Former Nigeria Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said that if democracy is made to work as it should, there would be no excuses for the current level of poverty in the country. In a New Year message to Nigerians released by his media office in Abuja today, the former Vice President reminded political leaders that the success of democracy is determined by how much the life of the people have improved, and not how much fortunes leaders have made for themselves. This is even as he deplored what he called “tough challenges facing the ordinary Nigerians today.” Atiku said that democracy is as good as those who practice it and that elective offices should be perceived as an opportunity to offer selfless service rather than personal enrichment. Atiku made it clear that it is not enough to tell ordinary Nigerians to make sacrifices in the face of economic austerity, while the leaders are reluctant to evenly share the burden of such sacrifices. He expressed happiness on the fact that democracy has offered the people the opportunity to use the power of their votes to bring about the desire change. The former Vice President advised political leaders to embrace the spirit of tolerance, adding that people should not become enemies because of political differences. He also advised Nigerians to see the New Year with renewed optimism, and be active participants in the struggle to bring about change by democratic means. Atiku urged them to register massively and collect their PVCs so that they could vote for parties and candidates of their choice. On the current slump in world oil prices, he urged leaders to cut down on extravagant lifestyles.
A group under the aegis of Niger Delta Support Group for Buhari-Osinbajo 2015 has vowed to resist any attempt at rigging the Niger Delta votes in favour of President Goodluck Jonathan in the next year’s general elections. According to the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Dennis Mene, President Jonathan has not only disappointed the region but has failed the Niger Delta people with his one-sided government. The group said that for almost six years of Jonathan administration, its impact has not been felt in the region but that it has succeeded only in placing one ethnic group to lord it over others. The group warned that another four years of President Jonathan will be a disaster because he has so far shown that he is incapable of leading the country to the promised land. “This is a fact which former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Professor Wole Soyinka have already attested to. “Jonathan, rather than curtailing the menace of Boko Haram’s insurgency, corruption, impunity and others, has blamed virtually everybody for his failure. “The failure of Jonathan to end the insurgency in the northeast has cost Nigeria more than fifteen thousand lives and still counting. The group, in a statement released in Benin city over the weekend ask, regretted that the Jonathan government is yet to unmask the sponsors of Boko Haram, neither is it able to tackle the growing corruption, impunity, bad governance etc. “We should not be deceived that one person can Islamize Nigeria. The only dividend of democracy we can pinpoint from the government of President Jonathan is increase in pump price of petrol, increase of PHCN tariff and monthly charges without light, corruption, insecurity and poor infrastructure.” The group backed governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi of River state, former governor of Bayelsa, Timipre Silva and Senator Ugbodehehe of Akwa Ibom on their stance for change and against bad governance. “We strongly believe in the integrity and capacity of General Muhammedu Buhari/ Professor Yemi Osinbajo to deliver on jobs and to end the Boko Haram menace.” The group also vowed to mobilise and educate all Niger Deltans on the imperative of voting APC. [myad]
Nigera’s Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has predicted that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Goodluck Jonathan will get no fewer than two million votes in Kaduna state in the next year’s election. The Vice President made this prediction yesterday during a unity and family meeting of the Kaduna chapter of the PDP, which held at the Hassan Usman Katsina House, Kawo, Kaduna. Namadi Sambo also predicted 100 percent victory for the party’s candidates in other elective posts, including that of the governor. “Kaduna State PDP is the same and one strong family, and I am happy for the promise they have kept and for the promise they have made to us, that Insha Allah, PDP is Kaduna State and Kaduna State is PDP, and PDP will win the elections come 2015. “It is only PDP today in Nigeria that has its presence at the state, local government, ward and polling unit levels. This representation is full and strong all over the federation,” he stressed. Namadi Sambo who is the Jonathan running mate in the 2015 election, conveyed the gratitude of President Jonathan to Kaduna PDP supporters for their support during the recently conducted National convention. He said that the President was also delighted with the rancour free primary held in the State for all electives posts. The Vice President informed those that felt aggrieved from the party primary that “we believe that there are no losers, no winners and no vanquished and everybody will be carried along.” He said that PDP member who participated in the primary have agreed that it is only one person that can be a winner and that they have agreed to cooperate and work together. He enjoined all members of the Party in Kaduna State to join hands and work assiduously for the victory of the party in the 2015 polls. “This meeting has confirmed to me clearly and truly that we are the same strong indivisible family.” Meanwhile Namadi Sambo has collected his Permanent Voter Card (PVC) at the INEC Distribution Centre located at the Kaduna North Local Government Secretariat, Magajin Gari, Kaduna, Kaduna State. He used the opportunity to appeal to Nigerians to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the 2015 elections. He was accompanied by the Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero and received by the Kaduna State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Haliru Aliyu Tambuwal. The Vice President pledged that the administration is determined to deliver free and fair elections. [myad]
Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Emmanuel Bosun has warned Nigerian Christians not to vote for the candidates of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections. He said Christians who vote for APC will only be subscribing to the Islamic agenda for Nigeria, and will be digging the grave of Christianity in Nigeria. Pastor Bosun, who was a delegate representing Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) South West at the National Conference which held earlier this year, warned Christians of the spiritual consequences of voting against President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections. In a sermon in his Church, the Pastor warned Nigerians of a similar occurrence that plagued Turkey happening to Nigeria if care is not taken. He also warned of Sharia being enshrined in the Federal constitution of Nigeria, and the APC being on a mission to find expression for the Islamic laws already enshrined in the constitution. [myad]
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released the names of the presidential candidates and their running mates for eleven out of 26 registered political parties in the country. Those are the ones that will contest the 2015 elections.
The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), submitted the names of President Goodluck Jonathan and his vice, Namadi Sambo, while the main opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), submitted the names of Muhammadu Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo as presidential and vice presidential candidates.
Others are Oluremi Sonaiya and Saidu Bobboi for Kowa Party (KP), Ambrose Albert and Haruna Shaba for Hope Democratic Party (HDP), Ganiyu Galadima and Balarabe Ahmed of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Rafiu Salau and Clinton Cliff Akuchie for Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Godson Okoye and Haruna Adamu, for United Democratic Party (UDP).
Others are Nani Ibrahim Ahmad and Obianuju Murphy-Uzohue of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Martin Onovo and Ibrahim Mohammed of National Conscience Party (NCP), Tunde Anifowoshe-Kelani and Paul Ishaka Ofomile of Action Alliance (AA) and Chekwas Okorie and Bello Umar of United Progressive Party (UPP).
The Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have already adopted the PDP candidate, Goodluck Jonathan as their candidate.
Of all the 11 candidates, only Messrs. Jonathan and Buhari were candidates in the last election in 2011.
Here is the list of Nigeria 2015 Presidential Candidates
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has told the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that his Bachelors and Masters degrees certificates in Architecture from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, have been consumed by fire.
Sambo, who is the Vice Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the declaration in the documents he filed with INEC and displayed on the commission’s office in Abuja although the details of the fire that consumed the certificates were not given.
Sambo’s papers were received and stamped in INEC headquarters between December 10 and 18, 2014. The Vice President’s declaration was validated by two letters from the ABU, a copy of which was made available to newsmen today.
The first letter, signed by one Alhassan Garba for the institution’s registrar under the title, “To Whom it may Concern: Mohammed Namani Sambo,” read: “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Bachelor of Science (Architecture) with Second Class Honours (Lower Division) in 1976 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.”
The second letter, also signed by Garba for the ABU registrar, read: “I certify that the above-named person having completed an approved course of study and passed the prescribed examinations was awarded the Master of Science (Architecture) on May 25, 1978 by the Senate of this University. His original certificate got burnt. Please treat his case in view of this certification. Thank you.” [myad]
Wife of President Goodluck Jonathan and First Lady, Dame Patience has warned against the scraping of the office of the First Ladies in Nigeria. She argued that First Ladies have made profound contributions to the development of Nigeria.
Presidential candidate of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari said recently that he would cancel the office of First Lady if he is elected as President of the country next year.
But, Mrs. Jonathan, who spoke in Umuahia, Abia State while at the grand civic reception in her honour by her maternal kinsmen of the Ohuhu clan saidd that contrary to opinions and wrong impressions by some people, First Ladies play essential roles in moving the country forward.
According to her, those who are against the position of First Lady do not appreciate the good parts being played by her, adding that she had through her office, touched positively on the lives of many Nigerian women and youths.
Dame Patience said that many governors’ wives have also affected lives in their various states, even as she maintained that First Ladies all over the world play supportive roles that are essential to the successes recorded by their husbands. [myad]
Nigerian midfielder, Dickson Etuhu has said that he rejected big monetary offers in Englan but decided to join Swedish club, AIK Stockholm for the purpose of winning titles.
Etuhu said he had offers that could have fetched him more money, but opted for a change of scene so as to win trophies.
“That’s why I’m here – if it was for the money I wouldn’t be here, would I? I feel like I’m as fit as the younger ones. I want to feel like I enjoy football and make an impact.
“In England, I am going to play some games, win some games, but I’m never going to win a title. I want to come here and test myself, a different language, different style, different players and real fans. I am excited; I have got this feeling inside me that I have never had.
“A lot of people said to me ‘stay in England’. I’ve played in England all my career. I wanted something different.”
Etuhu who played at AFCON 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup with Nigeria, has been training with Fulham prior to signing a two-year deal with AIK. [myad]
A casual look at the events that shaped the activities of Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) as 2014 winds-up would reveal interesting scenario where there is a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly. The FCTA team under Senator Bala has attracted a lot of investments and made a good stride in the provision of critical infrastructures for the development of Abuja. This was not without the activities of insurgents that showed its ugly face at the Nyanya and Emab Plaza. Amidst such dastardly acts have been a lot of achievements. In keeping with its promise and mandate, the Bala Mohammed –led FCTA has taken bold steps to deliver dividends of democracy to FCT residents. Apart from the celebrated land-swap system or mass housing, officials of the FCTA are now collaborating with the World Bank to finance and empower poor residents of the FCT, especially those living in the rural areas to be self-employed. Many people–oriented projects, whose list is inexhaustive have been executed. They include among others, the on-going rehabilitation and reconstruction of urban and rural roads, building of Schools and new school laboratories, rehabilitation of hospitals and rural health centres. Others are expansion of social facilities, provision of pipe-borne water to rural areas, introduction of Sure–P in remote areas of the FCT, supply of fertilizers, tractors and farming implements to farmers at subsidized rates, creation of grazing areas, introduction of new environmental guidelines and machines to help in cleaning the city and enacting new bye laws for urbanization and development of area councils. The Minister of State, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, described as a bold step ever taken by any FCT Minister to attract the numerous development challenges of the ever expanding and dynamic Abuja city. The same view was also expressed by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu and other FCTA/FCDA directors as well as Chief E. Awodu, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant at a recent discussion forum in Abuja. As a mark of good faith and his commitment to the success of many laudable programmes, and as the longest serving FCT Minister, having been appointed by President Jonathan in 2010, Bala’s passion for the land-swap, mass housing, Rail-line and provision of infrastructure will enable him to leave a durable legacy at the end of the day. For more than four years now since Senator Bala assumed duties, he has passionately tackled the issue of land-reforms, resettlement, compensation, provision of infrastructure and providing good roads and security for the lives and properties of FCT residents. He has also been vigorously involved in the land-swap, sanitation, parks and garden enhancement, youth empowerment, improvement of transport system and mass housing for the less–privileged. I must admit that the pace of development activities, especially on real issues that concerns the FCT residents directly, like the provision of critical infrastructure is much higher in the last four years or so. A consensus opinion seems to suggest that FCT Minister falls in line with the dictum of a “square peg in a square hole.” His uncommon achievements and giant strides must therefore be given proper perspectives. Political associates, friends and even foes, see the Minister as a respected politician whose love for humanity is boundless. Many people actually believe that Senator Bala has opened a new chapter in the index of development in the FCT, as his interventions in the process of good governance, particularly in the provision of social infrastructure are impressive. I term these achievements, as the “Kaura Revolution.” With eyes for aesthetics and the resolve to add value to the existing structures in the FCT, Bala’s passion towards transformation of the grass-root to meet the challenges of a modern federal capital is legendary. The minister has constructed some vital road network as a solution to the harrowing problems of traffic grid-locks on major entry and exit points in the FCT that made life hitherto unbearable. The near completed network of asphalt roads along the Airport and Kubwa expressway has been opened to commuters, thus bringing relief to the residents of these areas. These projects were captured under the primary infrastructural development in the territory, which covers rehabilitation and expansion of Airport Expressway and extension of inner southern Expressway. This road is said to have also touched the outer-southern expressway to the southern parkway. Among his many other achievements is the provision of primary roads in mass housing schemes and circle road in the Abuja central area. The minister has commenced the construction of the Abuja International Trade Centre, the first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa. When completed, the trade center will open the floodgate of trade and commerce to flourish, while its ultra-modern facilities will bestow on the edifice “the World Conference Capital” in Abuja. As part of dividends of democracy to the FCT residents, the minister, who is also conscious of the increasing population of the territory, has embarked on the development of Kagini district in the Abuja northwest, while work on engineering infrastructure to Wuye, Jahi, Mbora and Idu districts have started in earnest. Also, infrastructural projects in Karmo are in progress, while the provision of facilities to Maitama Extension, also known as Goodluck District, is under way. Several hospitals and health centres were similarly established with enhanced drugs and service delivery. Conscious of the fact that education is the bedrock of any modern society, the administration is leaving no stone unturned in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target. It has invested a lot in the education sector. The success story is that, today, there is increased enrolment in schools, colleagues and tertiary institutions, while the non-formal education also got a boost. The mother of all the achievements recorded in the FCT is the introduction of the land-swap model which will lead to the provision of more critical infrastructure as the magic that will fast-track the development of the entire 8,000 kilometres of the new capital city. In line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, Bala Mohammed has teamed-up with the public private partnership (PPP) for the successful execution of the infrastructural development projects in Durumi, Kada, Mabushi and Gwarinpa Districts. Under the infrastructure development, the FCTA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of the private sector driven centenary city project worth over $18 billion to make the Abuja city as the center for Nigerian political history, political and cultural hub for the peace and progress of the nation. Senator Bala’s team also introduced a new transport policy and provided nearly 7,000 high capacity buses to ply major routes in the city center apart from providing brand new transit buses in order to ameliorate transport difficult by commuters in the city. This is apart from the Abuja Light Rail project and the new Abuja Taxi mode which will complement the Abuja Railway Project for the ever-busy Nyanya-Maraba axis aimed at slowing the notorious traffic hold-up in that areas. There is also Bala’s efforts to vigorously protect and implement the Abuja Master Plan provision by constituting a powerful committee for effective supervision apart from giving a solid support to the Abuja management metropolitan council to do its work properly. Nigerian’s First Lady, Madam Patience Jonathan once said that the various landmark projects which Bala initiated and currently executing were a clear demonstration of the Minister’s determination to properly implement the government transformation agenda in Abuja for the benefit of the residents.
Biu, biuibrahim@gmail.com, Tel: 09092296111 (sms only) sent this from Kuje, Abuja. [myad]
What happened in 1993 between Alhaji Bashir Tofa and the late Chief Moshood Abiola of the blessed memory is about repeating itself in Nigeria today. Before the June 12 1993 presidential elections, handlers of Alhaji Bashir Tofa knew that comparing Bashir Tofa and Chief Abiola is like Apples and Oranges comparison. They knew that it is like comparing a giant with a dwarf. They knew that there is no basis for the comparison, and if it is a 100m dash, Chief Abiola would have hit the tape while Tofa is at the starting point. The handlers led by Dr. Doyin Okupe initiated a strategy to hit Chief Abiola from all corners and try to panel beat him to Tofa’s level. They failed miserably and woefully too. In the process of doing that they helped in no uncertain terms to catapult Chief Abiola to an unprecedented height. The rest is now history.
In 2015, the reckless, useless and fraudulent historians and hack writers are at work again. This time it is a battle between President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari. Buhari has contested presidential elections in 2003, 2007, 2011 and even though he did not make it, he gave a good account of himself. Though he was cheated out, he got millions of votes. He remained consistent, committed and courageous even in the face of all the troubles he had to go through. President Jonathan became a deputy Governor and through luck he became Governor, Vice president and now President and he would have ruled Nigeria for six years by next year.
In 2015, Nigerians will take stock. Nigerians are looking back, they are looking at the present and as well as the future. In the past sixteen years, a lot of water has passed under the bridge. Nigerians have seen a lot. Devastated, pillaged and gang raped in all fronts, Nigerians are now thinking seriously. Shall we continue with this mess? Do we have an alternative? Can we do things differently? Is Nigeria a basket case? Are we helpless and hopeless? Are our destinies in our hands? Can we bring the change we all desire? Can we raise the bar of leadership in 2015? Can we recover our stolen country? Many hard questions demanding hard answers.
After the 2011 elections, General Buhari said he may not seek the highest office again. But the crisis of leadership in our country has pushed him to throw his hat into the ring again. He has been compelled by the forces of history to step forward again and this time it is a different ball game. General Buhari of yesteryears is no longer the same Buhari of today. Things have changed. Time has changed. The calculations, equations and permutations have changed. Nigerians want Buhari to come clean up the Augean Stable PDP led federal government is leaving behind. GMB is coming to change the way we think and the way we work.
But the enemies are at the door again. The thieves are at the door once again. They are with guns, bombs, Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (IBM), Rocket Launchers (RL), Warships, Jet fighters, Bows and Arrows, AK-47s, etc to shoot him down. They tell us he is a Religious Bigot, an Islamic fundamentalist, a semi-illiterate person, too old and too weak to get things done. They are still manufacturing every bad thing under the sun and are heaping them at GMB’s doorsteps.
They are desperate, vicious, hopeless, helpless and potentially dangerous. They are doing everything humanly possible to stop and if possible to kill General Buhari. This is the reason why l want maximum security for General Buhari now.
These meretricious mediocrity can pull the house down to remain in power. They are ready to slaughter thousands to remain. They are ready to continue to divide the country to remain in power.
The corrupt people and criminals in the land will do everything humanly possible to stop Buhari. We have seen them at work. They know the consequences of General Buhari’s presidency. They know that he is a no nonsense man. They know he will fight criminals head on. They know he is going to remove feeding bottles from their mouths. They know he will do things differently. They know his puritanical disposition and they know he will stop at nothing to stop the mess in the land. General Buhari may be a religious bigot, he may be a fundamentalist, he may be a dictator, he may be an old man and semi illiterate, he may be everything they claim he is but these congenital liars from the pit of hell will kiss the dust. They will swallow their words when the chips are down. They will go down with their pathological lies when it dawns on them that no 21st century idiot will stop an idea whose time has come.
They can call General Buhari names, they can call him anything but it will amount to nothing. Those who claimed they are PHD holders have disappointed us. Those who claimed they are not dictators have bruised and oppressed us. Those who claimed they are young brought shame and mediocrity to us. Leadership is not measured by height or age. Mr Webster wrote Webster Dictionary at the age of 80. Buhari remains a candidate to beat in the 2015 presidential election and I pity these characters who will dare to stand on his way. I pity those who did not know when the train left the station. I sympathize with those who did not know when to call a spade a spade. I fear for those who did not know that an idea whose time has come is here. I worry that history is leaving some people behind in Nigeria. I fear that some compound idiots who have ruined Nigeria for years are yet to come to terms with GMB’s towering personality.
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2014: An Eventful Year In Nigeria’s Federal Capital, By Ibrahim Biu
A casual look at the events that shaped the activities of Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) as 2014 winds-up would reveal interesting scenario where there is a mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly.
The FCTA team under Senator Bala has attracted a lot of investments and made a good stride in the provision of critical infrastructures for the development of Abuja. This was not without the activities of insurgents that showed its ugly face at the Nyanya and Emab Plaza.
Amidst such dastardly acts have been a lot of achievements. In keeping with its promise and mandate, the Bala Mohammed –led FCTA has taken bold steps to deliver dividends of democracy to FCT residents.
Apart from the celebrated land-swap system or mass housing, officials of the FCTA are now collaborating with the World Bank to finance and empower poor residents of the FCT, especially those living in the rural areas to be self-employed.
Many people–oriented projects, whose list is inexhaustive have been executed. They include among others, the on-going rehabilitation and reconstruction of urban and rural roads, building of Schools and new school laboratories, rehabilitation of hospitals and rural health centres. Others are expansion of social facilities, provision of pipe-borne water to rural areas, introduction of Sure–P in remote areas of the FCT, supply of fertilizers, tractors and farming implements to farmers at subsidized rates, creation of grazing areas, introduction of new environmental guidelines and machines to help in cleaning the city and enacting new bye laws for urbanization and development of area councils. The Minister of State, Mrs. Olajumoke Akinjide, described as a bold step ever taken by any FCT Minister to attract the numerous development challenges of the ever expanding and dynamic Abuja city.
The same view was also expressed by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu and other FCTA/FCDA directors as well as Chief E. Awodu, the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant at a recent discussion forum in Abuja.
As a mark of good faith and his commitment to the success of many laudable programmes, and as the longest serving FCT Minister, having been appointed by President Jonathan in 2010, Bala’s passion for the land-swap, mass housing, Rail-line and provision of infrastructure will enable him to leave a durable legacy at the end of the day.
For more than four years now since Senator Bala assumed duties, he has passionately tackled the issue of land-reforms, resettlement, compensation, provision of infrastructure and providing good roads and security for the lives and properties of FCT residents. He has also been vigorously involved in the land-swap, sanitation, parks and garden enhancement, youth empowerment, improvement of transport system and mass housing for the less–privileged.
I must admit that the pace of development activities, especially on real issues that concerns the FCT residents directly, like the provision of critical infrastructure is much higher in the last four years or so.
A consensus opinion seems to suggest that FCT Minister falls in line with the dictum of a “square peg in a square hole.”
His uncommon achievements and giant strides must therefore be given proper perspectives. Political associates, friends and even foes, see the Minister as a respected politician whose love for humanity is boundless.
Many people actually believe that Senator Bala has opened a new chapter in the index of development in the FCT, as his interventions in the process of good governance, particularly in the provision of social infrastructure are impressive.
I term these achievements, as the “Kaura Revolution.” With eyes for aesthetics and the resolve to add value to the existing structures in the FCT, Bala’s passion towards transformation of the grass-root to meet the challenges of a modern federal capital is legendary.
The minister has constructed some vital road network as a solution to the harrowing problems of traffic grid-locks on major entry and exit points in the FCT that made life hitherto unbearable. The near completed network of asphalt roads along the Airport and Kubwa expressway has been opened to commuters, thus bringing relief to the residents of these areas. These projects were captured under the primary infrastructural development in the territory, which covers rehabilitation and expansion of Airport Expressway and extension of inner southern Expressway. This road is said to have also touched the outer-southern expressway to the southern parkway.
Among his many other achievements is the provision of primary roads in mass housing schemes and circle road in the Abuja central area. The minister has commenced the construction of the Abuja International Trade Centre, the first of its kind in sub-Sahara Africa.
When completed, the trade center will open the floodgate of trade and commerce to flourish, while its ultra-modern facilities will bestow on the edifice “the World Conference Capital” in Abuja.
As part of dividends of democracy to the FCT residents, the minister, who is also conscious of the increasing population of the territory, has embarked on the development of Kagini district in the Abuja northwest, while work on engineering infrastructure to Wuye, Jahi, Mbora and Idu districts have started in earnest.
Also, infrastructural projects in Karmo are in progress, while the provision of facilities to Maitama Extension, also known as Goodluck District, is under way.
Several hospitals and health centres were similarly established with enhanced drugs and service delivery. Conscious of the fact that education is the bedrock of any modern society, the administration is leaving no stone unturned in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target. It has invested a lot in the education sector.
The success story is that, today, there is increased enrolment in schools, colleagues and tertiary institutions, while the non-formal education also got a boost.
The mother of all the achievements recorded in the FCT is the introduction of the land-swap model which will lead to the provision of more critical infrastructure as the magic that will fast-track the development of the entire 8,000 kilometres of the new capital city.
In line with the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, Bala Mohammed has teamed-up with the public private partnership (PPP) for the successful execution of the infrastructural development projects in Durumi, Kada, Mabushi and Gwarinpa Districts.
Under the infrastructure development, the FCTA has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of the private sector driven centenary city project worth over $18 billion to make the Abuja city as the center for Nigerian political history, political and cultural hub for the peace and progress of the nation.
Senator Bala’s team also introduced a new transport policy and provided nearly 7,000 high capacity buses to ply major routes in the city center apart from providing brand new transit buses in order to ameliorate transport difficult by commuters in the city. This is apart from the Abuja Light Rail project and the new Abuja Taxi mode which will complement the Abuja Railway Project for the ever-busy Nyanya-Maraba axis aimed at slowing the notorious traffic hold-up in that areas.
There is also Bala’s efforts to vigorously protect and implement the Abuja Master Plan provision by constituting a powerful committee for effective supervision apart from giving a solid support to the Abuja management metropolitan council to do its work properly.
Nigerian’s First Lady, Madam Patience Jonathan once said that the various landmark projects which Bala initiated and currently executing were a clear demonstration of the Minister’s determination to properly implement the government transformation agenda in Abuja for the benefit of the residents.
Biu, biuibrahim@gmail.com, Tel: 09092296111 (sms only) sent this from Kuje, Abuja. [myad]