…Says FCT Has Prioritized Security And Completion Of Ongoing Projects
… Reveals Plans To Construct 10,000 Comfortable And Affordable Housing Units
1. Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Wednesday, May 23, 2024, presented the scorecard of the FCT Administration, as part of activities to mark President Bola Ahmed Tinubu one year in office.
2. The FCT Minister made the presentation during the Ministerial Sectoral Update organized by the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to brief members of the public on the activities of the Federal Government.
3. Barrister Wike who spoke amidst intermittent cheers and applause from the audience, disclosed that the FCT Administration has recorded huge developmental strides in several sectors of its economy in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President and ultimately declared that hope has been restored in the FCT.
4. The FCT Minister explained that the current FCT Administration was assigned with presidential priorities 5 and 6 under nine high impact deliverables of the Federal Government.
5. He said presidential deliverables entailed the provision of critical infrastructure in the FCT, provision of a safe and secure environment in addition to also improving access to social services to FCT residents and creating wealth and maintaining a first-class city.
6. Barr. Wike who also stated that he met a workforce with low morale due to stagnation and inability of staff to progress to the pinnacle of their careers as well as a plethora of uncompleted projects that were stalled due to funding challenges, said the FCT Administration through pragmatic efforts and implementation of well thought out policies has made huge gains.
7. He said the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission, as approved by the National Assembly in 2018 and assented to by the previous administration, has ensured that staff of the FCT Administration could now rise to the position of Permanent Secretary and even head the FCT Civil Service.
8. The Minister also added that the exit of the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) with the approval of the President, has also solved one of the problems militating against infrastructural growth in the FCT as the FCTA could now source funds from the wider financial market for the execution of projects, using its IGR as collateral.
9. He said, “Mr. President approved that we should pull out from the TSA and today, we are no longer under TSA. It has helped us to do certain things which people think that it’s a miracle. It’s not a miracle”.
10.The Minister also disclosed that the FCT Administration has ensured inclusivity in governance with the establishment of the Women Affairs Secretariat, headed by a Mandate Secretary to take care of the affairs of women in the FCT.
11.On security, Barr. Wike also disclosed that the FCTA has been able to improve the security situation compared to what obtained in the past. He said the Administration provided the security agencies with the necessary logistics to effectively carry out their assignments of maintaining security.
12.He said, based on the recommendation by the stakeholders in the Area Councils, the FCT Administration is also constructing about 120 kilometers of road networks in the rural areas as part of efforts to address insecurity and improve the wellbeing of the rural populace.
13.By implementing these policies, the Minister stated that the FCT Administration has brought government closer to the people.
14.He said, “This is the first time that a Minister has gone to the Area Councils to sit down with the people and talk to them and let them know what government is doing.”
15.Barrister Wike who also stated that no city in the world could be completely free of crime, however assured that the government is doing everything possible to reduce insecurity in the FCT.
16.On efforts to improve transportation in the FCT and address the crime of one chance, the Minister also disclosed plans to construct three bus terminals for designated routes in the FCT.
17.He said, “By the grace of God, in the next eight months, this city will have three bus and taxi terminals and you must operate from those terminals.”
18.Speaking further on the provision of infrastructure, the Minister said the FCT has prioritized the completion of ongoing projects adding that completed road projects would be commissioned between the 29th of May and 6th of June, 2024, to celebrate the one year in office of President Tinubu.
19.He said the Administration also embarked on the rehabilitation of roads that were in bad shape in the major Districts of the FCT like Asokoro, Maitama and Garki, in addition to the completion of the construction of the official residence of the Vice President, as well the National Assembly complex and the phase 1 of the Federal Secretariat complex, which were started by the previous administration.
20.On the Abuja Rail Mass Transit Scheme also known as the Abuja Light Rail, the Minister clarified that the FCT was inaugurating the commencement of commercial operation and not commissioning of the project.
21.The Minister however disclosed that the FCTA, under the one-year period, constructed the access roads to the train stations as well as renegotiated the training cost for personnel for the Abuja Light Rail, from the $128 million to $75 million, thereby saving government $53 million.
22.He promised that train rides in the FCT, after the inauguration of commercial operation by Mr. President, would be free for the first two months of operation.
23.Fielding questions from journalists on how he achieved the accelerated provision of infrastructure in the FCT which has been described as a miracle by many observes, the Minister said the FCT has been able to restore the confidence of contractors due to improved funding.
24.Speaking on efforts to sustain the developmental trajectory in the FCT and ensure that the gains made are not eroded by the threats of vandalism, the Minister disclosed that the FCT Administration, among other measures, has redesigned the gullet inlet covers using composite materials to improve security and make them less susceptible to theft.
25.He added that the FCTA has also approached the National Assembly to amend the laws on the vandalism of public infrastructure to introduce stiffer sanctions that will serve as deterrence.
26.To discourage touting in the FCT and tackle the issue of double taxation, the Minister also stated that efforts were ongoing to harmonize revenue collection activities in order to eliminate duplicity of functions.
27.On his plans for the less privileged members of the society, Barr. Wike also revealed plans to construct 10,000 units of comfortable and affordable housing for low income earners in the FCT. He said the FCTA will provide infrastructure as well as build the houses and allocate to members of the public, under a proposed housing project, to be known as the Renewed Hope City.
28.The Minister who also stated that President Tinubu has identified with the indigenous people of the FCT by making an FCT indigene a member of his cabinet, urged FCT residents to be patient with the development efforts of the government, stressing that the task of development could not be achieved overnight.
29. He however warned that those who continue to distort the Abuja masterplan, despite repeated warnings by the government, would face severe sanctions by the law, stressing that the FCTA has the political will to do what is right.
23/05/2024
