Apo-Karshi Road to Become Abuja’s New Tourist Attraction – Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to transform the Apo-Karshi Road into a tourist destination following the completion of the long-delayed project, which was initially awarded in 2010.

Wike made this known on Wednesday during an inspection of the road in Abuja, explaining that President Bola Tinubu had ordered the cancellation of the original contract after the indigenous contractor failed to complete the project despite receiving full payment.

According to the minister, the President’s intervention paved the way for the contract to be awarded to another company considered capable of delivering the project, given its importance to residents and the development of the FCT.

Wike said the administration had made several attempts to persuade the initial contractor to complete the work but those efforts proved unsuccessful.

He explained that after Tinubu was informed of the situation, the President directed that the contract be terminated and re-awarded to a more competent company.

The minister added that the administration remained committed to completing the project despite criticism over the cost of the new contract, maintaining that the comfort and well-being of residents were its main priorities.

Wike expressed satisfaction with the quality of work delivered, describing the Apo-Karshi Road as one of the most widely discussed projects undertaken by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

He noted that the difficult terrain had made construction particularly challenging, adding that the completed project had attracted considerable attention on social media, where many Nigerians expressed surprise at its scale and engineering complexity.

The FCT minister said the road reflected the Tinubu administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and urged Nigerians to assess the government’s performance across different sectors rather than focus on isolated issues.

He also commended journalists for their coverage of the project, noting that their reports had helped the public appreciate the scale of construction work involved.

On the proposed inauguration, Wike said the FCT Administration was working around the President’s schedule, as several other completed projects were being prepared for commissioning.

He disclosed that officials had inspected projects at ISEX, the Southern Parkway and Kaura District, while between 10 and 12 other projects were also being considered for inauguration.

The minister expressed hope that Tinubu would commission the Apo-Karshi Road before the end of November, adding that the administration would make efforts to include the project in the President’s schedule.

Regarding plans to provide public amenities around the road to support its development as a tourist destination, Wike said the administration would work with the relevant departments to identify and establish the necessary facilities.

He explained that he had rejected a proposal submitted by the FCDA coordinator, arguing that the authority’s primary responsibility was road construction, while the department responsible for tourism should determine the facilities required.

Wike, however, assured that the administration would ensure the road was developed into a tourist attraction.