Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike has departed for China to conclude negotiations on a major water infrastructure project aimed at providing potable water to underserved satellite towns around Abuja. The trip follows President Bola Tinubu’s recent approval of ₦50 billion in funding to address chronic water shortages in Gwagwalada, Kwali, and Kuje Area Councils.
Wike, currently stopping in Dubai en route to China, is scheduled to hold high-level meetings with officials from the China Geo-Engineering Corporation Overseas Construction (CGCOC) Group. The discussions will focus on implementing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed during President Tinubu’s state visit to China in September 2024, which includes partnerships with both CGCOC and the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to upgrade water and electricity infrastructure in the FCT.
“The minister’s visit is a critical step in turning this agreement into tangible results for FCT residents,” said Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media. “Access to clean water is a fundamental right, not a luxury, and this administration is committed to delivering it.”
The project forms part of the Tinubu administration’s broader push to improve living conditions in Abuja’s outskirts, where rapid population growth has strained existing infrastructure. If finalized, the deal is expected to bring modern water treatment plants, expanded distribution networks, and technical training programs for Nigerian engineers.
Wike is expected to return to Nigeria next week following the conclusion of talks. The FCT Administration has faced mounting pressure to address infrastructure gaps between Abuja’s urban center and its surrounding communities, where many residents still rely on boreholes and private water vendors.
