FCT - News Agency Of Nigeria

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Tue, 2025

Every home a garden project a huge success in FCT – Coordinator

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By Philip Yatai

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s “Every Home a Garden” project is recording a huge success in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says the FCT Coordinator, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi.

Benjamins-Laniyi, who is also the Mandate Secretary, FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, stated this at the close-out of the 2024 cohort of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Every Home a Garden competition, in Abuja.

She said that the event was also organised to celebrate FCT women for queuing into the competition, initiated by the First Lady, which she described as a “huge success.”

She said that the project, under the RHI Agricultural Support Programme has continued to impact the lives of rural women across the FCT.

According to her, the project is not only promoting self-reliance but improving nutrition and economic empowerment through backyard gardens.

She explained that the competition began in July 2023 to encourage women in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to practice home gardening.

She said that the women were encouraged to use traditional and modern gardening methods to create gardens at home.

“This lofty initiative was conceived to enhance immediate and sustainable food supply in the home and the country at large.

“The home garden idea is further aimed at promoting self-sufficiency, improving well-being, ensuring food security, reducing high cost of living and encouraging culture of sharing and communal living.

“On a broader scale, the initiative is targeting at redirecting the consciousness of Nigerians towards developing interest in farming, using any available space within the premises of every home.

“It is a bold attempt to reset Nigeria on the path to revitalising her vast agricultural endowments across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, with women leading the way,” she said.

Benjamins-Laniyi added that to participate in the competition, the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat inaugurated a committee, who reached out to women in the territory and guided them through the processes.

She said a total of 416 video entries were received and their gardens were also physically inspected by the committee and members of the panel of jurists.

She said that the panel assessed all the entries based on location of garden, variety of vegetables, use of available space, and alternative gardening methods.

Other criteria, she said, included the garden capacity to add value to domestic needs of the family and decency in the garden among others.

The coordinator said that at the end of assessment, Hajiya Hauwa Aminu emerged the winner in FCT, and also emerged among the top three at the national level.

She also said that Mrs Victoria Obiolor and Mrs Pamela Ashiedu came second and third place respectively.

“Today, we are gathered to commend the efforts of these women for participating in the competition. You all gave your best.

“You now belong to the women agro network in FCT, which shall stand as reference for further actions in terms of empowerment and capacity building in farming.

“You would not be abandoned,” she assured the women.

For continuity, the coordinator said that the close of the 2024 competition equally marks the commencement of the 2025 edition of the competition.

“I strongly believe that our gathering here today is a pathway for a better tomorrow for these women seated before us.

“You should, therefore, be ready for further engagements that would put smiles on your faces,” she said.

Also speaking, Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Abdullahi reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to grassroots agricultural empowerment.

Abdullahi commended the first lady for the initiative saying, “it is completing the efforts of President Bola Tinubu in repositioning the agricultural sector”. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Sun, 2025

Health

FG trains FCT health managers on smart, data-driven operational plans

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By Philip Yatai

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has trained health leaders and managers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on development of smart, budget-linked and data-driven Annual Operational Plan (AOP).

The four-day training, which ended on Saturday in Abuja, was under the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NSHRII) leadership, health system strengthening and planning capacity development.

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat (FCT HSES), said that the training marks a significant milestone toward the development of a data-driven and smart budget-linked 2026 AOP.

This, according to Fasawe, will align with FCT budget and enable administration to draw down on available funds from the Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs).

She explained that more than 70 senior health officials, programme managers and planning officers across the FCT, area councils, development and implementing partners participated in the four-day stepdown training.

She described the training as a “bold step” toward strengthening health systems and development of a budget-linked AOP that would align with government priorities for donors and development partners to key into.

Fasawe specifically urged development and implementing partners to align their plans and funding with the priorities and initiatives of the FCT Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (HSSB) and AOP.

Also, Dr Teresa Nwachukwu, the acting Director, Health Planning Research and Statistics, FCT HSES, said that the training was funded and facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

Nwachuckwu, who is also the FCT SWAp Desk Officer, added that the training was conducted through the NHSRII and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordinating Office.

She added that the training, designed to address the capacity gap among health managers and leaders across the country, would impact the needed skills for the development of 2026 AOP from the HSSB.

“The plan is being designed to align with the FCT budget and strategically incorporate flagship initiatives such as the HOPE Health Agenda, HSSB and the Maternal and Neonatal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII).

“This will be in line with President Bola Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda under the NSHRII, HOPE Health and SWAp,” she said.

She said the participants were equipped with practical leadership, planning and governance tools to drive efficient health service delivery.

“The training equally prioritised evidence-based budgeting, results-oriented planning, and multi-stakeholder coordination, essential to system-wide accountability and impact,” she added.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the participants were trained on the principles and context of HSSB, SWAp, MAMII, HOPE Governance and HOPE Health.

The health managers’ capacities were built on health systems, frameworks and system thinking, HOPE disbursement- linked indicators, problem-solving tools and bottlenecks analysis.

Other areas included intervention prioritisation techniques in healthcare delivery, data literacy for decision-making and performance dialogue, monitoring evaluation, accountability, research and learning Plan and AOP development process.

The participants also went through hands-on training on the web-based AOP tool, leadership, team building and change management.

A core outcome of the workshop was the identification of critical health financing gaps in the FCT, especially in the areas of poor funding for health and absence of budget lines for monitoring and evaluation activities of the SDAs.

They also noted the challenge of funding for health at the area council level, including absence of budgetary provisions for critical programmes.

The participants urged development partners to align funding and programmes with government-led strategies and a joint planning and development of 2026 AOP to ensure donor inputs directly support FCT-specific health priorities.

Other recommendations included strengthening area council-level financing and the need for enhanced budget releases at the state and area council levels.

They also advocated increased domestic and donor resources for health system strengthening and increased health budgetary allocation in line with the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration of April 27, 2001. (NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Wed, 2025

Health

New hospitals underway in FCT – Fasawe

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By Philip Yatai

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says new hospitals are underway in the territory to improve access to quality healthcare.

Fasawe disclosed this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a capacity development training for health managers in the FCT.

She added that more than six to seven world-standard hospitals have opened in the territory, adding that additional ones would be constructed to bridge the access gap.

“You will soon start to see new hospitals in the FCT, but we can’t build new hospitals when there is no adequate human resource.

“Our doctors are running away but we are working on that right now,” she said.

She said that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-led FCTA was already working on improving human resource for health.

She said with the FCT minister that does things to perfection, the amount that has gone to the health sector in 2025 was unprecedented.

“We are working on improving our health systems now beyond building new hospitals.

“Under his administration, we have been able to increase our health workforce by over a 1000.

“We have also increased salaries of some health workers with some receiving doubled their salaries,” she said.

The mandate secretary added that a reasonable budgetary allocation had been earmarked for human resource, adding that for the first time FCT doctors were paid uniform allowance.

“I want to assure you that this administration is not taking health lightly and this annual operational plan will detail everything we need – how much we need, including miscellaneous.

“I know that the FCT Minister will do the right thing as he has started doing the right things towards repositioning the health sector,” she said.

Fasawe noted that the country was gripping with so many demands across all sectors but limited resources to address the needs, particularly the health sector needs.

She, however, said she was proud of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”, which was already transforming the health sector.

She particularly said that road projects being executed and inaugurated in the capital city and across the area councils were significantly improving access to health facilities.

She commended all the doctors and other health workers working in FCT secondary facilities for the cordial working relationship with the FCT Administration.

“Since the Wike-led FCTA came on board, we witnessed only one warning strike and within three days the minister was able to resolve the issues.

“So, I want to commend the doctors that work in FCT who despite the difficult working conditions, have not gone on strike,” she said.

The mandate secretary however noted that in the area council, there was a general strike by the workers that lasted for more than three months.

She explained that primary health care centres were under the purview of area councils, adding that although they went on strike, they still provided essential services.

“The labour unions were kind enough to leave essential services throughout the strike.

“Schools were closed, other places were closed, but I can say for a fact that the last immunisation exercise, for the first time FCT recorded 101 per cent achievement, in spite of the strike.

“So, we are looking forward to a situation where doctors that have gone abroad will start to come back here to practice and we are starting to see a lot of that.

“What we need to do is look after the welfare of doctors,” she noted. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Delivery by skilled birth attendant compulsory in FCT – Mandate Secretary

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Wed, 2025

Health

Delivery by skilled birth attendant compulsory in FCT – Mandate Secretary

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By Philip Yatai

The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says delivery by skilled birth attendants is compulsory in the territory.

The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated this in Abuja on Wednesday, during a capacity development training for health managers in the FCT.

Fasawe said that Nigeria was being rated as the capital city of maternal mortality in the world, adding that the move was to ensure no woman died on account of child birth in the FCT.

She reiterated the FCT’s zero tolerance for maternal mortality, adding that it was unacceptable for a woman to die whilst bringing life to earth.

She said: “It is compulsory that you deliver your baby with a skilled birth attendant.

“There’s no reason for anyone to die due to child delivery and we are facing it headstrong.

“We look for pregnant women; we give them health insurance; they get to the hospital and they go back and tell other persons.”

Fasawe said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike had declared free health insurance for every pregnant woman in FCT so that money would not be the obstacle to accessing health services.

She urged FCT to take advantage of the free health insurance for pregnant women in the territory to be able access free healthcare services, including caesarean section.

“Just to the nearest family healthcare centre, register and access free healthcare.

“So, this is what we are hoping for, with this deliberate operational plan and collaboration with the Federal Ministry and all stakeholders through the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp).

“SWAp is simply where we all put our needs in one basket and another basket that would match our needs and theses needs come from available data.

“If we get data showing us that certain conditions are on the increase somewhere, we will go into that basket, and take money to resolve that situation,” she said.

Fasawe explained that the training was initiated by the Federal Minister of Health and the SWAp Coordination Office.

She said that the training was part of leadership health strengthening and planning, towards a rational, realistic, pragmatic, and comprehensive plan that informs health budgets for FCT residents.

“This underscores a shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient FCT, and one that can serve as a model for the nation and contribute to the National One Health conversation,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Wed, 2025

Health

FCTA reinforces commitment to inclusive, effective healthcare mgt.

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By Philip Yatai

The Health Services and Environment Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has reaffirmed its commitment towards a more accountable, inclusive, and effective health management for quality service delivery.

The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said this in Abuja on Wednesday during a capacity development training for health managers in FCT.

Fasawe explained that the training was initiated by the Federal Minister of Health and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) Coordination Office.

She said that the training was part of efforts at leadership health strengthening and planning towards a rational, realistic, pragmatic, and comprehensive plan that informs health budgets for FCT residents.

“This underscores a shared commitment to building a healthier, more resilient FCT, and one that can serve as a model for the nation and contribute to the National One Health conversation.

“The diverse and dynamic territory, where urban pressures meet rural realities, fragmented efforts and siloed planning can no longer support the scale of transformation we seek.

“The SWAp allows us to align donor resources, government policies, and community needs under one cohesive strategy, anchored in the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint.

“It’s about giving our system the structural backbone it needs: better coordination, data-driven decisions, local ownership, pooled funding, and results that speak to real improvements in people’s lives,” she said.

Fasawe stressed that the training marks the beginning of a movement toward more accountable, inclusive, and effective health management.

She added that the training would sharpen essential leadership and technical skills among health managers.

She identified the leadership and technical skills as strategic health planning with a systems lens, use of data to inform decision making, and participatory budgeting and equitable resource allocation

Other areas included monitoring and evaluation for service improvement, stakeholder engagement across sectors and communities, and the new digital Annual Operation Plan (AOP) tool.

“These tools will help us tackle unique challenges in the FCT, from improving referral systems across health facilities to expanding access in underserved settlements and enhancing digital health infrastructure.

“We are not alone in this endeavour. Our progress rests on strong partnerships among area councils, development partners, civil society, and you, our frontline health managers.

“Each of you brings a wealth of experience, passion, and commitment that will shape this transformation.

“Let this training be a place where ideas flourish, innovations are born, and networks are strengthened.

The mandate secretary said that the efforts would transform FCT to “where every health facility delivers quality care, every community feels heard, and every policymaker is guided by evidence and empathy.

“This is not a distant dream; it is a destination within reach, if we work together.

“Let today mark the beginning of a renewed journey – one of leadership, collaboration, and unwavering commitment to health for all,” she said.

Earlier, Dr Teresa Nwachukwu, the acting Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics, FCT HSES, noted the challenges in the health sector, ranging from poor access to low human resources for health.

Nwachukwu, who is also the SWAp Coordinator, FCT HSES, added that other challenges included weak coordination and poor use of data to inform decision-making.

She described SWAp as a “management approach that aims to build a more cohesive, effective and sustainable health sector”.

She added that the Federal Government was implementing the approach to advance the National Health Act and associated reforms.

Also, the FCT Coordinator, WHO, Dr Kumshida Balami, said that the training was critical as Nigeria takes a transformation journey towards achieving universal health coverage

The workshop signifies a spirit of collaboration, knowledge sharing, innovation, and enhancing the planning process of AOP. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

FCT area council workers suspend strike following Wike’s intervention

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Mon, 2025

Metro

FCT area council workers suspend strike following Wike’s intervention

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By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has suspended its three-month strike following the intervention of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

The suspension was announced by the union in a statement, jointly signed by its President, Ibrahim Kabir and Secretary, Andulmumini Sa’ad, in Abuja on Monday.

The union explained that its State Executive Council (SEC) resolved to suspend the strike effective from midnight after exhaustive deliberation on Monday.

It said that the development followed Wike’s directive to utilise area councils’ 10 per cent Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to offset the workers’ three months’ salary arrears.

The union said that another resolution was for NULGE to work with the Special Committee constituted by Wike to harmonise all outstanding arrears within two weeks.

This, according to the union, was to ensure a holistic resolution through the National Assembly House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters.

The workers added that the union would engage with the area council chairmen to address outstanding issues.

“NULGE is committed to sustaining industrial peace and harmony within the council and FCT at large.

“The union expresses its profound gratitude to the FCT minister, the traditional council of FCT, and all relevant stakeholders for their efforts in resolving the industrial action,” the workers said.

The union identified the outstanding issues as 40 per cent peculiar allowance from January 2023 to date and 25 per cent and 35 per cent salary adjustments from June 2023.

Other issues are N35,000 wage award for six months from August 2024 to date, unremitting pension deductions, promotion arrears and other outstanding entitlements.

“The union remains committed to engaging with the area council chairmen on the remaining entitlements and looks forward to a swift resolution of all outstanding issues,” the statement said. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

210 beggars detained as operation sweep Abuja enters day 4

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Thu, 2025

Metro

210 beggars detained as operation sweep Abuja enters day 4

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By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has apprehended 210 beggars, under its Operation Sweep Abuja of miscreants, street beggars, traders, scavengers and other criminal elements, which commenced on Monday.

Mrs Gloria Onwuka, acting Director, Social Welfare, Social Department Secretariat, FCTA, disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, at the end of day four of the exercise.

Onwuka said that the operation was in line with the directive of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

She explained that the 210 beggars, made up of 80 men 58 women and 72 children, were camped at the Bwari Rehabilitation Centre.

The director added that scavengers, ‘one chance’ syndicate and other criminals that were apprehended were detained by the police.

She said that the beggars, who were caught in the act in different locations were being profiled and would be deported back to their various states.

The director said that some of the children begging on the streets were brought in from Kano, Katsina and other states by unidentified individuals simply to beg and hand over the proceeds to them.

She added that some of the women that were caught with children, begging on their behalf were not their biological children.

“Begging is now run like a business. People will go and hire people’s children from other states, put them in vehicles very early in the morning, come to Abuja and start begging.

“The families they are hiring these children from don’t even know that this is what they are using their children to do.

“We have caught so many of them like that.

“Also, some of the beggars will even tie a bandage on their legs claiming injuries but it’s all lies.

“There is a woman we caught who claimed she has cancer of the breast, but when we loose the bandage, there was no single wound on her breast,” Onwuka said.

On his part, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, Mr Damy Gwary, said that the operation had so far covered the city centre, Kubwa, Gwarimpa, Asokoro, Garki and Wuse among other locations.

Gwary explained that the activities of the beggars, scavengers and other criminal elements have become a source of great concern to FCT residents.

Represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, FCTA Command and Control Centre, the director said that the operation was to rid the city of all forms of criminal elements.

He pointed out that beggars pose security threats and constitute a nuisance in the city.

He added that Wike had directed the Commissioner of Police (CP) in the FCT and other security agencies to tackle all forms of security threats across the territory.

He added that the CP would provide updates on the progress so far, adding that the operation would continue as long as security threats exist in the FCT. (NAN)

Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi

Tinubu int. conference centre generates N700m in 3 weeks – Wike

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Sun, 2025

Metro

Tinubu int. conference centre generates N700m in 3 weeks – Wike

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By Philip Yatai

The newly rehabilitated Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, has generated more than N700 million in three weeks.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, disclosed this on Sunday, during a Thanksgiving Service at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja.

The thanksgiving was for the successful completion of project inaugurations by President Bola Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

Wike disclosed that the person that was managing the centre before the rehabilitation was remitting only N50 million to the FCT Administration annually.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls the public uproar when Wike announced that N39 billion was earmarked for the rehabilitation to upgrade the centre to international standard.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre

The minister said that the move was finally paying off, with more than N700 million so far generated in just three weeks after it was reopened for public use.

“When we visited the centre in 2024, Tinubu described the centre as an eyesore, stressing that this is not the international conference centre that Nigeria should be presenting to the global community and directed that we rehabilitate the edifice.

“We shut the place down and within seven months we rehabilitated the centre.

“The shocking thing is that the man who was running it from Adamawa was paying the government N50 million a year.

“But in just three weeks that we opened it after the renovation, we have made over N700 million,” he said.

He added that when the FCT Administration took over the centre to carry out the rehabilitation, the person that was managing it called him all kinds of names.

The minister said that when he decided he would not allow the centre to be run down, some people painted all kinds of pictures and told all kinds of stories.

“These are people who claim that they want to rescue Nigeria,” he said.

He called on Nigerians to disregard people who had opportunities to be in government for several years but could not facilitate critical infrastructure in their states.

Wike explained that the thanksgiving service became necessary to thank God for the successful inauguration of 17 projects in 16 days by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

“It was not easy. Nobody lost his life, no accident going from here to outside the city – Kwali, Gwagwalada and Bwari. It has not been easy.

“We thank God for the grace; we thank God for the strength given to all of us. It’s teamwork and we did it successfully,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Tinubu’s administration transforming FCT to a befitting nation’s capital – Wike

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Sun, 2025

Metro

Tinubu’s administration transforming FCT to a befitting nation’s capital – Wike

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By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike says President Bola Tinubu’s administration is transforming FCT to a befitting nation’s capital.

Wike stated this on Sunday, during a Thanksgiving Service at St. James’ Anglican Church, Asokoro, Abuja, for the successful completion of project inaugurations by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

The minister said nothing was moving in the nation’s capital until the coming of Tinubu’s administration, pointing out that residents were already confessing the changes.

“This is because you have a government that is determined to make the needed changes.

“If the Tinubu government is not interested, it will be the same thing but because he is interested, he said this is not the kind of capital we should have; this is not the kind of city Nigeria should be boasting of.

“We need to transform Abuja to be like other cities in the world and he gave me a matching order to see that things are working.

“Yes, we cannot say we have completely changed Abuja but you can see the processes and the steps being taken to put Abuja where it is supposed to be,” he said.

He pointed out that most of the infrastructure, particularly roads were in a bad shape, adding that currently things were different.

The FCT minister appealed to residents and Nigerians to be patient and see what Abuja would become in the next one year.

He pointed out that some people resisted his appointment as the FCT minister because he didn’t come from a particular area in the country, which he described as “unfortunate”.

Wike lauded Tinubu for standing firm on his decision to work only with people that would support him and work with him to develop FCT.

“We are contributing our own quota and it is left for the people to judge our performance. We will continue to work hard to improve on what Mr President has promised FCT residents and NIgerians in general.

“Like the Vicar of the Church Ben Idume has said, everybody can attest to the changes Mr President has introduced in the FCT.”

Wike pointed out that for the first time under Tinubu’s administration, the FCT now appoints its Permanent Secretaries (PS) as against posting them from the Federal Civil Service.

He explained that Tinubu’s decision was to ensure that FCT workers’ growth was not retarded as they retired at the rank of directors.

“People who get to the director level retire and do not get to the permanent secretary level, but today, by the grace of God, all the civil servants in the FCT are likely to grow to the level of permanent Secretary.

“Secondly, today, FCT had its own Head of Service, who of course, is a woman and from FCT. All these are things that people should thank Mr President for.

“Also, before now, it will be difficult for FCT to access funds, but Mr President in his wisdom decided that FCT Administration should be pulled out from the Treasury Single Account.

“This has significantly helped us to access funding and execute development and infrastructural projects across the FCT,” he said.

He explained that the thanksgiving service became necessary to thank God for the successful inauguration of 17 projects in 16 days by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

“It was not easy. Nobody lost his life, no accident going from here to outside the city – Kwali, Gwagwalada and Bwari. It has not been easy.

“We thank God for the grace; we thank God for the strength given to all of us. It’s teamwork and we did it successfully,” he said.

Earlier, Idume presented an Award of Excellence to the minister for the exceptional performance in infrastructural development in the FCT.

Idume observed that contrary to the opposition Wike faced, he had proven his detractors wrong as FCT minister from the southern part of Nigeria.

He described Tinubu as a “visionary leader” saying, “he appointed Wike FCTA Minister because he knew he would perform against all odds”. (NAN)

Edited by Yakubu Uba

Days of empty promises, abandoned projects over in FCT – Tinubu

Philip Daniel Yatai
Jul, Fri, 2025

Metro

Days of empty promises, abandoned projects over in FCT – Tinubu

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By Philip Yatai and Uche Bibilari

President Bola Tinubu says the days of empty promises and abandoned projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country are over.

Tinubu stated this in Abuja on Friday, while inaugurating the newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace, Radio Nigeria, New Market Road and other connecting roads in Gwagwalada.

The project was the 17th, inaugurated by Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the president assured Nigerians that no community under his administration was too far to be seen, and no voice too faint to be heard.

He added that his administration was steadily bridging the gap between promise and performance.

He said that the projects being unveiled in the FCT were not imposed from above but nominated by the people of Gwagwalada themselves.

“This is the kind of democracy we believe in; one that listens, one that responds, and one that delivers.

“The road is a corridor of dignity for the market women, a path to safety for our school children, and a road to prosperity for the hard-working trader.

“We are not just building infrastructure; we are building confidence and governance.

“For too long, those who lived beyond the city centre have watched development happen from a distance.

“They have watched their dreams of inclusion delayed by excuses, and their hopes defied by shifting priorities; we are here to rewrite that history,” he said.

Tinubu said that his government was not just rehabilitating roads but rehabilitating trust.

According to him, the transformation unfolding across the FCT is the product of deliberate reforms and the bold reform-oriented policies of this administration.

“By expanding the revenue base of the FCT, we are investing in roads, schools, hospitals, and people.

“The newly rehabilitated Aguma Palace, Radio Nigeria, and New Market Road is a lifeline to the communities it connects.

“From rehabilitated healthcare centres to improved learning environments for our children, from safer roads to a more responsible public service, the FCT is undergoing a quiet revolution.”

He said that the revolution was made possible by people like the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, who refused to accept mediocrity.

Describing Wike as the most colourful politician in the Nigerian political landscape, the president thanked the minister for his accomplishments so far.

Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to projects that speak directly to the lives of the people.

“We are focused on creating an enabling environment for businesses to grow, for families to thrive, and for communities to prosper.

“We are determined to ensure that development is not a privilege reserved for the few, but a right enjoyed by all,” he added.

In his remarks, Wike said that the 10-kilometre road was nominated by the residents of Gwagwalada, including the 9.5km Paikon-Kore Road, constructed and inaugurated in 2024.

“One good thing about the projects in rural areas is that, we never sat in the city and said, go and do so, so, road.

“We came here and the people said, this is what we want. This is what we call community participation in governance.

“The day we came here for the flag off of this project was the day I knew the importance of these roads to the residents of Gwagwalada. The road had completely collapsed and the people were suffering,” he said.

Acknowledging the excitement on the faces of Gwagwalada residents, the minister commended Tinubu for supporting the FCT Administration to deliver life-impacting projects in satellite towns.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, described the various projects inaugurated by Tinubu in the last 16 days “as enablers of economic growth, social harmony, and improved quality of life”.

“The inauguration of this road is a demonstration of our dedication to inclusive governance and infrastructure renewal in both urban and rural communities,” Mahmoud said.

Earlier, Mr Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, the Coordinator of the FCT Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), said that the project was awarded in September 2024 to a local contractor.

Zulkiflu added that the completion and inauguration of the road marks a significant advancement in the FCT’s efforts to improve infrastructure in satellite towns and area councils, which reflect Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agender”.

He thanked Wike for the trust placed on STDD to manage and oversee the execution of the project. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza