Wike keeps mum on multi-billion naira revenues accruing from W/Africa’s biggest quarry site in FCT
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Saturday, refused to disclose the billions of naira accruable to the confers of the FCT Administration from the multi-billion naira Zeberced Limited Quarry, the biggest Quarry in West Africa, located in the Kubwa District of Abuja.
Wike, who visited the site and had a private meeting with the Turkish managers of the facility, during a chat with journalists, acknowledged the huge investment in the area, as well as the importance of the facility, but failed to disclose how much the FCT Administration gets as its share from the billions of naira it generates monthly.
Wike, who has been on the saddle, instead, said he was impressed with the humongous scale of industrial activities at the quarry, including the production of gravel, stone dust and asphalt amongst others commended the company for its efforts and commitment to the project.
Wike said he is worried why contractors still quoted exorbitant costs for construction of projects in the FCT, seeing as the essential raw materials were readily available at the quarry.
5. He said: “The Managing Director has always invited me to come to see what they are doing at the factory, which is the biggest quarry in West Africa. I’ve taken the opportunity to look at the environment and see what they are doing.
“That shows that ordinarily, the cost of construction ought not to be very expensive, particularly in the FCT. Apart from the equipment that is being imported that are used for this quarry, the raw material is available here, and I wonder why contractors will be talking about the cost of aggregate as if these are imported. They are not imported. They are made here.
“So, I really want to encourage this company. It’s really amazing that we have this type of manufacturing going on here, and from what the MD said, they have over 800 residents who are working directly here.”
The Minister who also expressed concerns over the environmental impact of the quarry however said he has been reassured by the Managing Director that the environmental impact assessment has shown that the company has adhered to the approved standard.
