Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has revealed that he resorted to fasting and prayers while struggling to secure funds for the completion of major road projects in Abuja.
The former Rivers State governor made the disclosure on Thursday during the commissioning of the newly constructed Airport Expressway to Kuje Road.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented at the event by Vice President Kashim Shettima, inaugurated the project as part of activities marking the administration’s third anniversary.
Speaking at the ceremony, Wike said the pressure of sourcing funds for infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory took a toll on his health, causing him episodes of high blood pressure.
He noted that despite the financial challenges, the administration remained committed to delivering critical road projects across the territory.
“As I speak to you, they also requested the dualisation of the Kuje to Gwagwalada Road and, knowing fully well that God is with this administration, He will never disappoint us, we committed ourselves to dualise Kuje to Gwagwalada,” Wike said.
The minister expressed satisfaction over the completion of the Airport Expressway to Kuje Road, describing the project as one of the achievements that gave him the greatest joy.
“Your Excellency, it may interest you to know that the only thing that makes me very happy today is that we are commissioning this particular road,” he added.
Wike also recounted his interactions with the Managing Director of Arab Contractors, the company handling the project.
According to him, both men often joked about how discussions over project funding affected their blood pressure.
“I thank the Managing Director of Arab Contractors. Persistently, he would tell me that he’s in Egypt on medical condition and I would say, come back because we have good hospitals to take care of you here.
“Each time I call, he would say, ‘Minister, each time you call, my BP will go high,’ and when he requests for money, my BP will also go high,” he said, drawing laughter from attendees.
The FCT minister further disclosed that he instructed officials accompanying him on official trips to include requests for funding for the road projects in their prayers.
“I told my Minister of FCT, each time you travel, put this particular road as one of your requests, so that God should help us get funds to give to the contractors so that we will be able to finish the road,” he stated.
Wike admitted that fasting was never part of his routine before the project but said the circumstances changed his approach.
“I don’t use to fast before, but I started fasting from morning till night because of this particular road. But I thank God, He has answered our prayers,” he said.
The Airport Expressway to Kuje Road is among several infrastructure projects being commissioned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration as part of activities marking President Tinubu’s third year in office.
