FCT: Redefining performance with projects completion

By Chukwudi Enekwechi

THE area that is today known as Nigeria’s federal capital territory was created on 12th December, 1991 and the core mandate of the administration is to build a first-class capital.

Since the relocation of the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja, successive administrations had started many projects and abandoned them along the line. Sometimes the major reason for the abandonment may be paucity of funds, and in some other instances there are inexplicable reasons.

In the present administration of Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello which began on November 11, 2015 there is a paradigm shift as they have adopted the policy of ensuring the completion of most abandoned projects, mostly roads without jeopardising the start of new ones. Adopting this policy will no doubt bode well for the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari in bequeathing a functional capital city to Nigerians.

It must also be restated that the traffic gridlocks being witnessed in the city can also be attributed to the inability of previous administrations to complete the road projects already started. The resultant effect is that road users and visitors in the federal capital usually end in blind alleys while driving in the city. The consolation is that the Muhammad Bello administration is committed to bringing respite to the residents by completing most strategic road infrastructure in the territory and its environs. Today FCT is a beehive of activities and what many residents describe as a huge construction site based on the numerous road projects being constructed, reconstructed or completed simultaneously.

Minister Bello’s purposeful and visionary leadership is refocusing the priorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration as an institution that will cater for the interest of the generality of Nigerians and foreigners residing in the federal capital territory. Perhaps this is the reason Abuja under him can be described as very peaceful, accommodating and conducive for businesses.

It is to his credit that government institutions are working seamlessly and residents of the city have a reason to feel secure and enjoy the services being provided by the administration. For example, the departments and agencies of the FCT administration are delivering commendable services to the residents based on the commitment of the minister towards actualising the vision of the Buhari administration to make Abuja a home for all Nigerians.

Most times people attribute the performance or achievements of a leader to the number of projects he started without taking into account the ultimate completion of the project. Now the experience in Nigeria is that most projects are usually abandoned along the line without anyone asking questions. Today, all across the country, there are several abandoned projects and this has become the bane of quest for accelerated development.

Therefore, it is a thing of joy that the minister of FCT Muhammad Bello is leading the way in redefining what some people see as performance by pursuing the completion of several abandoned projects in the federal capital. This policy will no doubt bring about a news lease of life for the residents and serve as an example for other state governments to emulate.

It is now a common sight in the capital city to find contractors working on some major highways, and these are roads that may have been abandoned several years back without any justification. On his part Muhammad Bello has decided to deploy the available resources of the federal capital territory administration towards repositioning the territory to serve the general good of all residents.

With the massive infrastructural development being undertaken by the Bello administration, it is expected that traffic gridlock will greatly reduce in the city while economic activities will be improved.

Apart from completing abandoned projects in the territory the minister has also ensured that workers welfare are well catered for as  their salaries and entitlements are paid regularly while the retirees of the FCTA/FCDA now have cause to rejoice as the administration has met its obligation of paying their emolument and retirement benefits.

This action by the minister is laudable considering the harrowing experiences of retirees of the administration and indeed all over the country. By keeping faith with the retirees he has demonstrated that government must at all times feel the pulse of its citizens and discharge its obligations for the benefit all citizens.

It is remarkable that the guiding philosophy of the Bello administration revolve around good governance and financial prudence, and this policy has enable the administration to attain lofty heights in the development of the city. For instance, the 10-lane airport road and Kubwa expressways have reached completion stages, while the interchange at the airport junction by Bill Clinton Drive has been completed with a few skeletal works remaining.

The Bello administration has also completed the circle road around the central business district, while the B6 and B12 that was awarded since 2007 and abandoned is today being given priority attention towards its eventual completion.

Without relenting the Honourable Minister is working all fronts simultaneously and this has been extended to the area of lighting up the city, as most vandalised and broken street and traffic lights have been repaired.

In conclusion, all efforts must be geared towards making Abuja a city that all Nigerians must be proud of, and Minister Muhammad Musa Bello has demonstrated through his focussed leadership that our dream capital is realisable.

These repairs and fixing of damaged transformers and other electrical assets have lit up the city and any visitor can savour the beauty of the city at night.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has also paid attention to environmental sanitation of the city by empowering the environmental sanitation agency with needed equipment and personnel to discharge their responsibilities. The result is that Abuja has emerged once again as the cleanest city in Nigeria and West Africa. This is expected especially as the city is host to several embassies, international organisations and the regional secretariat of Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS).

In fulfilment of its obligations towards the early completion of the federal capital intra-city rail lines the FCT administration under Muhammad Musa Bello has paid its counterpart fund to enable the Chinese company, China Civil Engineering Construction Company complete the rail tracks. With this development Abuja residents will early next year begin to ride to their destinations by rail, thereby reducing travel time and decongest the city of the many vehicles

 

 

*Mr. Enekwechi, public affairs analyst, wrote from Abuja.

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