.

This was revealed after the outcome of the FCTA Executive Committee meeting chaired by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, held in Life Camp, Abuja.

The FCDA Executive Secretary, Shehu Ahmad, revealed that the current FCT Administration has cleared all the liabilities inherited from the previous administrations, which has led to the completion of some major infrastructural projects within the city centre.

The FCDA boss noted that before now, most contractors have abandoned their sites because of accrued liabilities from the previous administrations worth over 150 billion.

He said: “The minister took the bull by the horn and cleared all the liabilities of these and other contractors, including those developing the Airport Expressway. So, all the liabilities were cleared.

“So, all uncompleted segments of the works along this axis were completed. Now you can operate in dual mode on Constitution Avenue and we are making efforts now to also finalise the development of the dual carriage of the Independence Road.

“So, this is what has actually eased the traffic right from the City Centre, from Three Arm Zone through to World Trade Centre, and to the National Hospital. And the travel time for most commuters, and passengers to the airport has drastically reduced. You can almost plan your travel time now from your home to the airport.”

While enumerating some of the challenges, which include inadequate funding, uncontrolled population influx and resettlement of original inhabitants, the Executive Secretary advocated the review of the Master Plan to address some of these challenges.

Ahmad also called for a coordinated development strategy to be pursued by the Administration with its contiguous states that would ensure the development of the satellite areas among the states and the FCT, as viable economic areas.

According to a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Austine Elemue, the minister said the administration is mulling the option of “operation know your neighbour” as part of efforts to address the persistent security challenges in the country’s capital.

Aliyu said this has become necessary in view of recent security challenges facing the Federal Capital Territory, just as she also noted that the executive meeting was to x-ray some of the challenges facing the Administration.

She, however, urged the FCDA to come up with policies that would address the development of the human component, even as she also advised the authority to initiate policies that would outlive the present administration.