FG withholds counterpart funding for Abuja water project

Five years after the conceptualisation of the $470million Greeter Abuja Water Project, the Federal Government is yet to release the 20 per cent counterpart fund for the execution and delivery of the project as planned.

Speaking to Senators and journalists at Jahi site on the state of the project being handled by China Geo-engineering Company, the Project Manager, Zhong Xiang, said while China Exim Bank had released $150m, the FG was yet to release any portion of the 20 per cent counterpart fund.

Xiang who made the disclosure on Monday during oversight tour of the Senate Committee on FCT on various projects being executed across the various districts said what was earlier considered to be a legacy project is seriously threatened now as far as execution and delivery are concerned.

He said, “This project is conceptualised to boost water supply across the various districts in the Federal Capital Territory but what is delaying its full-blown execution is the failure of the Federal Government of Nigeria to meet her own obligation.

“As handlers of the project, we appeal to the Hon. Minister and Distinguished Senators to please help in facilitating the release of the 20% counterpart funding.”

However other districts visited by the Senate Committee show serious project execution.

In Institutional District alone, the sum of N34billion has been earmarked for the construction of roads, bridges, railway corridors etc, many of which are ongoing and at various stages of completion.