By Ladi Patrick-Okwoli
Over the years, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially those in satellite towns and rural areas have been denied of basic amenities.
These categories of FCT residents, including those living within the city centre have had nightmares over the years, due to the poor state of roads in their areas which connect them to the city centre.
Just a few road construction projects, particularly in recent years were done in the city centre, ignoring the bulk of the population who reside in satellite towns and rural areas.
A huge relief came following President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Nyesom Wike on August 21, 2023, as the 17th Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, even though the appointment came with mixed reactions.
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But in the last nine months, the pace of development under Wike’s administration is visible across Nigeria’s capital city.
The minister hit the ground running on the assumption of office, reminding those who cared to listen that the mandate given to him by President Tinubu was a marching order. “We must bring the FCT back to what it was supposed to be. We are willing and we have the capacity to do that. That is the message. It is not going to be business as usual,” Wike had emphasised.
He left no one in doubt, being conversant with the challenges of the territory with a lot of courage and boldness to confront them.
For the first time in years, the much-awaited Abuja Rail Mass Transit, also known as Abuja Light Rail- in fact, the first in Africa in Abuja has already completed just within nine months aim office and is set for commissioning today, May 29 by the President Tinubu as part of his one year celebrations. Abuja residents will enjoy two months of free rides on the rail which could be extended, Wike assured last week.
Also scheduled for commissioning in the FCT are a series of road projects which are already completed.
Walking his talk, the minister dedicated his first budget to infrastructural development with the N1.15 trillion 2024 proposed FCT Statutory Budget designed to transform the capital city and rural communities.
He explained that out of the N1.15 trillion, N421.44 billion was earmarked as recurrent expenditure, representing 36.7 per cent, while N726.3 billion was set aside for capital expenditure, representing 63.3 per cent. He also explained that the proposed capital expenditure would be dedicated to the development of infrastructure, with an emphasis on the completion of ongoing projects.
Wike added that out of the N726.3 billion proposed capital expenditure, N80 billion was allocated for SUKUK loan projects, while N29 billion has been earmarked for the Abuja Light Rail project.
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To achieve this, the FCT minister inaugurated the construction of 42.2 kilometres of rural roads across the six area councils.
Giving an account of his administration, Wike said he is tackling infrastructure, security and education in the federal capital.
He also mentioned that civil servants in the FCTA have been motivated to do their job better, following the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission.
“We found out that one of the problems inhibiting infrastructural growth is the Treasury Single Account (TSA). Because of this restriction, we could not even utilise our IGR as we deemed fit. Mr President approved that we should pull out from the TSA and this has enabled us to do certain things that people think is a miracle,” he said.
On security, the minister said “It is one of the priorities of the present administration. All of us will attest to the fact that before, there was kidnapping, banditry and one-chance robberies daily.
“We went around all the area councils to encourage stakeholders to be part of the security architecture and the feedback we got was that lack of roads is hindering security operatives from going after the bandits.
“As I speak to you today, all the area councils can attest to the fact that before December, we are going to commission over 120km of roads in the six area councils.
“We have been able to provide virtually all the logistics required by security agencies. We have provided specialized bikes and vehicles. You can now sleep with your two eyes closed. We cannot say that we have gotten it 100 per cent right and no society is free of crime. But there is a difference.
“We are building bus terminals across the city to reduce one-chance and kidnapping, in the next eight months it will be ready. When we came on board, we gave funding to contractors.
“They awarded a contract to rehabilitate the National Assembly a long time ago, when we came in, we finished it. In education, over 19 schools are being rehabilitated,” he added.
The minister also said that the FCT Administration will begin the construction of 10,000 affordable housing units tagged the ‘Renewed Hope City’ in 2025.
Residents have commended the minister for the magnitude, quality and swiftness in the execution of these projects, saying it has never been witnessed in the history of the FCT.
They also thanked him for the timely delivery of infrastructure and social amenities such as the Abuja metro rail, roads, potable water, solar electrification and enhanced street lights, marking a significant improvement from past administrations.
Adamu Abdullahi, an FCT indigene, said he is privy to all the happenings and that the current government had taken many bold initiatives geared towards giving the federal capital a new lease of life.
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He said, “I speak today with a great sense of delight over the recent events in my constituency, which is the Federal Capital Territory.
“As a son of the soil, I am opportune to be globally exposed and have a world view of what government is and its primary responsibility.”
It appears that Wike has already commenced efforts to stamp his feet in history as a man who utilised his office to make a profound difference in the lives of the people, especially rural dwellers.