The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has urged Nigerians to be patient with the economic policies responsible for the hardship in the country.
Wike said the inconvenience was temporary, adding that things would soon turn out for the better.
He said this during the flag-off of a 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.
Wike also urged for prayers for President Bola Tinubu, wishing him good health and strength to fulfill his responsibilities to the Nigerian people, urging people not to focus solely on the shortcomings of the administration.
He said: “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, are 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.”
Wike also said he would not support contractors without capability, adding that he would not hesitate to revoke the 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.
Wike added: “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.”
