National Honours Award, yes, being a recipient, unhnn, what is the big deal about it. A lot. To be one of the recipients of a national award is not a small thing. To be recognised by your country is not as simple as it looks.
To be singled out, out of over 200 million people is not a joke. It is worth celebrating.
They don’t just pick anybody and shower him/her with national honours. You must have done something extra above your contemporaries. President Muhammadu Buhari summed it up when he said, “Those honoured have distinguished themselves in various ways for the purpose of recreating a new Nigeria of our dream through respect for the rule of law, transparency, accountability in the management of scarce resources.”
And the Minister, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Muhammad Musa Bello, falls into the category pronounced by Mr President.
Therefore, Bello was conferred with the National Award of Commander of the Order of Niger, CON, there was no murmuring, rather it was celebration galore as clinging of glasses and pats on the back took over the atmosphere of congratulations and celebrations.
The FCT minister is what someone described as “still waters that run deep”. He is a performing minister whose projects speak for him. Managing the FCT is one of the most challenging jobs. Everyone wants the FCT managed in a manner that suits his/her pedigree.
The delicate balancing act of governing the FCT takes tact, courage, wisdom and the guidance of God. The minister has made a success of this tedious assignment largely without making noise. Surprisingly, new infrastructure development in the FCT is often carried out in a seamless manner so much so that residents do not even notice that a new road has been opened and new bridges put to use.
The minister is breaking new grounds, especially as it concerns infrastructure development of the FCT. Several multi-billion naira ongoing projects the minister met on ground are being completed. There are six major road projects with several interchanges, culverts, and bridges, criss-crossing the entire four Phases of the Federal Capital City that are being executed.
Also, landmark projects in Satellite Towns are being rapidly developed to the credit of the present FCT Administration. These include construction of the Southern Parkway (S8/9), stretching from the National Ecumenical Centre/CBN to Ring Road 1(RR1)/Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway. The road is a 10-lane Freeway traversing the southern development corridor of the city, linking the Northern Parkway through the city centre (Abuja Central Business District).
However, for the benefit of those who may not know what the Parkway project entails, it is the longest street in the Federal Capital City, Abuja, because it criss-crosses major districts as well as all the Phases that make up the city from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in the Northern axis to the Southern corridors.
The provision of engineering infrastructure to Wuye, Jahi and Guzape II Districts are continuing, as well as undertaking the dualisation of the Lower Usuma Dam-Gurara Water Transfer project in Kaduna state.
Completing these projects is to ensure a pleasurable, safe, and fast movement in-and- around the city for thousands of commuters, especially during peak hours. Aside other numerous benefits, the roads are expected to boost economic activities, enhance productivity of the workforce, and preserve the aesthetic beauty of Abuja, being the fastest growing city in Africa.
This administration’s desire to complete work on the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, and reticulate clean and safe drinking water to FCT residents isn’t in doubt. By embarking on the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project, the FCT minister intends to tackle the perennial shortage of potable water supply in some parts of the 250 square kilometres of the FCC, Abuja.
This ambitious project is expected, to provide potable water supply to 50 districts of the FCC, covering about 1.5 million residents, who are hitherto, depending on other sources of water that may not be hygienic and safe for use.
Today, under Bello’s supervision the entire Abuja is being lit as FCTA instead of playing the blame game, had to think outside the box and quickly provide a worthy alternative. The Stand-alone Solar powered streetlights have been deployed across the city to lit up Abuja, especially at night.
The FCTA has improved security surveillance with the procurement of modern security gadgets and operational equipment for security agencies in the FCT.
On health care delivery, efforts are being made to resuscitate the abandoned 240-bed Utako District hospital; in addition, the administration has introduced Automated Registration of Private Healthcare facilities to check incidences of quackery.
On education sector, the major problem the nation faces is the safety of pupils and students in public schools and the FCTA has taken measures to install security gadgets in all its public schools. The administration has built modern state-of-the art library complex at the College of Education, Zuba; a City Library in Abuja. This is apart from building of several classrooms for primary and secondary schools scattered around the Territory.
On traffic management, the Directorate of Road Traffic Services has introduced electronic device for tracking traffic rules violations, which is expected to bring in sanity to the motoring public.
In the midst of these laudable achievements,, through strategic planning, FCT is rubbing shoulders with Lagos for the number one slot for the highest Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, earner.
Indeed, FCT minister is the still waters that run deep. And with these laudable achievements, the National Honours Award was deserving. And let the glasses keep clinging and accolades keep pouring in to the Commander of the Order of Niger, CON, Muhammad Musa Bello!!!!
Abdul is Abuja based journalist.
