Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has lamented that the Capital City, designed for a population of about one million people is now home to over six million people.
The Minister who spoke today when he received a visiting delegation from the Republic of Columbia in his office, said that the sustained influx of people into the City has multiplier effects on the city’s infrastructure and services.
He said that for that reason, his administration be proactive to control the possible negative effects of it on the population.
He said that his administration would work towards the maintenance of already existing infrastructure in the City to enable it play its role of being the unity city and a melting pot for all Nigerians.
“We are working towards maintaining the existing infrastructure, and then of course, gradually extending development outside the city into the six Area Councils where most of the population is.”
The Minister called on the delegation to bring in their business community to invest in the Territory, stressing that Abuja is a haven for any genuine investor because of its high population, quality infrastructure and easy accessibility to the World.
He explained that from the city. There are daily flights to Europe, Far East, Middle East and other major African countries.
Musa Bello further assured that his administration would provide an enabling environment for would be investors and to partner with them.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Columbia, Senator Edinson Delagado said that the main objective of the visit was to strengthen diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Senator Delagado said that the delegation is also ready to exchange knowledge on what both countries could accomplish, in terms of educational programmes, exchange of students with Nigeria.
“We have studied the petroleum industry, agriculture and gas and we feel that we can link together as countries and share our experiences.”
He said that the delegation has already visited Lagos and would be visiting Port Harcourt and Yola. [myad]
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