By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has said Light Up Abuja project gave him and his team sleepless nights over fear of sabotage.
The minister revealed this at the flag of ceremony of the installation of integrated (Hybrid) lighting at the District of Abuja City on Thursday the minister said:
“Today’s event is a very difficult one, difficult in the sense that this is one project, though it is very important, but has given us a lot of headache; headache not in the conceptualisation but headache on how it will work knowing in this country, people are always sabotaging efforts of government.
” So it has been a sense of concern for me and my team. But we felt that we must take up the challenge.
When we came on board in August 2023, one thing anybody who visits Abuja or who resides in Abuja will identify is that totally almost 80% of the entire city is in darkness.
“Two, there was this issue of insecurity when we came on board.
And so we are trying to see how do we tackle this issue? If we continue to leave Abuja in darkness, obviously insecurity will increase.
” So we decided to do what we can and what was available.
Every time you hear sabotage, cables have been removed, poles have been vandalised.
” Every time you see paper coming in, maintenance of street lights, spending money. And I said, when are we going to stop this?
Sometimes you run into the airport to receive the President, everywhere is dark.
“And of course, as somebody whose responsibility it is to solve these problems, it became for us nightmare. I started having minor migraines.
“And so in 2024, we decided to travel with Mr. President to Beijing. There in Beijing, we signed an agreement with these two companies, CGC and CCECC.
“We signed two with CGC, one to provide water in the satellite towns, which is ongoing, and one to help in terms of lighting up Abuja. The one we signed with CCECC is just for the light up.
“And I asked them a simple question. How are you going to carry out this? Knowing full well that there was a lot of sabotages.
The minister explained that: “One thing that attracted me was the fact that they are going to put surveillance features, so that if you go and try to vandalise it or try to steal it, they will be able to identify you. And so that issue, I was happy that that area had been solved.
“If I tell you how much we spent every month, every week, files, maintenance of these street lights, maintenance of this, and to worsen it, these contractors are politicians, they are political contractors. You don’t even know who they are. You don’t even know where their equipments are.
” But you keep on paying and paying and paying and paying. And we are not getting any results.
So, I said there comes a time and part of leadership is to take a decision. It doesn’t matter whether that decision will favour everybody or not. But let it be a decision that will lead for improvement. Be firm.
“So, when we saw what we spent in terms of maintenance, and then we don’t even see the light. If we are maintaining and the light is there, you will say okay for whatever it is.
“This one you pay for the maintenance and you drive in the night. I’ll be calling. I’ll say, look, have you passed this street? There’s no light. Yes. We are trying to start maintenance tomorrow.
” The next day I go out, you will see light by seven. By 11 o’clock, everything off. I’ll call. Are you not aware there is no light here? Yes, it is just this night it happened.
“So, problem for me, headache, I’ll just come back home, I’ll say, I’m tired. But I thank God this time around there will no longer be maintenance because the two companies will maintain it for four, five years.
“And so, I will not see a file for maintenance of so-so thing, no! Everything has been built in. The companies will have to maintain it for four, five years. The company has to make sure there’s security for it.
“So for us, as politicians, one fight we will have is that those of them who are original contractors, who now see that, look, it’s like the thing will no longer even be available, they will now go to the leaders of the various parties.
“Why will he do this thing now when we are going towards the election period? He knows that people will be angry.
But I’ve always said people must be angry.
“People will only be angry when things are not done right. When things are done right, people will be happy.
“So for me, as an Honourable Minister, you have to know that from today, they will call us all sorts of names. Another one will come out. Ethnicity will come in.
“They did it because I’m the Igbo man who is supplying all the cables. I’m the Igbo man who is supplying the generator. And then they will send people to social media, radio, and begin to lambast us. Or some will come in the form of religion; because I’m a Christian, because I’m a Muslim, that’s why they stopped all these.
“Let me assure you, all those things we do not mind. They don’t care. If you like, post as much as you can post on your social media. If you like, consult people to go to television and talk. If you like, call CNN. We have taken a decision, we have taken a decision.
“Another sabotage will come from the criminals. Criminals who now believe that it will be difficult for them to go and steal cables, it will be difficult for them to vandalise the poles because now there will be security features, they will know it will no longer be easy. It will no longer be business as usual. So they will have their own style of campaign.
“Let me assure everybody that security agencies will work in synergy with the companies to make sure that this project is being protected.
“Another area of attack will be those who normally buy these poles. When they vandalise them, they go and sell to them. They come and resell. It will no longer be business as usual. So you will also see attack from that area.
“You will also see attack from the staff of the FCT where these files are coming from. Where money is being made, is being paid? No money will be paid again. And so they will lambast me. They will go and tell their people to go and strike, that they have not paid them for seven months.
“Sorry! There’s nothing like that.
If we want to do something well for the interest of the nation, let us do it, it is for the interest of all of us.
I don’t know how this country would want to bid to host Commonwealth, yet their own city cannot have ordinary light in the night, everywhere will be dark. How does that make us a city,” Wike wondered.
“This time around, by the grace of God, in the next seven months, like I said, with commitment, it will be a different thing. Anybody coming to Abuja, not only will you see good roads, you will see cities being lit up.
“When you are flying, you go to cities, and you begin to wonder how beautiful the cities are. Why, because of light. But here, immediate you are landing, instead of you to see light, you see what, darkness. It will no longer be the same, by the grace of God. And I want to assure everybody that this job will be done, and done very well.
“And Abuja will be 50 years by February next year. And how will it look? A jubilee year, and then you cannot say that the city is fine, at least by providing the basic light.
“Security, criminals will run away, because when there’s light everywhere because by the time you come to steal or attack, you will know that people will see you.
“They always thrive when there is darkness. And so they will also find a way to fight back, to make sure this project does not work. But if there’s one project we are determined to achieve, it’s in this light up Abuja.
“So, I thought to explain this, so that all of you will know, where sometimes, where some of these attacks, this blackmail, propaganda, are coming from. Do not bother yourself.
“If you care to read, read, if you don’t care to read; whether I’m bothered, never.
Whether I think about it, I don’t even know it exists. Whether you want to fabricate anything, it’s your business.
“Fabricate as much as you can. But this work must be done.
And I will do it with the support of Mr. President and that’s what is key.
” So, my dear brothers and sisters, I thank you for coming to support us. Look at the number of jobs it will create for our teeming youths.
“We have 22 days, we have embarked for flagging off of projects and commissioning.
Senator Ali Ndume who just came, I know where you are living, no street lights, but go home and sleep now, there will be street lights.
“That is why each time we are in the Senate, make sure when we ask for one naira increase it to five naira. Knowing full well that the money will be utilised that is what is key.
“So, thank you for your support, the Senate and the House of Reps. Thank you for our leaders, each day we go out, you always give us support. It’s very, very important.
I thank all of you, and I invite you to join us as we flag off the light up Abuja. Thank you and God bless you.