FCT: Wike bans contractor; we are unable to accept modification

Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has reaffirmed that the FCT Administration will not accept any modifications to the contracts granted by the FCTA.

The FCT Minister even placed some contractors on a blacklist for this reason on Wednesday while touring several projects in Abuja.

Speaking specifically in response to Setraco Construction Company’s request to add lamps to the Southern Parkway construction contract from Christian Center to Ring Road 1, Wike issued a warning that the FCTA would not grant such requests.

Wike stated that the administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has already reached an agreement with contractors over the financing schedule that will allow them to finish ongoing projects in the FCT by May of this year. The Administration has also paid payments as scheduled.

He emphasized that if contractors don’t finish the project on time, the FCTA might be forced to put them on a blacklist and indicated that as a result, the variation request is not tenable.

The minister stated, “I had to call most of these companies when I came on board and ask if they could finish some of these projects so that it could be inaugurated as part of Mr. President’s one year, and they all agreed.” We reached a consensus over the funding arrangement, and I can confidently state that we have not failed.

“In actuality, we have contributed no less than 97% toward the building of that road—the Southern Parkway. He therefore discussed variety when I questioned about the streetlight. You are aware that I will never accept it, given that we successfully funded the projects and had no personal failures.

“So, to be quite clear, there cannot be any modifications made to that project, and I will put the company on a blacklist if they fail to finish it by the deadline. That is the actual state of affairs. Nobody will try to outwit us or play games with us. We will not consent to it. The Managing Director was present, of course, and he is aware of our seriousness.