The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged to rid Abuja of criminal activities during the December festive season, ensuring residents and visitors enjoy a safe and secure environment.
Speaking on Tuesday, Wike urged security operatives to intensify their efforts in maintaining peace across the nation’s capital, particularly during the holidays when activities typically peak.
To enhance security operations, the minister announced that operational vehicles would be handed over to security agencies on Thursday to bolster their efficiency in combating crime.
Wike made these remarks while inaugurating the construction of a 15-kilometer stretch of Tai Road in Kwali. The project reflects his administration’s dual focus on improving infrastructure and ensuring public safety.
He said: “I thank all of you, I thank all my friends who from day one have been giving us all the support. I thank the security agencies for the work you have been doing in the FCT and the other area councils to see that we have peace. And I know by Thursday when we will give you the vehicles to fight more crime, making sure that criminals will not have any breathing space as far as this December is concerned. We will make sure they will not have anywhere to hide. So I thank you for the job you are doing”.
Wike, who decried the disconnect between the city centre and the satellite towns said what the renewed hope agenda is all about is what Mr. President is doing through him adding that he is ready to connect the satellite towns to the city centre.
He said: “Abuja was created since 1976 and it has been a total disconnect between the city centre and the satellite towns. Ordinarily, we would have had not only one city that is developed, we would have had more than two or three cities that are developed to discourage people from moving out to congest the main city.
“Some few months ago, when we came here, we came to Pai to Gomani to flag off that route. On our way to that place, I was asking the question, what happened here? Why is there no road? How do you get to that area? The people going to that area must pass through this place. How will they feel? We will not allow it, we will come and flag off this road so that as the contractor working from Pai to Gomani, this contractor will work from A2 to Pai.
“In essence, if you add the 15km to almost 18km of Pai to Gomani, you are talking about 33km. You can imagine what the people here will benefit at the end of the day. People talk about insecurity. Why will you not have your security when there are no access roads? So even if anything happens, the security agencies cannot even have access to provide the necessary security for the people.
“But I believe by the grace of God, by May, June next year, the people will have been dancing and will have been happy. But you see, there is one fundamental question we will ask. Abuja was created since 1976 and it has had a total disconnect between the city and the satellite towns. Ordinarily, we would have had not only one city, we would have had more than two or three cities to discourage people from moving out to congest the main city.
“With the renewed hope agenda, I hope all of you understand what the President is doing. What the President is doing through us is to connect the satellite towns to the main city, so that you don’t have to say, let me go and stay in the city.
“By the time we provide water to the satellite towns and good roads, we will be talking about having a positive impact on governance. And I believe by the time we put solar lights on this road, it will look like a city.
“Be assured that under Mr. President’s tenure, every promise we have made, every project we have started, we will complete all of them. We are not going to abandon any project at all”, he added.
Wike commended the contractor, Zeberced Group for the confidence they have in the FCT Administration as they have gone ahead to start the project even when mobilization has not been paid to them.
He, however, charged the contractor to employ the people to enable them to feed their families.
The deputy chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Salihu Mustapha and Vice Chairman, House Committee on FCT and Ancillary Matters, Peter Akpanke said: “When it comes to Wike, what is happening was not strange to them as they were used to him doing such things that earned him the appellation Mr. Project.”
