The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesom Wike, has attributed the successes being recorded in the execution of road projects in rural communities to the support of area council chairmen and community members.
The Minister stated this in Gwagwalada Area council, when he inspected the ongoing construction and rehabilitation of 9-kilometre Paikon Kore – Ibwa road, and Aguma Palace – Radio Nigeria – New Market road, in Gwagwalada Area Council.
Wike explained that the chairmen of the six area councils of the FCT were working in tandem with the FCT Administration.
“They have given us support to carry out these projects without any protest.”
According to him, “You know, sometimes when you are executing a project and the communities and the councils’ chairmen are not in support, they will begin to sabotage the project.
“They will create a situation where some youths will be angry for one reason or the other and begin to protest. We have not had those complaints so far.
“This means that the community has fully bought into the projects and owned them as their own. That is why we are succeeding,” Wike said.
Wike added that the council chairmen were also supporting whatever the FCTA was doing, saying, “they are doing their best for their people within available resources.
“Some of them have even invited me to commission some of the projects they have embarked upon.”
Wike described infrastructure as ” basic” in turning around any economy in any part of the world.
“If you don’t have basic infrastructure, too bad, and that is part of the problem we have had in Abuja.
“We are trying to make sure that we create more infrastructure to open up not just the city but the rural areas so that the economy will thrive,” he said.
The Minister explained further that all rural roads would be fitted with street lights as part of the government’s duty to bring development to all residents.
According to him, no one will talk about the impact of governance without touching all areas, be it in the city; be it in rural areas.
He said that provision of infrastructure in the city and rural areas was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to re-candle the hope of every Nigerian.
“Yes, things were bad yesterday, but we are trying to improve to make sure that things may not be bad today or worse tomorrow.
“You can see the joy of residents and those carrying out businesses in Gwagwalada market.
“When there is a positive impact, the people will always rejoice and say, yes, we are feeling the presence of the government. Nobody will see good things and will not appreciate it.
“People are complaining because they never felt the impact of the government, but now they can feel and they can see that indeed, there is a government that is working for them to change their lives for good,” Wike said.
He assured the people of Gwagwalada that the road projects would be completed to ease the movement of people and enable farmers to go to their farms and bring their produce to the market.
Reacting to critics over the current hardship being experienced across the country, the minister said that no government would run away from criticism.
“It is not everything you have to react, let the people see for themselves, but I can tell you that before this administration ends, you will see that Nigerians will also say things have really changed, just like they are singing the praises that Abuja has changed.”
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