By JamilaMusa
As the Muhammadu Buhari administration marks its second year in office one of its shining stars is Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Mohammed Bello. Although, the FCT has developed over the years as a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious city, the territory today can be proud that it has a minister that represents that categorization both in outlook and in the provision of good governance. With the change mantra of the Buhari administration, this minister sets out to concretize the noble objectives of the president to make Abuja a federal city that is a pride of every Nigerian.
The development in the FCT during the period under review has been a major factor that has secured the city, making it environmentally friendly and above all responsive in terms of service delivery to the people. Though the minister acknowledged that there are challenges, but he has pragmatically and tackled these challenges inhibiting the accelerated development of the FCT. The developmental strides of the minister sectorally reveal that a reasonable milestone has been attained. Some of the achievements can be seen in the aggregate development in all sectors in the FCT.
On environment, by all standards, the city is now cleaner and greener.
The minister hopes to achieve a more greener and cleaner city by dialoguing with the Federal Ministry of Finance for Abuja to be part of those cities that will benefit from the Green Bonds project. The project will ensure the deployment of more buses to the Central Business Districts, Suleja and Zuba axis. The importance of the Green Bond projects is to make the environment friendly and free from pollution.
On infrastructure, the minister attained a milestone particularly with the development of the Abuja light rail systems. The tracks of the rail have been laid and completed. The ministry is in the process of procuring the locomotives.
The communications and signaling facilities are almost completed. With this development the movement of passengers will commence towards the end of the year.
When this is achieved, it is expected to be the game changer of the city. The minister has already got the approval of the of the Federal Executive Council to extend the rail line to Kubwa from the Central Business District and Wuse. On completion, Abuja can truly be called a city that has urban rail system and thus enhance its development.
On road construction and rehabilitation, the minister has developed a programme of action that has led to the completion of the Airport Road and the Bill Clinton bridge leading to the airport. The Kubwa road project and the circle road which enveloped the city as well as the B6 and B12 roads are nearing completion.
This development programme of the minister has led to the easing of traffic and by extension the security and increase in economic activities of the city.
On the provision of water and improved access by the inhabitants of the city, the minister sought and got approval for $470 million for the execution of the Greater Abuja Water Project and the Karshi water works that will boost water supply to the FCT when completed. The health sector is not left out.
The minister has completed the Zuba cottage hospitals and the Karu hospitals and increased the bed spaces in some of the hospitals. The infrastructure decay in some of these hospitals also received attention as it has led to increase level of health care delivery to all and sundry in the FCT.
One of the critical areas that has received the attention of the minister is land allocation. He stopped the allocation of land in the FCT to correct the mistakes of the past land administration. The administration used the opportunity of land allocation stoppage to correct and resolve about 500 pending issues. This has brought sanity to land administration in the FCT and enhanced the system of land administration based on law.
On the area of bureaucracy and the civil service, the minister has enhanced the institutional framework for the FCTA, which he strengthening to ensure service delivery and institutional memory. He did this by deliberately allowing the bureaucracy to work. This has effectively stopped the mentality of staff having to wait for ministering directives to do their work. The minister also approved the training and retraining of staff of the ministry to enhance their capabilities and effectiveness.
On the contentious issue of demolition, the minister advocated and developed a system whereby buildings are not to be demolished anyhow but rather prefer the global best practice which entails the upgrading and integration of infrastructure for the benefit of the people.
Mallam Mohammed Bello has by words and deeds, convinced a large section of the people and residents of the FCT in particular about his vision for the FCT and for a greater tomorrow. While the experience of the past has been disappointing, today, with this minister we have every reason to believe that the future of the FCT is bright.
Thank you, Mr Minister.
Musa sent this piece from Abuja
