President Bola Tinubu says Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), is taking governance closer to the residents of the nation’s capital.
Tinubu, represented by Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, spoke in Abuja on Monday while inaugurating the newly constructed access roads in Giri district, executed by the Wike-led FCT Administration.
According to a statement issued by Lere Olayinka, spokesperson to the FCT minister, the project was the 13th inaugurated out of the 17 scheduled for commissioning to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office.
The president said Wike’s work speaks for itself in every corner of the FCT, adding that projects executed by the minister have brought quality and excellence to the dual states of communities long laid in the shadows.
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“From the vast-spaced districts of Maitama, Jahi, Katampe, Wuye, Mabushi and the likes, to the towns of Gwagwalada, Kwali, Bwari and Abaji, and the growing communities of Kabusa, Ketti and now Giri district, your leadership has brought progress closer to the people,” he said.
“You have not only embraced the visions of my administration’s ‘renewed hope agenda’, but you have also localised it, made it meaningful and real.
“Honourable minister, on behalf of myself, my administration and the good people of the FCT, I say thank you for reminding us that good governance is not about fanfare but about footsteps.”
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Tinubu said the newly constructed access roads were not just infrastructural achievements but a statement of intention to open up the Giri district and the FCT.
Wike said the district is home to the University of Abuja, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Academy and other institutions.
“Most of the problem we’re having here is that sometimes, when you allocate land, there are no facilities, no infrastructure, and people are not encouraged to develop the allocated land,” he said.
“So, we will do everything we can to see that basic infrastructure is provided in Giri to become an important district that will attract so many investors.”
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The minister further stated that efforts had begun to construct the critical road network in the district, adding that he had already asked Richard Dauda, the acting executive secretary of the federal capital development authority (FCDA), and other experts to begin working on the details.
Wike said the road network would help to stop the University of Abuja’s land grabbing, adding that the institution had grabbed 11,000 hectares without authorisation.
“So, I have told the director of lands and other relevant agencies to carve out 4,000 hectares and give it to the university,” he said.
“The other ones would be reallocated because we are going to provide the roads here, and that is the true situation.”
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