NOSA EGHAGHA
ABUJA, Nigeria – The newly-appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has said that he is in Abuja to deliver the dividend of democracy and return the territory to its glory days and not to fly party flags.
This puts to rest the speculation in some quarters of the possibility of his likely defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Wike, who is the only member of opposition party on President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet, in his maiden media briefing, rolled out a 10-point agenda with focus on issues of Security, City Sanitation, Preservation of the Abuja Master Plan, Infrastructure Development, Restoration of Green Areas, Removal of Shanties, Blocking of Revenue Leakages, Ground Rents Payment, among other deliverables.
The minister who was responding to questions on the party flags he is likely to fly as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, said FCT residents should be more worried about burning issues needing urgent intervention and not the party flag he will be flying.
“Why should anyone be bothered about what party flag I will be flying? Ok bring PDP flag, I will fly it, bring Labour Party flag, I will fly it. The FCT is in this state and you think the people are bothered about the party flag I fly? I will fly the Nigerian flag and ensure the FCT returns to the dreams of the founding fathers.
“We will bring FCT back to where it ought to be. So many people have complained that this is not the FCT of the founding fathers. We must tackle the issue of security. FCT should be where people come for holidays.”
He warned that the administration under his leadership will not take excuses from security agencies as they will be provided with the required tools to work as the issue of security is germane.
“The issue of security is germaine for us, as Mr. President has told me that whatever that is required, we must sure that Abuja is safe.
“We are not going to tolerate the issue of everywhere is market, as it must be within the limit of the law. Yes I know that things are difficult, but it doesn’t also mean that you must cause crisis for other people.
“In a city like Abuja, people are selling with umbrella under the trees. These things cause insecurity. No we can’t allow it at all. So security people must map out a strategy on how we must move them out.
“We can not also have everywhere as motor park and bus stops. It is not going to be allowed. I don’t care whom you’re, where you come from, and what religion, what we know is that we must sanitise the place. My happiness is that the people of Abuja are happy.
“So, Minister of state and myself, we are going to work, to make sure we achieve this, that will make people say Abuja has returned to what it is supposed to be.”
The minister also disclosed that he would sanitise the city and end the raise of slums and shanties across the city.
Wike cautioned all those who are distorting the masterplan of Abuja, to desist from such, as the new administration will not hesitate to step on toes, in order to turnaround Abuja to be competing with other cities of the world.
“Abuja has turned to a slum city. Sanitation is bad with refuse everywhere. We can not allow that. We will look at issues of waste disposal.”
“If you know you have built where it’s not supposed to build, it will go down. Our green areas and parks must come back
“Land racketeering days are over. Those who refuse to develop turning to land speculators will lose their lands.”
“All these are our short-term deliverables so as to bring back people’s confidence in Government.”
The Minister further vowed to revoke undeveloped plots with Certificates of Occupancy (CofO) given out to the allottees as well as go after those involved in erecting illegal structures, trading indiscriminately, land racketeers, and those taking over green areas in the FCT.
“We have the mandate of the Mr. President and vice president to give a different narrative as far as FCT is concerned. They have given us the matching order that we must bring FCT back to what it is supposed to be. And we have the capacity to do that. So, it’s not a joke as it is not going to be business as usual.
“Now is the time that we must show that Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, should be one of the cities to be competing with other cities of the world.
“We can not do it alone. We need the support of everybody, particularly the media. So, the first point is that we want the media to know that this is what we want to do within the short, medium, and long term.
“Those that the government has given Certificate of Ownership and allocated lands to them, and refused to develop, but would rather become land speculators, the land is gone as I’m going to revoke them. I don’t understand how the government will give you land to develop, then you keep the land looking for the highest bidder. We will take back our land from you.
