Barrister Nyesom Wike’s administration as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory has been making waves in 2024. With a strong focus on infrastructure development, Wike has been committed to transforming Abuja into a world-class city. In this report, FAVOUR ISHEMBER writes on his notable achievements.
Nyesom Wike, in his infrastructural agenda, included education as new schools were established and old school buildings were refurbished.
Wike’s vision for Abuja extends beyond road infrastructure. He is passionate about transforming the city into a smart city, prioritising development in satellite towns and rural areas.
The Minister said his administration has made significant strides in infrastructure development, urban renewal, security enhancement, environmental sustainability, agricultural production, and citizen engagement.
“I’m sure it is good that all of us are touring and seeing what is on ground, and not being told stories. I’m sure you can see farms, expanse of land for farming. If the government can capitalize on this, we won’t be talking about food security. So I’m quite impressed, very much impressed,” the Minister said.
Wike’s leadership has fostered a sense of ownership among Abuja residents, promising a bright future for the capital territory. With President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike is determined to leave a lasting impact on Abuja’s socio-economic landscape.
Barr. Nyesom Wike, has in the year under review, flagged off the construction of the 9.8-kilometer Kabusa-Takushara road in Abuja. This noteworthy construction marks the beginning of a new wave of development projects across the Federal Capital Territory.
According to Wike, the construction of roads with street lights, a first in the Area councils, is expected to create jobs, alleviate hunger, and provide access to farms and markets. It will also facilitate easy movement of people, especially in health emergencies.
“The government is committed to fulfilling its promises, and one of those promises is to construct roads and provide street lights in rural areas. I assure you that this project will be completed within six to seven months,” the minister promised.
The former Rivers state governor explained that the road will enable people to build houses, farmers to bring their produce to the city, and generally improve the quality of life for residents in the area.
In his words: “You can imagine that in this district, people have not come in here because there is no access road but with the access road here everybody will come and develop. That is what we are looking for so that we will decongest the city. I mean if this is done and people are living here, you don’t need to go to the city and then if you go from here to work within 20 minutes you’re already at your workplace.”
In a swift move that reaffirms the government’s commitment to equitable infrastructural development across satellite towns, Wike flagged-off the Kabusa-Ketti road project in the year under review.
He noted that the administration’s focus extends beyond Abuja’s city center, ensuring that satellite communities like Kabusa and Ketti benefit from development.
The Minister assured residents that the Kabusa-Ketti road project will be completed before or during President Tinubu’s second anniversary, and that funding will not be a problem.
“Mr. President has directed us to open up all satellite areas, and that is why we are here today in Kabusa and Ketti. Let me assure you that this road project will be completed before or during the second anniversary of Mr. President. Money for this project is not a problem, it will not be abandoned,” Wike stated.
He pledged that the inclusion of streetlights in the Kabusa-Ketti road project will enhance security and ease the challenges faced by residents.
Wike highlighted the administration’s commitment to building access roads to support farmers, improve security, and reduce hardships.
He cited ongoing projects like the dualization of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road and the installation of streetlights along Kuje road as examples of transformative development.
The Kabusa-Ketti road project is part of a broader agenda to enhance infrastructure, boost economic activities, and improve living conditions across the FCT’s satellite communities.
On security, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been working to address the security challenges, Wike donated 100 operational vehicles to security agencies in the territory, to strengthen the fight against insecurity.
Insecurity has been a major challenge in FCT, with a surge in kidnapping, armed robbery, one-chance operators, and car theft in the nation’s capital city. The situation has been dire, with the tragic killing of the traditional ruler of Ketti in the Bwari Area Council last year, and numerous cases of one-chance robbery resulting in loss of lives and valuables.
This has been attributed to various factors, including the presence of some volatile religious bodies and other armed groups in the region. There have been reports of attacks and threats within close proximity of Nigeria’s seat of government, causing fear and apprehension among citizens.
Wike has stressed the need for security agencies to take the war to the criminals and not give them space to operate.
Despite these efforts, the security situation in Abuja remains a concern, with residents calling for urgent action to address the issue.
Wike highlighted the efforts of the security agencies in securing lives and properties, stating that they have stopped many incidents and arrested criminals daily.
According to the minister, any leader unable to secure the lives and properties of citizens has no business in governance.
“Security of the lives of FCT residents is very important, in the sense that, we are no longer talking about the infrastructure, we are no longer talking about taking development to the area councils, we are now talking about a key factor, a key agenda in the Renewed Hope mantra, and that has to do with security.
“One of the key points of the priorities of Mr. President, is the security of lives and property. Any government that cannot secure lives and property has no business in governance and so it’s a priority for Mr. President that Nigerians are secured. The people responsible for this are the security agencies, the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the police, the civil defense, the state security services, and all other security agencies.
“For us as a government, it’s not the responsibility of Mr. President to go and identify where the criminals are, it’s not my responsibility or the Minister of state, to go and engage criminals. But it is our responsibility to provide the tools for the security agencies to confront these criminals and make sure we sleep with our two eyes closed. If we do not carry out this responsibility, it will be difficult for our security agencies to be effective, to carry out this function of securing lives and properties.”
Another measure taken by the FCT Minister to forestall insecurity is initiating community policing. Wike empowered residents to secure their neighborhoods. These units work with traditional leaders and volunteers to monitor activities, report suspicious behavior, and mediate disputes. In Karu and Gwagwalada, community policing has reduced petty crimes and improved trust between residents and police.
Wike has also implemented advanced surveillance technologies across Abuja. CCTV cameras in high-risk areas provide real-time monitoring, deterring crime and aiding investigations. Intelligent traffic systems alleviate congestion and integrate security features like license plate recognition and incident detection, enabling rapid responses to threats.
