Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the economic policies of President Bola Tinubu, believed to be responsible for the hardship in the country.
He noted that the inconvenience was temporary and that things would soon turn for the better.
Wike stated this during the flagoff of a 57-kilometre road resurfacing project in the Maitama District of Abuja, yesterday. The project is expected to cover 189 roads spanning Maitama, Garki and parts of Utako.
The minister called for prayers for President Tinubu for good health and strength to perform his duties to the Nigerians while also calling on them not to dwell on the negatives of the administration
“To change the economy is not by mouth. So many things will go wrong but in going wrong, it will get right. The effect on you temporarily. Even some of you, when you are training your children, you know how painful it is to get money to pay their school fees. But at the end of the day, when your child is graduating, it is like you are flying.
“So also what the president is doing. We may be having some inconveniences, we agree. But be patient. You will see the turnaround of things. I will never support what will not work. I will not support what will not work. So, I know that whatever position, or whatever policies you see today coming out, is not intended to make anybody suffer.
“We need to pray to make sure there is good health for Mr. President, for the wisdom, the strength for him to pilot the affairs of this country. It will not be good for us only to talk about the bad. We should also talk about the good side.”
He said he would not support contractors without capability, adding that he would not hesitate to revoke contracts of local contractors if they failed to deliver on awarded projects. He urged local contractors to ensure they deliver quality projects and within the given time frame.
“I support local content. But what I do not support is local content without capacity. You know, sometimes I come out at 12 midnight, 11 pm, to check things for myself so that I will be able to talk tomorrow authoritatively. Some of the contractors you gave this job do not have the capacity.
“I want to tell you the simple truth, and nothing but the truth. If it continues that way, I have no choice but to revoke the contract. I can tell you authoritatively. So, please, tell your local content people that if they do not content well, we will content them out…So, local content, whether you are white or you are black since all of you are local content, do it well, and do it within the time.”
