Assistant Editor, Joyce Remi-Babayeju, takes a look at the achievements of the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwon Wike’s 365 days in office.
The appointment of Barr. Ezenwon Nyesom Wike as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu can best be described as bringing the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s government to the door step of the nation’s capital.
President Tinubu’s decision to appoint Barr. Nyesom Wike as the 17th minister of the FCT on the 16th of August 2023, has no doubt yielded desired results, as attested by the achievements recorded in just one year.
With a “Midas Touch,” Wike’s one year in office, has resulted in a compendium of infrastructural and human development in the territory.
The FCT Minister who is popularly called Mr. Project with the slogan Wike is Working, WIW, has turned the FCT into a haven of infrastructural projects both in the rural areas and urban center.
Wike has severally told residents while on monitoring visits to sites that urban—rural infrastructural development is not only for the city alone, but also for rural communities.” It is about impacting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu into action.”
In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Mr. Project has injected revolution and renovation into all the sectors of development in the nation’s capital . Road/ transportation, education, healthcare, housing , agriculture and security.
Transportation sector
In Wike’s one year in office, the transportation sector is now top-notch in terms of mode of transportation of commuters. From the commissioning of the Abuja Mass Rail service , to the flag – off the first Bus Terminal in Abuja, the Mabushi Bus Terminal development in Section Centre A (B15), to the construction of the Kugbo Bus Terminal to reduce incidences of One – chance and kidnappings in the territory.
At the flag – off of the Kugbo Bus Terminal, Wike said, ” when completed commuters can identify who is picking you and taking you safely to where you are going”, emphasizing that it is for the safety of residents.
Road projects
Mr. Project as the minister is popularly known due to his workaholic nature and day and night monitoring of projects has not stopped putting contractors on their toes to complete projects before December, 2024.
Some projects under Wike administration include the Construction of the Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, Full scope development of the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX) from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1, and the Construction of the Vice President’s official residence.
Others are the B6 and B12 Circle Road, also known as Independence and Constitution Avenue, and the full scope development of the Arterial Road, N20 from Northern Parkway (Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway) to Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway).
Rural road projects include the Abaji road 25 kilometer Kwaita- Yebu and 1 kilometer Yangoji- Sukuku- Eba roads and Kwali Arterial road in Kwali, Area Council. Commissioning of Guzape lot 11 district road, among others.
According to Wike, communities connecting roads would boost rural development, enhance economic activities, create security, stop kidnappings and discourage urban pull.
Under the leadership of Barr. Wike, history was created with an upgrade of the FCT Civil Service into an autonomous Commission.
President Tinubu appointed a Head of Service and nine Permanent Secretaries in the FCT Administration, while directors can be promoted to the position of Permanently Secretaries in the different ministries..
Furthermore, for the first time, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat was created and recently the FCT Youth Secretariat manned by Hon. Adedayo Benjamins- Laniyan and Abudullahi Ango respectively as the Mandate secretaries.
The minister stated at a Town Hall meeting with youths in the FCT, that the Youth Secretariat is a platform to dialogue with the youths on their needs and also an avenue to engage them in trainings in skills acquisition, entrepreneurship, and leadership qualities.
Education Sector
Wike said that he would ensure every child gets access to quality education under a conducive learning environment.
To make this happen, the minister approved the sum of N30.9 billion for the renovation and rehabilitation of 49 schools in the FCT.
The schools which include Government Science Technical College, Kwali; Government Science Technical College, Maitama; Government Secondary School, Kuje and Government Secondary School, Wuse II, now have a new look with modern infrastructural facilities for ease of teaching and learning for teachers and students.
Again, as a way of bringing hope back to neglected primary school teachers in the six Area Councils, Wike paid the teachers their salary arrears totally N7 billion to put smiles back on their faces.
Health Sector
Wike approved the employment of an additional 412 health professionals , consisting of 352 health workers and 60 Resident doctors health to boost healthcare delivery in FCT hospitals.
To ensure access to quick and affordable healthcare services for residents, the FCT Minister expressly approved the construction of Utako General and the Gwagwalada Cottage hospital. This is in addition to giving free health insurance to pregnant women and renewed medical hope palliatives to patients.
Housing Sector
As a way of giving succour to the less privileged in the territory, Wike’s administration has commenced the construction of 10,000 housing , tagged, ” Renewed Hope City”, to be allocated to members of the public.
The houses to be constructed under the FCTA, in completion will be allocated to members of the public.
Agriculture sector
In the area of Agriculture, in the last one year,the administration, there has been an upscale of food production and food security by local farmers.
As a way of bringing back the lost hope to farmers, the Administration have engaged in the distribution of Agricultural imputes like various fertilizers, seedlings and farming implements to farmers across the six Area Councils for food security.
Recently , FCTA distributed 4,4656 bags of assorted food items to FCT residents in Gwagwalada Area CounciI.
The Administration flagged – Off the distribution of 30 trucks of fertilizers to farmers to address the food crisis in the nation. This is in addition to construction of connecting road network for transportation of food items by farmers to markets.
Security sector
The FCT Minister vowed to stem the tide of insecurity in the territory by protecting the lives and property of residents. For effective collaboration with security agencies and stakeholders, Wike distributed 50 operational vehicles and communication gadgets to security agencies, 100 motorcycles to security outfits in Area Councils.
In his determination to achieve zero tolerance for kidnapping in the FCT, Wike rewarded a vigilante group who has rescued 4 kidnapped persons in a Kwali village with a bus and cash gifts.
Wike’s achievements in one year as the FCT Minister, is unprecedented and commendable, particularly among the residents who often chant the slogan Wike is Working with cheers at every given opportunity.
