Abuja City, Satellite Towns: Wike Promises Equal Devt.

By: Wisdom Acka

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will ensure equal development in the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, the Area Councils and the Satellite Towns to discourage rural, urban drift.

Accordingly, this policy is aimed at encouraging larger percentage of the residents to remain in rural communities to maximally take advantage of such areas like in agriculture.

FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, gave this assurance, while flagging off 18km road rehabilitation in Bwari, suburb of Abuja, Monday.

The Minister said that this kind of posture of the government will go a long to keep every spectrum of the society comfortably and usefully engaged.

This is coming after five consecutive days of flagging off of projects in the Federal Capital City (FCC), and now shifting attention to the Area Councils.

The Minister, who has visited Bwari Area Council for the 4th time to flag off construction of yet another project since resumption of office, barely a year ago, further assured that no part of the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory will be relegated.

Addressing the large gathering during the ceremony to flag off construction of Ushafa-War College and ancillary road, Wike revealed that it was the 8th Area Council project he was flagging off since he became FCT Minister.

The Minister said that it was clear his administration was not concentrating on Abuja’s city centre alone as claimed in certain quarters.

According to him, procurement for the the 18-kilometer road started before his administration, but was stalled, making him to revive and award it to a local contractor, Abdul Val Limited, which has already shown seriousness and capacity.

He added that President Bola Tinubu was also determined to encouraging and empowering local contractors.

The Minister renewed the commitment of the President to fulfilling all promises made to residents and Nigerians; appealing to them to be patient and supportive of the President to succeed.

Wike listed some of the numerous projects his administration is carrying out in the Area Councils, including nine-kilometre Paikon Kore-Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council, 25-kilometre Kwaita-Yebu road in Kwali Area Council, and 5-kilometer Naharati-River Ukya-Unguwan Hausawa Road in Abaji Area Council.

Others are rehabilitation and dualization of the 5-kilometre township road in Kuje, construction of 7.2-kilometer Gaba-Tokulo -Kaima road in Bwari Area council, rehabilitation of Dutse-Bwari road, as well as the provision of Saburi Access road, Apo-Karshi road, and soon to be awarded Kabusa-Takushara road in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, among others.

He urged all residents to do their part by paying all taxes, including ground rents; saying it was from taxation that the FCT Administration was getting all the funds to provide the services and infrastructure.

Disclosing that his FCT Administration was also not concentrating on road construction, Wike said that the first batch of 25 schools were under rehabilitation, even as he revealed that President Bola Tinubu, during his last visit to China, signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with CGC for the provision of potable water in three of the six Area Councils.

The Minister reiterated that following President Tinubu’s approval of ₦10 billion for youth empowerment, he would be carrying out a youth empowerment programme on Thursday,

The Minister stated that insecurity has reduced in the nation’s capital, even as he hailed the security agencies and other stakeholders in the security architecture; noting, however, that there was no way criminality would be eradicated completely.

Also speaking at the occasion, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, expressed gratitude to God, President Tinubu and the FCT Minister for delivering peojects rhat would enhance the livelihood of the people.