… Urge Citizens To Pay Tax To Support Development
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The FCT Minister, Barr. Nysome Wike has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for opening up Abuja with more projects and infrastructural development in the territory, as he called for citizens’ support by paying their little taxes .
Wike stated this on Friday during the inauguration of the Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Way), stretching from Life Camp Junction to Ring Road 3, in Abuja.
The minister said, “Mr. President has opened up the entire Abuja, but he won’t do it with his blood. It is about us doing our own by making sure we obey the laws, by making sure we carry out our own obligation of paying the little taxes that is supposed to be paid.”
He noted that the extensive landscaping and overall beauty of the area were clear indicators of President Tinubu’s positive impact on the FCT.
The minister recalled that the road contract which was awarded by the Federal Executive Council sometime in September and flagged off in October, adding that what was being commissioned is the first phase from Life Camp Junction to Dape, while the two phases, will be fully completed and commissioned at the end of the year.
“Today, we are commissioning the third phase, and I believe, by the grace of God, just like the Federal Secretary of the FCT has said, Phase 2 linking the next village through a bridge will be commissioned at the end of the year”, the minister explained.
However, Wike stated that the administration has entered into dialogue with the villagers and assured that everyone, whether indigenes or non indigenes, will be adequately compensated .
“I believe that, by the grace of God, we are discussing with the village, and I will be able to pay the compensation and take the road to the airport, he said.
However the minister, who noted that every development comes with challenges, disclosed that at a point, the project would have stopped because of payment of compensation to those living there who are said to be non-indigenous and therefore don’t deserve compensation.
He went on to appreciate the indigenes for their cooperation in ensuring that the project became a reality.
“I thank you for the support, but at the end of the day, whether I would like it or not, the compensation we paid, whatever it is, cannot be enough to pay, to compensate you for losing your traditional homes. So I want to especially thank you for that, he said.
“I said it is not under this administration of President Tinubu that somebody living here in his house, and you want to bring his house down, and you say you’re not going to pay compensation because he’s not an indigene. I said no, that is not what we should allow.”
“I directed that all of them who have houses here must be paid, and they were paid, and that’s how we were able to do this road. It’s one thing to award a project, it’s one thing to complete it on time.”
The minister also commended Julius Berger Construction company for their competence and for keeping to their promise that the project be part of the projects that Mr. President will inaugurate second year anniversary in office.
Wike thanked the National Assembly for their consistent support.
End
