By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday extolled the FCT Minister, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for localizing hid Renewed Hope Agenda vusion that has brought out Abuja communities out of long-standing neglect and deprivation.
President Tinubu said this at the commissioning of the access roads to Giri district in the FCT .
He particularly thanked the FCT Minister for translating the Renewed Hope Agenda into tangible progress that is closer to the people.
Mr. President, represented by the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbass said, “Today, I stand before you not only to commission a road but also to express a deep and heartfelt appreciation to the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, a man whose quiet diligence and visionary leadership have continued to transform the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”
“Your work speaks for itself. In every corner of the FCT, from the fast-paced districts of Maitama, Jahi, Katampe, Wuye, Mabushi and the likes, to the satellite towns of Gwagwalada, Kwali, Bwari, Kuje and Abaji and growing districts such as Kabusa, Ketti, Sheretti and now Giri, your leadership has brought progress closer to the people.”
“You have not only embraced the vision of my Administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, you have localized it, made it visible, and made it real. Your actions have brought quality and excellence to the doorstep of communities long left in the shadows”.
The President stated that the newly constructed access roads in Giri is beyond infrastructural achievements but statements of intent; the intention to open up Giri district and the FCT as a whole, adding that, “They show that under this administration, no community is too small, area too distant, citizen too insignificant to benefit from the dividends of democracy..they remind us that development must reach the outskirts just as it touches the centre. ”
He further thanked the Minister for listening to the residents and acting to put smiles on their faces.
“As your President, I am proud of what we celebrate here today, and even more committed to seeing more of such milestones replicated across the nation.”
“Honourable Minister, continue to shine your light. Nigeria sees it. And history will record it. Thank you for listening. Thank you for acting. Thank you for reminding us that good governance is not about fanfare, but about footsteps, the kind that now travel easily on these new roads.”
Earlier, the FCT Minister, Barr. Wike stated that lack of infrastructure had greatly hindered the development of the various districts of the FCT.
He emphasized the commitment the FCT Administration’s efforts at tackling the challenges to ensure there is interconnectivity to open up the FCT.
“Like the chairman said, they will start the Academy immediately because now they have an access road that they can move in their equipment and develop this (EFCC Academy site) and once this comes, you will see that other people will also move in and develop their own areas.”
“Most of the problems we’re having here is that sometimes when land is allocated, there are no facilities, no infrastructure and people are not encouraged. So, we are doing everything possible to see that infrastructure is being provided.”
He revealed that Giri is an
important district that will attract so many investors, due to its serenity, topography and large expanse of land.
“What we have done now, having created this access road, I have told the Executive Secretary FCDA and other relevant agencies to start working out the details of how we’re going to do the roads, within the district. So, be assured that maybe next one year it will be a different thing.”
Wike reaffirmed with the Executive Secretary that the district is going to have mostly institutions like the university, like EFCC Academy, and all other institutions that are supposed to be here.
Meanwhile,
Wike disclosed that the Giri road, has helped to stop land grabbing by the University of Abuja.
“The university, on their own, grabbed 11 thousand hectares. I said, that would not happen. No, documents, nothing, all you see is them fencing everywhere… So, I’ve told, the director of lands and other relevant Agencies to carve out 4,000 hectares and give to the university. “
The other ones will be allocated because we are going to provide the roads here, and that’s the true situation”, he said.
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Ola Olukoyede represented by the Secretary of the Commission, Muammad Hamma Joda in his goodwill message thanked President Tinubu, the FCT Minister and the leadership of the National Assembly for their role in the construction of the access road to the permanent site of the EFCC Academy.
He restated that the major challenge to the development of the academy was the lack of an access road to the site, adding that with the construction of the infrastructure, the development of the academic will now proceed. The Chairman said on completion, the EFCC Academy will contribute to the training of officers who will sustain the momentum of the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
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