By PHILIP YATAI

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has directed the contractor executing a road project in the Kwali Area Council of the FCT, to employ at least 100 locals.

Wike gave the directive on Tuesday while inaugurating the construction of a 15-kilometre road from the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway (A2) to Pai, in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

The project was awarded to Zeberced Group and expected to be completed in six months.

The minister said that the contractor should employ some of the locals as workers of the company and give others, contracts, to enable them feed their families.

?I would like to advise the company to please employ our people, give them jobs, give them contracts so that they will be able to feed their people.

?The whole essence of this job we are doing is also to create employment.

?I can tell you from what I?ve seen, you cannot have less than 100 direct people working with you and then the indirect people that will also benefit.

?So please, work with the community people, work with the youth, work with the traditional rulers so that we have a smooth sail of this project,? he said.

He explained that the road project was conceived in October while inaugurating the construction of 15.5-kilometre Pai to Gomani road.

He recalled expressing displeasure over the way the project was awarded, mainly to connect Pai and Gomani, while the road from the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway (A2) to Pai was not awarded.

?I asked, if you construct the road from Pai to Gomani, how do you come to Pai when that road is not motorable?

?The people going to that area must pass through this place. How will they feel? I said we will not allow it and promised to inaugurate the constriction of A2 to Pai road,? he said.

Wike said that the road, when completed, would be of huge economic and social benefit to the people of the area and improved security.

He assured the residents of the area that the project would be completed in six months.

The minister equally directed the Mandate Secretary, Education Secretariat to visit the technical school under construction in the area council to determine the level of the project.

He said that the mandate secretary should suggest what can be done in the school to make the people of Kwali happy.

The directive followed a request by the traditional ruler of the area, Mr. Luka Nizassan, Etsu of Kwali, who appealed to the minister to intervene and complete the project.

Nizassan thanked the minister for the numerous road projects being executed in the area council.

?You have shown and proven to us that good governance is the best thing that can happen to us as citizens,? he said. (NAN)

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