FCT minister Nyesom Wike says the FCT Administration would sign a memorandum of understanding with Julius Berger for the maintenance of the remodelled Abuja City Gate.

Mr Wike stated this during the inauguration of the edifice in Abuja on Thursday, which was performed by President Bola Tinubu, represented by the first lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

According to the minister, the move aims to preserve the elegance of the iconic monument, which serves as the country’s symbol of unity.

He noted that the monument had been neglected for years until the first lady drew his attention to it and asked him to do something about it.

“’Minister, have you not been travelling? If you have been travelling, which I know you have been, is this what other city gates look like? You can beautify this place so that anybody coming to Abuja will say, ‘Yes, indeed, I am entering the capital city of a country,’ and I said, ‘No problem ma, we will do it,’” said the FCT minister

Mr Wike further stated, “Three months later, you called me again, ‘Mr Minister, is it that you didn’t hear what I said, or if you don’t want to do it, I will go by myself and do it’, and I said, ‘Ah, this is a serious matter,” he said.

The minister said that the remodelled city gate changed the area’s landscape and commended the first lady for her concern for giving the monument a facelift. Mr Wike said that the remodelled monument could now be compared with others across the world.

“The concern, however, is after inaugurating it today, what next? We are signing an MoU with Julius Berger to ensure they take over the maintenance of this place, so we don’t have anything to regret.

“Just like Julius Berger has said, just on the other side is where you have the car parks. There’s also a provision for maybe a restaurant and toilet facilities. People can get married, do other entertainment activities here, take pictures and say, ‘I am overseas.’ The overseas are here in Nigeria,” he said.

(NAN)