The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Thursday confirmed the termination of the long-stalled 13km Apo–Karshi Road contract and announced that the 13km highway has been re-awarded to a new contractor, S.C.C. Nigeria Limited, after years of delays frustrated progress.
Wike spoke to journalists after inspecting a series of ongoing road projects in key adjoining districts, including Road N20 in Gishiri, the Karu corridor, and the Apo-Wassa axis of the Outer Southern Expressway.
Speaking candidly, the minister said the administration had exhausted patience with the previous contractor, Kakatar Engineering Limited, whose handling of the project had stretched 14 years beyond its original timeline.
“Let me tell you the truth: we have terminated that contract. It has been re-awarded,” Wike declared.
He confirmed that since the re-award, S.C.C. Nigeria had already mobilised to the site and commenced work under an emergency arrangement.
“If you go there now, you’ll see they have started work,” he added.
Naijaonpoint understands that the project was first awarded to Kakatar Engineering Limited in 2011 at a contract value of ₦6.4 billion, under the tenure of former FCT Minister, Bala Mohammed, with a completion mandate of 20 months.
Yet, 14 years later, the 13km road remains unfinished, an administrative reality the Wike team admits can no longer be justified.
“It’s a road so many people are interested in because it will decongest these areas,” Wike said, emphasising the strategic importance of the corridor.
Addressing reporters, Wike stressed that governance cannot bow to political sentiment when citizens’ welfare is at stake, making it clear that the termination was final.
“We cannot continue to play politics when it comes to the welfare of the people,”
“We cannot continue to play politics when it comes to the welfare of the people. That road has been terminated,” the FCT Minister reaffirmed.
He explained that the decision was driven by public necessity, not politics.
“We cannot continue to play politics when it comes to the welfare of the people. That road has been terminated,” he stressed.
Beyond Apo-Karshi, Wike also announced the award of a new road project linking Kubwa to the Bwari Area Council, also re-awarded to S.C.C. Nigeria, to provide an alternative route for transit into Bwari.
“And the road leading from Kubwa to Bwari has also started, so there will be an alternative route to Bwari,” he said.
“We can assure you that things are moving very well according to plan,” the minister said confidently.
Wike also announced that the FCT administration will suspend the initiation of new contracts in 2026, describing it as a political year that requires project discipline and not expansion.
He disclosed that ongoing infrastructural commitments already underway in 2025 will instead be prioritised for delivery and captured under the 2026 budget.
“And I must tell you the truth: in 2026, we are not likely to start any new projects,” Wike said.
“We want to ensure that the projects we started this year are completed in 2026… you don’t start projects you may not be able to finish within your tenure.”
“We want to make sure that, by the grace of God, all projects we have started are completed,” the Minister concluded.
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