By Sarah NEGEDU
President Bola Tinubu has committed over N300 billion to the development of area councils in the Federal Capital Territory since assumption of office in May 2023.
According to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the amount was committed to infrastructural development of the six area councils including the construction of roads, building of police stations, and the rehabilitation of schools and hospitals in the councils.
Wike, who made the disclosure during the commissioning of the nine kilometers Paikon Kore – Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council on Wednesday, pointed that no government has committed so much resources into FCT communities like President Tinubu.
He disclosed that the sum of N8.5 billion was expended on the Paikon Kore-Ibwa road alone, while N22 billion is being committed to the ongoing Aguma Palace-Market road-FRCN road, all in Gwagwalada area council.
He said these shows that President Tinubu is committed to the development of area councils and communities.
“Now, if you add the total value of what Mr. President has committed to Gwagwalada alone, you are talking about over 50 billion Naira for one area council. Now, if you add the six area councils, just take this as the base because this is the least of all the area councils. So, you will see that in a year, Mr. President has committed to the development of satellite towns, not less than 300 billion Naira.”
Apart from the road construction, the administration is renovating, five secondary schools in Gwagwalada. The School for The Gifted Gwagwalada, Government Secondary School Gwagwalada, GSS Anagada, GSS Tunga Maje, GSS Giri. The total value for these is 16.5 billion Naira.”
Responding to the request of the area council chairman, Wike approved the construction of a new bridge linking Ibwa community to others.
Earlier, the Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, noted that the newly constructed Paikon Kore-Ibwa road is not just a road network, but a symbol of progress, connectivity, and economic growth for our community.
She charged the community and road users to safeguard the public infrastructure in order to fast track development in communities.
“Let us continue to safeguard this road, use it responsibly, and collaborate to ensure more developmental strides in the future.”
On his part, the area council chairman, Abubakar Giri, who was represented by his Vice, Saidu Zuba said that the people were happy with the level of development going on in the council.
