Wike says Abuja’s Millennium Tower needs ₦300bn–₦400bn to complete

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has disclosed that between ₦300 billion and ₦400 billion will be required to complete the long-abandoned Millennium Tower project in Abuja, saying the cost is beyond what the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) can fund from its statutory allocation.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Thursday after inspecting ongoing road projects, Wike said the Millennium Tower, which was awarded during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, should be reclassified as a national project and developed into a major tourist attraction.

The minister made the remarks after inspecting the extension of Collector Road CO1 linking the Institution and Research District with Lugbe, as well as the Arterial Road N1 from Wuye District to Ring Road II.

Responding to questions on when the Millennium Tower would be completed and opened for public use, Wike said discussions with the contractor had revealed the enormous financial commitment still required.

> “You know that is a national project, and I believe that it’s one project that government should reconsider. It should be a tourist centre project and the capital involved is too huge for the FCT to have this on statutory budget.

> “We have discussed with the contractor. Remember that project was awarded under the Obasanjo administration. As I speak to you, it’s not less than ₦300 billion to ₦400 billion that the contractor is talking about. And if you look at it, how do we carry such a project? It means that every other project in Abuja will have to be abandoned.

> “But we are still talking to the President that we should reconsider it as a national project. So, that’s where we are.”

Wike expressed confidence that all ongoing infrastructure projects awarded by the FCTA would be completed before the end of the year.

He also appealed to residents to remain patient over the ongoing Jabi Bridge project, assuring them that his administration would not abandon any project it had initiated.

However, he stressed that the financial demands of completing the Millennium Tower made it impractical for the FCTA to fund it alone without jeopardising other critical infrastructure projects across the Federal Capital Territory.

> “It means that every other project in Abuja will have to be abandoned. But we are still talking to the President that we should reconsider it as a national project,” the minister said.