At last, the $470 million Greater Abuja Water Supply Project has officially been commissioned after eight years, with Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to completing vital infrastructure in the capital.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Monday, Minister Wike highlighted the substantial investment in the project, which was originally awarded in 2017 at a total cost of $470 million.

The financing was structured through a partnership involving the Chinese government and the African Development Initiative, with China contributing 85 percent of the funding, while the Federal Government and FCT administration provided the remaining 15 percent.

“This contract was awarded in 2017 under the partnership of the African Development Initiative. The Chinese government provided 85 percent, while the Federal Government and FCT provided 15 percent, which is to take care of loops 1, 2, 5, and 6,” Wike explained.

Minister Wike credited the Tinubu administration with ensuring the completion of the delayed project, which now promises to significantly boost water supply to the Abuja metropolis.

“Under this administration, the job has been completed, and today you are commissioning the water project,” he said.

The minister also noted that the President’s previous concerns about stalled infrastructure, including the Greater Abuja Water Project and the non-functional mass transit train, spurred action. He praised Tinubu’s insistence on delivering public utilities beyond road infrastructure, citing his dedication to both urban and rural water distribution.

In a further development, Wike revealed that the FCT administration signed a new agreement during President Tinubu’s 2023 visit to China, aimed at extending water supply to underserved satellite communities, including Bwari, Kubwa, and Karu. Procurement processes for those extensions are near completion, with promises of timely delivery.

“This project took eight years, but the rural water extension projects will not. By your third-year anniversary, we will also commission those satellite towns where you are providing water,” Wike pledged.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Assembly for its continued support, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to making visible progress across the territory.

“Every day, we’ll make sure that people will see. Those who want to see will see. Those who don’t want to see, it’s not your fault because they decided not to see,” Wike said, closing his remarks with a nod to ongoing political scrutiny.

The commissioning marks a significant milestone in Abuja’s infrastructure development and represents one of the largest urban water investments in the region.