Public Outrage as Wike Approves N9.8bn for Presidential Wing Rehabilitation at Abuja Airport

Public backlash has mounted following the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) approval of a N9.8 billion contract to rehabilitate roads and facilities at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, with critics labeling the expenditure as wasteful and insensitive amid Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges.

On Friday, the FCTA’s Executive Council announced it had awarded the contract to Julius Berger Plc, granting the construction company six months to complete the project. According to Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the rehabilitation will address the deteriorated link road from Bill Clinton Drive to the Presidential Wing, improve access to the presidential kitchen, and repair the hangar that houses the presidential aircraft and a holding area for visiting dignitaries.

“The link road and other facilities have shown signs of distress and dilapidation,” Ahmad stated during a briefing after the FCTA’s ninth executive council meeting in Abuja. “The project will also involve runway lighting improvements and upgrades to the guest house for visiting presidents,” he added.

The announcement, however, has drawn sharp criticism from civil society groups, who argue that the expenditure is tone-deaf in the face of Nigeria’s economic struggles.

The Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM) called the project a sign of President Bola Tinubu’s alleged insensitivity to the economic plight of ordinary Nigerians. Peluola Adewale, the group’s National Secretary, stated in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, “This N9.8bn contract underscores how Tinubu’s administration fails to prioritize the welfare of Nigerians. While citizens are urged to endure hardship, the government continues with extravagant spending.”

Referring to previous costly projects, Adewale added, “We should remember the billions spent on the vice presidential villa’s renovation and a new jet purchase. These actions reflect an anti-poor, pro-elite stance that is out of touch with the harsh realities facing most Nigerians.”

Likewise, the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) echoed these sentiments, questioning the necessity of the project. Emmanuel Olowu, the CDHR’s Osun State Chairman, criticized the government’s priorities, stating, “People are struggling to afford basic necessities, yet the administration is focusing on luxury projects. It’s another example of the government’s disconnection from the people’s urgent needs.”