The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to an aggressive revenue drive to ensure the completion of ongoing infrastructural projects.
Speaking in Abuja on Friday after inspecting several ongoing developments, Wike emphasized that the projects would be completed in time for their planned inauguration in May, marking President Bola Tinubu’s second year in office.
Among the inspected projects were the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, the access road network, and the left-wing service lane from Apo roundabout to Wassa.
Also inspected is the ongoing construction of a 16-kilometre road from Idu to Dei Dei.
He said that the Administration would be very aggressive in its revenue drive by ensuring that all taxpayers in the FCT pay his or her tax obligation.
He, however, said that the tax-aggressive revenue drive would be within the limits of the law.
The minister attributed the successes being recorded in the delivery of projects to the prudent management of available resources.
“That’s why we are going to be very aggressive in our revenue drive to be able to achieve more and deliver more projects.
“That is why when people complain that we are revoking Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), I laugh.
“People do not understand that it is from only such payments and taxes that we will be able to carry out meaningful projects; that have a positive impact on the lives of our people.
“So, we are appealing to our people. It is not politics; It is about being responsible, being responsive. Government has given you land for you to pay annual ground rent for us to use for the development of the FCT,” he said.
Wike said that the FCTA wishes to take development projects to all areas of the territory, adding, however, that it will only be possible if residents learn to voluntarily pay their tax obligations.
Speaking on the ongoing projects, Wike expressed that most of the ongoing projects would be inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office.
He said he was particularly impressed with the pace of the Idu-Dei Dei Road project, adding that the project, which was awarded in 2014, would be completed in May.
“I never believed that the project would be completed in May, but you can see how the contractor is assuring us with authority that the project will be delivered in May.
“We have been to the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, which will be completed by September. We have also been to the Apo-Wassa Road on the Outer Southern Expressway. It will also be completed in May,” he said.
He said that the delivery of the projects was a fulfilment of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that FCT residents were happy for the ‘promises made and promises fulfilled.’
The Minister embarked on the project’s inspection tour in companied with some of his political associates, led by Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, former Senate majority Chief Whip, acting executive secretary FCDA, Engr Richard Yonana Dauda and Directors from the FCDA amongst others.
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