
Newly installed minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike has pledged that the nation’s capital will be a pride to residents and other Nigerians in six weeks.
Wike, who disclosed that he has the backing of President Bola Tinubu also expressed the readiness to step on toes to sanitise the FCT.
The former Rivers State governor stated this in Abuja on Monday during a media chat after his swearing-in as new FCT minister.
The FCT minister said that many things are wrong in the nation’s capital, especially in the areas of insecurity, lack of street lights, illegal structures, illegal motor parks and bus stops.
He disclosed that the new administration will tackle the challenges as soon as possible.
Barr. Wike who warned that it is no longer business as usual also vowed that all illegal structures in the nation’s capital will be removed, while uncompleted buildings scattered in the city centre will be taken over by the administration if the owners fail to complete them.
He also warned that all illegal bus stops and motor parks, markets and hawking all over the territory will be removed, as part of restoring the hope of Nigerians in the territory.
He vowed to stop the illegal rearing of cows in Abuja city centre, which he described as an eyesore, declaring that cows should be reared in the forest and not on the streets of Abuja.
He said the new FCT administration will also introduce new seamless transportation system for residents to reduce transportation challenge, while land racketeering and revenue leakages will be stopped.
“We are not happy that many things have gone wrong in Abuja, the nation’s capital. So, we are here as a new administration to bring sanity to the city. For instance, there is a reported case of an increase in insecurity in the nation’s capital and I will assure that we will tackle it.
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“Let me also inform you that we have the backing of Mr President and we will ensure that we do the right things to sanitise Abuja for the interest of all.
“Also, all illegal developments in the nation’s capital will go down to give way for restoration of the master plan of the nation’s capital. And if we must do this, we are going to step on toes, in our efforts to do the right things,” Wike said.
He noted that so many people have complained that the territory has lost focus while some are regretting that this is not the FCT they know.
“It is not the FCT we thought will compete with the cities of the world, this is the time that we must show that the FCT can compete with other cities of the world.
“Security in FCT has gone down, the city supposed to be one of the safest places. Issue of security must be tackled first, we will provide the necessary logistics for the security agencies to work.
“I don’t want any excuses for failure, when we provide the necessary things to work, what we want is results, if we don’t safeguard FCT we are gone. Look at people stealing manholes and so on,” he said.
He then urged security agencies to identify and flush out criminals from all black spots in city.