Nigerian Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr Ezenwo Nyesom, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his massive support for the development of rural communities in the FCT.
The Minister gave the commendation when the Management and Board of the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA visited him in his office in Abuja on Thursday, as part of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Federal Capital Territory.
Barr Wike who decried the neglect of rural communities in the past, noted that their development has been prioritized under the current administration, citing the example of the Tungan Madaki community along the airport road.
"Today we went to Tunga Madaki. It's really shocking. I pitied the communities. But by the grace of God, by the time we do that road to Zuba, you will see how the whole place will be opened.
'How can we just be talking about only the city, when communities are denied of their basic things? They have no access to roads to even come to the city. I wish everybody would have the opportunity to go to the villages where there are no roads. That's what people should be talking about,' he said in a statement by the Assistant Director, Press, Office of the Minister, Rabi Musa Umar.
The Minister further lauded the FCDA and its leadership headed by the Executive Secretary, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, whom, he said, had aligned the activities of the Authority to the vision of the current Administration.
Barr Wike who expressed joy at being the sitting Minister during the golden jubilee celebration of the FCT, however pointed out that the celebration would not hold in February but later in the year, alongside the President's 3rd Anniversary celebration.
'I don't want to take away the shine from Mr. President. And I believe that, that compendium (mentioned by the Executive Secretary earlier) will be necessary to be launched during the 3rd year anniversary of Mr. President.
“All these our achievements wouldn't have been made possible but for the very big support we have received from Mr. President”, he added.
The Minister pointed out that the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had carried out major reforms in the FCT Administration beginning with the creation of the FCT Civil Service. This, he said, has made it possible for FCT Civil Servants to aspire to the highest peak of their careers, even as Permanent Secretaries. The Minister also praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for excluding the FCT from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), thereby making it possible for the Administration to shore up its Internally Generated Revenue, and secure bank funding for infrastructural development.
"Today, everybody is saying there's massive infrastructural development. If that was not made possible, we would still be hanging around. We would still be saying nothing is going on. So, we must appreciate somebody who has laid the foundation for us to get to where we are. We must appreciate and that's why I want to say that, very soon I'm going to set up a committee that will plan to commemorate FCT at 50, with Mr. President’s third year in office. It's very, very important", the Minister stressed.
The Minister urgedr residents and staff to continue providing the needed support and expressed displeasure over the lack of appreciation of government's efforts and involvement in "Petty things".
Speaking earlier, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Richard Yunana Dauda, thanked the Honourable Minister for the level of achievement recorded within the last two and half years in Infrastructural development of the FCT, describing it as: "unprecedented in the 50-year history of the FCT and the FCDA. This is as a result of the commitment, dedication and proactive drive of the leadership of the current Administration under the visionary leadership of the Hon. Minister –Barr. (Dr.) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, CON"
He further stated that the Staff and management of the FCDA were "proud to be associated with the drive and achievements recorded within this period and for the privilege to be part of this unique history".
He disclosed that all achievements of the administration in the past two and a half years will be documented in a compendium and presented to the Minister at a later date.
He went on to pledge the loyalty, commitment and dedication of the FCDA to the task of building a new Federal Capital that all Nigerians will be proud of under the leadership of the Minister.