Wike Assures Diplomatic Community Of Safe Enabling Environment

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured the diplomatic community in Abuja that the government will continue to ensure an enabling environment for them to carry out their duties, especially in terms of security.

The Minister who was speaking at the European Union Complex, Abuja, during the Saint Patrick’s Day reception and official opening of the new Embassy of Ireland, assured that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was working assiduously to make Abuja look like other capital cities in the world.

The event was attended by the Republic of Ireland’s Minister of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Mr. Jack Chamber, the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria, Peter Ryan, and other members of the diplomatic community.

“For us here, we owe you a duty to make sure that we create the right environment. I want to assure you that we want to make Abuja look like other capital cities in the world.

“We will continue to provide an enabling environment to carry out your duties, especially in terms of security. Of course, you will attest to the fact that things have improved in Abuja since this administration came on board. We will keep improving every day.”

“Also, we are willing to partner with you to see how the relationship with Nigeria continues to grow,” he said.

The Minister congratulated the Ambassador of Ireland to Nigeria on Saint Patrick’s Day and the official opening of the new embassy building.

He said, “I am not representing the Federal Government. I am not representing the Foreign Affairs Ministry. I am here as the FCT Minister, and I am here to speak as your landlord. Let me congratulate you on Saint Patrick’s Day and the commissioning of this beautiful edifice.”

Hinting at the possibility of visiting Ireland soon, Wike said, “I have met the Ambassador once or twice when he visited my office, and he has been luring me to visit Ireland. Luckily, the new Ambassador-designate to Ireland is my uncle and my leader from my local government. He is a former NBA President, OCJ Okocha. I think God knows why I didn’t go before. But now that someone I know very well, whose pedigree and capacity I can vouch for, has been appointed as the Ambassador, this should be the right time to visit Ireland.”

The Minister called on embassies to develop lands allocated to them in the FCT, saying, “You saw what happened recently when land allocated to embassies was taken over by a land grabber, who was building houses on the land because the embassies did not develop it.

“Of course, you know me very well, the law must take its course. We had to tell them enough is enough. My face may not be liked by many people; I do not care. I will continue to do what is right.
“We have written to the embassies to come and reclaim their land and develop it.”

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji