READ THIS – SUCCESSFUL FIRST YEAR: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S SUPPORT WAS UNWAVERING – WIKE
…SAYS FCT WILL WITNESS HUGE TRANSFORMATIONS IN COMING YEAR
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister @GovWike has acknowledged the unwavering support he has…
Received from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying it has helped him to succeed in his job as Minister of the FCT.
Barr. Wike who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 during a media parley with some select journalists marking his first year in office said President Tinubu has given him everything he requires to work and succeed as Minister of the FCT.
He said the President has not interfered with the running of the FCT and has rather stood by him in the difficult decisions he has taken so far as Minister. The FCT Minister who described the ongoing provision of infrastructure in the FCT as a revolution, said it could not have been achieved without the strong leadership and backing of the President.
He also disclosed that the support of the President for the withdrawal…
Of the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), as well as establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission in addition to the inclusion of youths and women in governance, were some of the key policy initiatives that have helped to translate the Renewed Hope Agenda of…
The President into dividends of good governance in the FCT,
According to the FCT Minister, “Mr. President has given me everything I require to work as far as the FCT is concerned. I don’t have any excuse or excuses not to perform because everything I require has been given to me.
“Luckily for me, Mr. President has never one day interfered in anything concerning FCT. Never. There are some decisions I make that I know will not go down well with some people and I believe that Mr. President may summon me for this…
“But I go to him and say I have made this decision and he says, I put you there so that you would be able to make such decisions. We require strong people who would be firm to take decisions and stand by it.
“So, that’s why it is very easy for me and my team. To operate. I am one Minister that should not complain at all”.
The FCT Minister further disclosed that President Tinubu has also increased the financial threshold for capital projects in the FCT from N1.5 billion to N10 billion which, he said, has helped to eliminate…
Unnecessary bottlenecks and ensure the timely delivery of infrastructure projects.
Consequently, the Minister said a lot of projects were currently in the process of being procured, adding that the nation’s capital was on the verge of witnessing a huge transformation…
That will positively impact the people.
He said, “As I speak to you, the procurement process is going on as far as Katampe (district) is concerned. You know there, we have where we are building Judges Quarters, we are building the Court of Appeal, FCT Division….
So, we are carrying out massive infrastructure in terms of roads in Katampe, but we are in procurement process
“Let me tell you this, in the next one year, what you will see in Abuja, you can come back and beat your chest that we have gotten it right”…
The Minister further disclosed that the provision of road infrastructure will cut across the city centre and the satellite towns.
Inclusive among the road projects to be executed, according to the FCT Minister, are the 18-kilometer link road between Nyanya,..
Orozo and Karshi, to Apo, as well as a dualized road from Kuje township to Gwagwalada Area Council in the Southern flank of the city.
He said the road projects, when completed will help to decongest the Abuja City centre and improve the lives of residents…
In the satellite towns as well as encourage agricultural activities.
“We are not restricting ourselves to just roads in the city, but you will see heavy development in terms of road in the next one year”, the Minister said.
The Minister equally revealed plans to collaborate with the private sector in the provision of roads to new districts to encourage real estate development in order to address the challenges of housing deficit…
He also disclosed that the FCT Administration has improved security in the nation’s capital thereby making the city more secure and comfortable for its inhabitants.
He said the overall objective of the Administration is to make Abuja one of the best…
Cities in the world where people can stay comfortable and secured and thanked President Tinubu for the confidence reposed in him to carry out the task of transforming the city.
On agriculture, the Minister who stated that the FCT has a comparative advantage…
In the production of rice, yam & cashew said rural roads were being constructed as part of the inclusive agricultural policies of the FCT to provide access to farmlands in the rural areas . He added the FCT was also considering the option of partnership with the private sector…
Leveraging the vast arable land to increase food production.
Speaking on the park and pay policy in the FCT, the Minister declared the activities of the operators as illegal, saying the operations of the scheme which were skewed in favour of the operators against. The government in terms of revenue collected was brought to his attention by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).
He said, “I’m trying to say that it’s illegal, and nothing like that exists. And if my colleague hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have known.”..
Barrister Wike who also responded to speculations that he may leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to the party’s internal challenges, insisted that he had no intention of leaving the party and would stand his ground and fight for his principles.
21/08/2024.
#wike