How Wike Transformed Abuja In 1year

By Remi Johnson

Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, is the current FCT Minister and former Governor of Rivers State popularly nick- named “Mr Project” and the”Antibiotic” curing Abuja’s under- development” due to the various reforms he has initiated and the quantum of projects so far delivered.

×What FCT Was Before Now×

Before Wike’s assumption in office as the 17th FCT Minister, several multi- billion naira projects initiated by previous administrations in the nation’s capital were abandoned, while rural community development suffered some sort of neglect.

However, “Mr Project” under President Bola Tinubu’s Administration initiated some drastic changes that birthed some reforms that reshaped the FCT administrative structure, better than he met it.

Wike, upon assumption in office on the 21st of August 2023, toured the city to inspect ongoing projects, where he discovered several uncompleted projects.

Determined to make positive impact, Wike swiftly had an emergency meeting with contractors handling the projects to ascertain what their challenges were.

The fallout of the meeting revealed that most of the contracts were suffering from poor funding.

To address the issue of poor funding of projects, Wike mobilized all contractors back to site, cleared their debts and turned the city of Abuja into a massive construction site, but vowed never to award any contract without adequate funding to complete it.

*Awarding Contracts*

Wike changed the narrative of awarding contracts without proper funding by ensuring that contracts awarded were well funded under his leadership, this explains why all projects awarded within the last one year were executed with speed.

He also warned that cost variation on any project awarded under his leadership would not be tolerated.

Wike also announced that internally generated revenue of FCT would be utilized for completion of abandoned projects, to avoid over dependency on budgetary allocation.

*Zero Tolerance For Saboteurs*

Wike warned all directors and Heads of FCTA agencies against delaying project files and urged them to either brace up for the task ahead or resign if they lack the capacity to work with him.

He promised to always visit the various projects sites to inspect ongoing projects himself for first-hand information, to avoid being misled.

“I have zero tolerance for incompetence and sabbotuers. it is not going to be business as usual”. Wike warned.

*Dispute Resolution*

Considering the significant role of the traditional institution, Wike defied the nationwide protest to present the Staff of Office to the newly appointed 4 graded chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai and Yaba chiefdoms in the FCT on the 1st of August 2024.

Wike also took a bold step when he assumed office to intervene and resolve contentious issues surrounding the Abuja Airport Second Runway project, and directed that all those affected be compensated.

*Policy Reforms*

Barely two months in office, October 2023, saw another major significant milestone under the Wike led Administration in policy reforms that birthed removal of the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account, TSA, the creation of FCTA Head Of Service, HOS, establishment of the “Women Affairs Secretariat” And recently, the creation of “Youth Development Secretariat” to cater for the welfare of FCT youths,a development that had never happened since the creation of FCT as the nation’s capital.

*Welfare*

Wike cleared 40℅ of the backlog of arrears being owed teachers and distributed 50kg bag of rice to all cadre of staff in December 2023 as their end of year package, a gesture the FCTA staff described as an auspicious moment in the history of FCTA.

Also in July 2024,Wike approved the 2022/ 2023 promotion of 1,018 FCDA staff from grade level 7-15, thereby renewing their hopes and giving room for staff to progress in their careers.

*Business Support*

In order to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, Wike equally resolved the internal crisis that has lingered for over 13 years among the Apo Mechanic traders, by giving a directive that the over 20 thousand traders operating their businesses on the road corridors be relocated to Wassa District, which he designated as the permanent site.

*Judiciary Support*

Still under the Wike Led administration, within one year in office, construction of the N37bn Abuja Court of Appeal Complex began at Daki – Biyu district.

This gesture is coming years after the creation of FCT, with 16 past Ministers.

*Land Administration:*

Wike’s foresight brought to bear the emphasis on groundrent payment that was untapped prior to his assumption in office, he therefore explored the avenue which led to an upsurge of groundrent payments to the tune of over 2bn naira within his two weeks in office.

He also redefined the land administration operations, with plans ongoing to remodel the C of O’s with some special features to check activities of land racketeers.

*Projects Executed In FCT*

True to his promise, Wike regularly visited project sites to monitor work progress, a development that metamophosed into the inauguration of series of completed projects for nine consecutive days in the nation’s Capital City, Abuja, to mark President Bola Tinubu’s one year in office .

The FCTA Projects completed under the leadership of Nyesom Wike and inaugurated by President Tinubu within Wike’s one year in office as FCT Minister from August 21st to date includes:

The Southern Express Park way – now Bola Ahmed Tinubu Way, the Wuye Bridge Interchange, the Abuja light Rail, the Outer Southern Express Way, OSEX, the N20 Arterial road, now “Wole Soyinka Way”.

Others are, the Inner southern express way, ISEX and the completion of B6- Constitution avenue, B12- independence avenue & the Circle Roads to the Abuja Central Area, the Vice President’s official residence and the provision of Engineering infrastructure in Guzape lot2 district, now named, Chinua Achebe Way.

In addition to these completed projects was massive resurfacing and rehabilitation of 135 roads in September 2023, and another 189 roads within Maitama, Garki and Utako in February 2024.

*Rural Roads Development*

Apart from the listed commissioned projects above, Wike has revolutionalized infrastructural development in the rural areas.

For instance, he vowed to complete the abandoned 13 years Apo-Karshi road saying, “I will take Apo-Karshi road as my personal project”, for quick completion.

At the moment, construction and rehabilitation of over 12 rural roads and bridges are currently going on simultaneously across the six area councils, targeted to be completed by December 2024.

The first phase of the rural roads construction includes, the 9km Paikon-Kore-Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council, 11.3km Yangoji road in Kwali Area Council, 5km dual carriage way at Kuje, 5km Naharati Ukya- Angwan Hausawa road in Abaji Area Council, 7.2 Gaba-Tokulu road at Bwari Area Council and the 5km Tipper Garage-LEA Road in Kuje Area Council as well as the Saburi 1&2 road in AMAC.

The flag off of the second phase of the rural roads construction has also kicked started across the six area councils and work going on steadily.

Wike further explained that the decision to develop rural areas was born out of the desire to bring the people at the grassroots closer to the people to renew their confidence in Government and for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

*Education*

The FCT Administration kick started the phase one renovation of 19 Schools simultaneously to address challenges of overstretched facilities rocking the FCT public schools.

*Transportation*

The FCT Minister has also begun construction of two world class bus terminals in Mabushi and Kugbo district of Abuja, to be completed within 12 to15 months aimed at curbing indiscriminate parks in unauthorized places, and activities of “One Chance” in the territory.

Another milestone achievement in Wike’s administration is the Abuja Metro Rail project which was halted during Former President Buhari’s dispensation, due to COVID 19 but was resuscitated under Wike’s leadership, inaugurated for residents to access free train services for 6 months from June till December, 2024, to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal that brought untold hardship to most residents.

Wike also initiated re-certification and profiling of commercial taxis, Uber & Bolt.

This, according to him, is to fortify commercial taxis with good tracking tools, to sanitize the transport sector and check the menace of One-Chance activities in the territory.

*On security* , at the heat of increasinog cases of one chance and kidnappings in FCT, Wike convened an emergency security meeting with all security agencies and traditional leaders across the six area councils, established additional police station divisions in strategic locations to secure lives and property in rural communities, emphasizing that development will not only be concentrated in the city centre.

He also placed a 20 million naira bounty on two notorious kiddnappers, that led to their arrest, by the FCT Police Command, bringing the tide of One- Chance and kidnappings to its barest minimum in the territory.

Similarly, Wike recently offered a cash reward and additional operational vehicles to Kwali vigilante group that successfully rescued four persons from the Kwali forest that were kidnapped from their homes in Kuje area council.

*Logistics Procurement/ Security Gadgets*

The FCTA under the Wike led Administration witnessed an emergency procurement of security communication gadgets, procurement of 50 security operational vehicles, purchase of 100 specialized motorcycles for vigilantes and security agencies to navigate difficult terrains in rural communities, with plans underway by the FCTA to procure drones to further enhance security in Abuja.

*Street lights And Waste MGT*

Within two weeks in office, street lights that were hitherto not functional were quickly repaired, and new ones installed in some areas and today, the city of Abuja is well litted with significant improvement in waste management.

*Mass Housing*

The minister of FCT has revealed plans to construct 10000 Renewed Hope Mass Housing units by 2025 for the masses.

*These numerous Nyesom Wike’s*
significant reforms and project deliveries within his one year in office has been acknowledged with accolades from all quarters, particularly the indigenous people of FCT, as seen in the titles conferred on him by the good people of FCT for his numerous achievements.

These titles include “Sarkin Yaki Paikon- kore,” by the Aguma of Gwagwalada, the “Barde of Bwari” by the Estu Bwari, “Jikan- Dan- Majindadi of Kuje,” “Jagaban Kudu of Jiwa” and the “Kauran- Kwali”.
While some residents, Abubakar Sabo from Gwagwalada, Ben Adoga from Nyanya, and Kayode Oloruntoba in AMAC testified that Wike has given the FCT a new look, the traditional leaders, indigenes and others are merely saying “WIW” – meaning “Wike Is Working “.

Apart from the accolades by the indigenous people, Wike also bagged: “This Nigeria Newspaper Infrastructure and Leadership Award” for outstanding performance within one year in office.

Wike, a mighty gladiator in the political landscape and a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who has always described his appointment by President Tinubu as a rare privilege, pledged his loyalty and allegiance to serve in his best capacity to transform the city of Abuja into a capital city that every Nigerian will be proud of.

Edited By Grace Namiji