The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has seen tremendous changes and infrastructural development in conformity with the change mantra of this administration. The dream of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in building a virile and modern capital with an inclusive infrastructural needs of all its citizens, irrespective of culture, religion, strata and zonal consideration, is being helped by the know how leadership bestowed on this city.
The FCT is built on the premise that it should be the harbinger of our unity, a city that embodies our unity in diversity. Abuja and her administration have their challenges which include low budgetary allocations and financial constraints.
The Buhari administration has a lot to do to make the dream of meeting the infrastructural deficit reflective of its status of being the best in Africa. The minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has the responsibility of being the chief innovator and policy czar in the drive to achieve this objective. The significant and massive improvements witnessed in sectorial aspects of the FCT lend credence to the fact that the minister’s ingenuity has really transformed the city.
The many flyovers and dual carriage ways, water treatment plants, etc, have improved the city tremendously, thanks to the zero tolerance of the Buhari administration which the minister has effectively keyed into. This has significantly eased the speed of doing business in the FCT. There is, however, need for increased budgetary allocations to the city.
The dream of making Abuja the capital of the most populous black nation on earth is a project that cannot be overemphasized. This dream can only be attained if the people are taken along and they in turn make it theirs. The Nigeria of the 21st century is one which should prioritize its development and this includes the development of the FCT as a symbol of its unity in diversity.
The present minister of the FCT has shown that Abuja under his watch must be a success and this is true based on the successes recorded so far even though there is room for improvement. Today, there is the need for us, the inhabitants of Abuja, to adhere to that dictum of helping leaders to achieve their set targets and objectives. We must behave ourselves by simply being civil and follow the Abuja master plan strictly. The citizens need to acknowledge that it can only know the impact of government if they give their commensurate support.
The desire of government to get development to the doorsteps of the people can only be achieved if the people take government infrastructure at their streets, region, enclave and town as their own. In the FCT, the minister having provided a lot of infrastructure for the benefit of its people has consistently asked the people to play the role of citizenry by taking government’s property for the common good. Abuja should be acknowledged by all Nigerians as a city that we are all major stakeholders. This the minister has done greatly and it has always been appreciated by all. The area councils must be made habitable with infrastructure like roads, schools, hospitals, recreational facilities, etc.
This will go a long way in easing the influx of people into the city centre. The city centre must be a model of development while the area councils must be allowed to grow at their pace. Politically, every Nigerian must be allowed to contest elections as obtainable in other developed capital of the world. The black race needs to have a capital that represents its peculiarity and pride. President Buhari needs to help this minister in domesticating his dream for Africa, which is the provision of a befitting capital for the black race. Jamila Musa, Abuja
