ABUJA – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, yesterday commissioned the rehabilitated Phase 2 Water Treatment Plant at the Lower Usuma Dam in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, describing the ₦50 billion project as a major milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.
The minister said that the project, which began in 2022, would greatly expand the dam’s capacity and improve potable water supply to Abuja residents, particularly in the fast-growing satellite towns.
He announced that President Tinubu had also approved the immediate take-off of two additional water projects valued at not less than ₦90 billion.
“The Bwari water project will commence on Wednesday, while the Karu water supply scheme will be launched on Thursday,” Wike said.
According to him, the new projects are designed to respond to Abuja’s growing population and the pressure on existing water infrastructure.
“Water is life, and this administration is determined to ensure residents have reliable access to it.
Some people have accused us of concentrating only on roads, but beyond roads, we are investing heavily in essential services like water,” he stated.
Wike disclosed that Phases One, Three and Four of the Usuma Dam expansion had already been awarded by the Federal Executive Council, while agreements signed with the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) during Tinubu’s 2023 state visit to China were part of efforts to guarantee sustainable water distribution to the FCT’s satellite communities.
He further highlighted progress in other sectors, including education, noting that many schools across the FCT had been completed, renovated or were under construction.
He directed the Education Secretariat to publish a comprehensive list of the projects and organise media tours of rural schools to showcase the government’s commitment to balanced development.
“This administration is not only transforming the city centre but also taking infrastructure to satellite towns. Our goal is to make life easier for all residents of the FCT,” the minister emphasised.
In her remarks, the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, praised President Tinubu for supporting key infrastructure projects that directly impact ordinary citizens.
She urged residents to safeguard the newly rehabilitated facility and ensure its proper management so that “generations yet unborn will continue to benefit from this vital infrastructure.”
The Lower Usuma Dam, originally constructed in the early 1980s, is the principal source of potable water for Abuja and surrounding communities.
Its expansion and rehabilitation are considered critical to meeting rising demand as the capital continues to attract new residents and industries.
