Economic hardship: Be patient, things will turnaround, Wike tells Nigerians

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to be patient with the economic policies responsible for the hardship in the country, noting that the inconvenience was temporary, and that things will soon turn for the better.

The minister stated this during the flag-off of 57km road resurfacing project in the Maitama District of the FCT, on Tuesday. The project is expected to cover 189 roads spanning Maitama, Garki, and parts of Utako.

He, therefore, called for prayers for President Tinubu, for good health and strength to perform his duties to the Nigerian people, while also calling on Nigerians not to dwell on the negatives of the administration

“To change the economy is not by mouth. So many things will go wrong, but in going wrong, it will get right. The wrong it’s going is the effect on you temporarily. Even some of you, when you are training your children, you know how painful it is to get money to pay their school fees. But at the end of the day, when your child is graduating, it is like you are flying.

“So also, what the President is doing today. We may be having some inconveniences, we agree. But be patient. You will see the turnaround of things. I will never support what will not work. I will not support what will not work. So, I know that whatever position, or whatever policies you see today coming out, is not intended to make anybody suffer.

“We need to pray to make sure there is good health for Mr President, for the wisdom, the strength for him to pilot the affairs of this country. It will not be good for us only to talk about the bad. We should also talk about the good side,” he added.

The minister also told wealthy men in the nation’s capital not to expect infrastructural developments if they wouldn’t pay their taxes.

He disclosed that there had been initial pushback on his move to generate revenue through payment of taxes, stated that he would not be deterred, but would continue to do what was right.

“What we’re doing now is not within the area councils. This is the big men’s place. But when they tell them to pay tax now, they’ll begin to complain. They are happy the road is being resurfaced, but ask them where will the money come from, if not tax.

“When we started to see how we could get more tax and more revenue, there was nothing they did not do to fight me. I’m not worried. I will not shake. I will do what is right. So, don’t expect to have good roads without paying tax,” Wike said.

The minister apologised to residents in the Maitama district for the inconveniences caused by the road resurfacing projects, noting that there could be no development without some sacrifices.

“You cannot talk about development without making sacrifices. There must be inconveniences, but after that inconvenience, you will benefit from it. So, these few days where you have had some kind of traffic problem, some people say ‘Oh, where it used to take them 2 minutes, it took them 40 minutes, it’s part of the sacrifice, it will not be like that forever.

“Maybe the FCDA did not make much announcements to enlighten the public that this is what was going to happen. So, I apologise on their behalf. But know that it was notllntional for people to suffer,” he stated.

Wike further warned that he will not support contractors without capability, adding that he would not hesitate to revoke contracts of local contractors if they failed to deliver on awarded projects. He urged local contractors to ensure that they deliver quality projects, and to also ensure that the projects are delivered within the given time frame.

He said: “I support local content. But what I do not support, is local content without capacity. You know, sometimes I come out at 12 midnight, 11 pm, to check things for myself so that I will be able to talk tomorrow authoritatively. Some of the contractors you gave this job, do not have the capacity.

“I want to tell you the simple truth, and nothing but the truth. If it continues that way, I have no choice but to revoke the contract, I can tell you authoritatively. So, please, tell your local content people, that if they do not content well, we will content them out. All of us would like our people to do the job, but I will also not because you are doing the job, you will not do it well, and within the time schedule, no. So, local content, whether you are white or you are black since all of you are local content, do it well, and do it within the time.“