The Gomo Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Jibrin Tanko has conferred a traditional title of Jikan Dan Majidadin Kuje on the minister, Nyeson Wike. The title literarily means “Grandchild of Bliss.”
The title was conferred today, February 5, shortly after the minister flagged off the construction of a 5 kilometre dual carriageway in Kuje Area Council.
The Gomo of Kuje thanked the Minister for his commitment to the realization of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Kuje Area Council.
Flagging off the road project, Wike said that the project is part of efforts to rekindle the hope of the people even as he reassure them that President Tinubu means well for the FCT.
The Minister who had earlier flagged off the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Paikon Kore-Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as the 9km Gaba – Tokula road in Bwari Area Council, attributed the achievements to the support of the President.
He said that the Administration has been lucky to have the support of the President, who is sparing nothing to ensure that all residents reap the dividends of democracy, adding that the FCTA has no excuse not to perform.
“I want to say that Mr. President is fully in support of us and his mandate is very clear to the Hon. Minister of State and my humble self. When you people are saying that the Minister of State and my humble self are working, it’s because we have a President who gives us anything we want. He has given us the support and so we have no excuses to give but to let the people know that Mr. President is behind everything we are doing. Every request we have made, Mr. President has always given to us. So, for us, we don’t have any excuse not to do what we are supposed to do.”
Wike insisted that the funds for the road projects are available and asked the contractor to complete them within the specified time without any excuses.
“If you take our money, you must do our road. There is no grammar there. I cannot be Minister and you collect our money and say you won’t do the job. For me and the Hon. Minister of State, we don’t have time for dry season, we don’t have time for rainy season. If you collect our money under rainy season, you must also work under the rainy season. You can’t keep our money in the bank, making interest and coming to tell us now is rainy season. Give us back our money, then when dry season comes, we give you the money.”
The Minister also reassured that all abandoned projects in the FCT Area Councils that were awarded by the FCT Administration would have to be completed, to ensure that they impact positively on the people and preserve the resources of government.
Wike thanked the National Assembly for its support for the FCT, saying that provisions have been included in the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget for the renovation of schools and hospitals in the FCT.
“We are not only doing roads. Very soon, in the next one week or two, we are going to flag off the total renovation of not less than 25 schools, we are going to do that. So, we are not just talking about roads. We are also talking about schools.
“We are also going to come back to most of our hospitals that have been abandoned. Take for example, the Utako hospital that has not been completed, the Gwagwalada Hospital, we are coming back to put them in order for the use of our people, for the interest of our people. We cannot be answering FCT just by mouth. We must answer FCT and show that indeed this is FCT. We are going to do that.”
The Minister also thanked the FCT Area Councils for their support and cooperation, irrespective of party differences, soliciting such support in the fight against poverty and insecurity.
Earlier, the Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud said that the dualization of the carriageway is another demonstration of the FCTA’s commitment to the socio-economic development of capital city.
Dr Mahmoud stressed that FCTA is poised to provide motorable road networks across the Area Councils, adding that it will help to improve access and transport of goods and services, including easy access to markets, schools, offices, places of worship among others.
The Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, had expressed gratitude to minister for the dualization of the carriageway.
He said that the road project will solve the challenges of perennial gridlock and overflow of drains, especially during the rainy seasons.
