Federal Capital Territory (FCT), minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike has commended Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), chairman, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, for showing capacity by embarking on infrastructure development.
The minister gave the commendation over the weekend in Abuja while inaugurating the completed 5-kilometer access road connecting Saburi 1, 11, and Dei-Dei International Market.
It be recalled that the Nigerian Tribune had reported how Wike had on Jan. 21, 2024, flagged off construction of the 5-kilometre access road.
The minister told the residents of Saburi that, despite the fact that AMAC chairman has shown capacity, President Tinubu has directed him to extend the road from Dei-Dei International Market to Life Camp.
Wike who said Maikalangu has washed his hands and is qualified to eat with elders, commended the chairman for supporting President Tinubu, therefore, approved the chairman’s request to include the construction of Zaudna-Kaba-Kagini access road in 2025 FCTA budget.
He said: “Just like the chairman said when we came here last year to flag off this road project. You know the usual thing. They say “after flag up, what next? It will be an abandoned project every time”. But I told you ours would not be the same. We will not flag off any project and abandon the project.
“Now, Mr. President has directed this Dei-Dei market road, to be reconstructed to Life Camp. So that the market can come back to what it used to be, as an international market. So be assured, in the next one month, we will flag it up. And I can assure you, before the end of next year, like this year, we will come back and commission again.
“You remember, when we came here, the original contract did not carry streetlights. But now that you are close to the city, I have told the coordinator to tell the contractor to make sure that they put streetlights on all these roads.
“Again, because your chairman has shown capacity. It is not every chairman that can come out before his or her people to say, I have done this and that, and nobody said, “No, you didn’t do anything”. Everybody was applauding him. So he has shown capacity, and he has made some requests here.
“You know, in my place, when they say that “when a young man washes his hands well, he eats with elders”. He has washed his hands very well, he eats with elders. It will be unfair to us, after seeing that he has shown capacity, and we leave him empty-handed. So Mr. Chairman, because of the support you are having for Mr. President, be reassured that the Zaudna to Kagini road will be done.
“I want to assure you, in this 2025 of our budget, every area council will have one road project. So the satellite town coordinator, make sure that this Zaudna to Kagini Road is included in our statutory budget that we are going to present to Mr. President, for him to take to National Assembly. We are going to come back here in the next one month to flag off this Dei-Dei road.”
Speaking earlier the chairman of AMAC, Hon. Christopher Maikalangu, lauded FCT minister for completing the road in record time.
Maikalangu who hailed President Tinubu for approving and citing Federal Polytechnic Gwagwalada, in his domain, also like Oliver Twist, urged Wike to look into the plight of the people of Zaudna, Kaba, and Kagini, whom he said do not have a good access road.
He said: “On behalf of the people of AMAC, I have the pleasure of welcoming you to the commissioning of this beautiful Saburi access road, which you promised and delivered in record time.
“Your Excellency sir, on the day of the flag off, most people thought that it was all about politics and business as usual, but immediately you and your team left, bulldozers, caterpillars, men, and materials commenced work immediately, working every day up to this moment of completion.
“Furthermore, Your Excellency Sir, our people have already started reaping the benefit of the smooth road network in the whole of Gwagwa Ward. This road infrastructure had boosted business and economic activities in this area and your name is on the lips of members of this community, saying it is the first time they have a Minister who cares about them this way.
“On this note, we will continue to thank Mr. President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for giving us a very dependable Transformer as the FCT Minister, and also thank him for approving and citing a Federal Polytechnic in my domain. This is a blessing that nobody in FCT will deny. Please, help us to tell Mr. President that we are supporting him to actualize his Renewed Hope Agenda in the FCT.
“Sir if you can recall, during your inspection tour of this project, the people pleaded with you – Your Excellency sir, that they needed a police station for security purposes, which you graciously approved. Currently, the project is almost completed. In addition, as I speak right now, you have also approved another construction of police station in Takushara community to tackle crime and criminal activities in that area.
“Your Excellency, the people of AMAC have also asked me to use this medium, to appreciate you for the promises fulfilled to us, such as the rehabilitation of the Life Camp – Fish Market – Karmo – Dei–Dei Road, and to let the world know that as we speak, massive construction is ongoing on that road, which is indeed a great relief to the people of FCT Sir.
“As your son and disciple following after your footsteps, our administration is pleased to announce also that we have constructed over 40 TRUNK-C access roads, spread across the length and breadth of the entire AMAC communities. Sir permit me to mention but a few:
“Orozo Community Access Road completed, Mabushi township road, Jahi Community Access Road, Gosa Access Road, Sabon Lugbe Access Road, Toge Community Access Road, Dnako Access Road, Karmo Township Road, Kugbo Township Access Road, Wumba Township Road, Dutse Access Road, Life Camp Fish Market Road, Jikwoi Phase 1 & 2, Kpegyi, amongst other projects.
“In the same vein, over 40 Solar Power Borehole constructed, 18 Primary health care centres: 18 primary schools, 2 town halls, 29 rural electrifications, numerous solar street lights across our communities, youths, women and farmers empowerment, construction of markets, etc.
“Therefore, Mr. Project Sir, please grant us the opportunity to come and commission some of these projects, and the invitation letter will be sent to your office soon.
“Finally, Sir, as Charles Dickens will always say in his book, Oliver Twist, I need some more, I, therefore, crave your indulgence to inform you that the people of Zaudna, Kaba, and Kagini do not have good access roads. The road to these communities has been abandoned for decades and they have lost hope because it requires two bridges to be constructed first, before constructing the road. In view of this sir, I humbly solicit that you please come to their aid.
“In conclusion sir, it will interest you to know that AMAC is the biggest Area Council in FCT with larger communities and population, on this note sir, I humbly request that AMAC should be treated with enormous consideration and attention, considering its high population density and many communities therein. In view of this, sir Karshi to Kutasa is another many challenge we are facing in FCT, and it requires prayer. And I pray that God will touch you one day to remember that area.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE