Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured residents and visitors to the FCT, that the administration was doing all it takes to end the indiscriminate movement of cattle within the city centre.
Already, the FCT Administration, he said, had initiated discussions with relevant stakeholders on the need to end roaming of cattle in the city.
The Minister disclosed this when he received in audience the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Pieter Leenknegt.
Wike said discussions were ongoing with the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General, Department of State Services, and cattle herders on ways to stop open grazing in the city.
He explained that the discussions was to get the herders to understand why they should not rear cattle within the city.
“I can tell you that it is not what we want, but believing that the matter will be resolved, and alternative will be provided for the herders to rear their cattle,” he said.
The Minister also told his guest that the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project was near completion, as the project is 95 percent completed and will be ready for inauguration in May.
He explained that the feat was part of efforts to improve public transportation in the federal capital, Abuja. “When we came on board, we found out that the Abuja Light Rail was not functional and we felt that it will be a good thing for the people, if we decongest the city by putting it to function.
“So, President Bola Tinubu directed that whatever can be done, should be done, so that in his one year in office, the light rail will come on board for the use of the residents.
“The people can use it going out of the city, going to the airport and other area councils, and instead of going with their vehicles they can take the train.
“I can announce to you that we are almost there. The company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, is almost 95 percent completed. By the grace of God, we believe that in May, Mr President will inaugurate it,” the minister said.
Wike added that discussion was ongoing with private investors to change the mode of public transportation in the FCT, as the deficit in public transportation was constituting a security challenge in the city.
He expressed concern that most residents do not know the vehicle they are boarding, adding that efforts were ongoing to ensure all public transport operators were registered.
The minister added that the government has concluded plans to build taxi and bus terminals where residents could patronise registered and identified operators.
He added that the construction of the terminals would commence in the next one month, with the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement.
On the security situation in Nigeria’s capital, Wike told the visiting ambassador that fighting insecurity in FCT demands multifaceted approaches which the administration was already adopting to defeat criminalities.
Earlier in his remarks, Ambassador Pieter Leenknegt, said that the visit was to get to know the minister’s plans in mass public transportation, update on the Abuja Light Rail project and the stand on open grazing in the city.
Leenknegt, expressed satisfaction with developments in the FCT, particularly the green vegetation and trees as well as less traffic.
He said that the Belgian government was open for partnership on areas of mutual benefits.
