FCTA, Partners JICA On Nutrition, Abuja Master Plan Review

The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, says efforts are being made to improve its nutrition allocation in the 2025 budget and review the Abuja master plan. Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike stated this when a delegation from the Japan International Corporation Agency, JICA, led by Amb. Matsunaga Kazuyoshi paid him a visit in Abuja.

The visit was to seek partnership to improve nutrition, Urban renewal and end to open defecation in the territory.

Wike who thanked Amb. Kazuyoshi for his drive to end open defecation in the territory, explained that nutrition improvement Programme was necessary for healthy living, as well as improve standards in agriculture and education sectors.

Discussions on the commencement of work for the review and upgrading of the
Integrated Urban Development Master Plan of Abuja was at the front burner, where Wike directed that the department of Satellite Towns Development, Land Administration, and other relevant bodies be involved in the project for a successful review.

“We will want to say that, for the 2025 budget, we will try as much as we can to see whether we can improve on our budgeting system for nutrition.

“But we will want transparency to really know how the money are being spent. Nutrition is very key for health, very key for education, and very key for Agriculture.We are keenly committed to see that the projects come to fruition”.

“On the regional planning, you can be assured that the three items which you have itemized as expectation from FCTA, will be done as quickly as possible… So that we will be able to kick start”.

“For us as Heads of the FCT Administration, be assured that it is a project that we are keying into, we are committed and we will do all we can to see that this project comes to fruition”.

“The FCTA will continue to support you to make sure we bring back the hope people have lost which is the vision of Mr. President”, Wike said.

Earlier, the Japan Ambassador to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi, who said JICA had introduced baby and cost-friendly toilets in Kwali Area Council to end open defecation, appealed for more support from FCTA to manufacture more of the toilets to reduce FCT and Nigeria’s high ranking on the world open defaction index.

The Japanese envoy revealed that his Agency has also carried out nine pilot projects on nutrition improvement in local communities of Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal Area Councils,

According to him, besides providing relevant trainings, JICA has also carried out a demonstration farm on growing nutritious food crops, saying there was already a huge improvement in nutrition cases monitored in those areas.

Amb. Kazuyoshi revealed that, with necessary preparations and approvals, upgrading and review of the Abuja Master Plan should commence by June, next year.

The review of the entire FCT would encompass sector centre, transportation development, linking the city and satellite towns.

Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Shehu Hadi Ahmad, who noted that urban mobility and population explosion has been a challenge the city was grappling with, said the planned project would look into issues around water drainages, traffic congestion and the smart city initiative.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Blessing Nyor