The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has commenced a fresh round of project commissioning and flag-offs in Abuja, barely six weeks after concluding a 16-day commissioning exercise across the territory.
The new phase began on Tuesday with the formal commissioning of the rehabilitated Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant located at the Lower Usuma Dam, Ushafa, in the Bwari Area Council.
According to a detailed schedule released by Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, the minister’s current round of activities will focus mainly on water supply expansion to underserved satellite towns.
On Wednesday, attention will shift to Bwari Township, where he will officially flag off the construction and extension of water facilities under Lot 1.
On Thursday, another flag-off ceremony will follow for water supply projects in the Abuja Municipal Area Council under Lot 2, targeted at Karu town and its surrounding communities.
The renewed push for water infrastructure is not happening in isolation. It is tied to the FCT Administration’s broader commitment to address the long-standing challenge of access to potable water on the outskirts of Abuja.
Wike set the tone on June 16 while commissioning the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, revealing that the administration had successfully negotiated and signed a new agreement during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 2023 state visit to China.
According to the minister, the agreement was designed to deliver an extended water supply network that would cover strategic satellite communities such as Bwari, Kubwa, and Karu—areas that have, for decades, faced acute water scarcity despite rapid population growth.
Wike assured us that procurement processes for the projects were already nearing a conclusion, stressing his determination to ensure timely completion.
With the commencement of the current commissioning and flag-off exercise, Wike is essentially translating that earlier pledge into tangible action.
The rehabilitation of the Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant at Lower Usuma Dam is expected to significantly boost the capacity of the water supply, thereby improving access for thousands of households within and around Bwari.
The subsequent expansion projects in Bwari and Karu are also projected to transform the water distribution system, bridging gaps in availability and reducing many communities’ dependence on unsafe water sources.
The minister’s renewed emphasis on water projects also highlights water’s strategic importance as a foundation for health, economic productivity, and sustainable development in the FCT.
By prioritising the rehabilitation of existing facilities while simultaneously expanding supply to satellite towns, the FCT Administration aims to meet immediate needs and prepare for the growing demands of Abuja’s rapidly increasing population.