By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has called on strategic stakeholders in the territory to support the Administration in developing Abuja.
He said cooperation and unity among political office holders, community leaders and the government are key for the overall development of the nation’s Captial.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, by Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary to the minister, said Bello stated this at the instance of a meeting he held with FCT Political and community leaders.
It explained that the meeting was in the wake of the removal of illegal structures at Apo Akpajenya and Dagbalo in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), recently.
The minister reiterated the importance of cooperation between the political and community leaders and the FCT administration, stressing that there was the need for constant communication between the Administration and community leaders.
He said, “dialogue and sensitization, community engagement of traditional, religious, indigenous communities as well as the Area Council political leadership and overall information dissemination are solutions to community issues.
“I assure you as advised, the relevant Departments will make sure that what happened doesn’t happen in the way it happened” He said that this particular case was inherited and that demolition was always the very last resort.
Bello however called on his guests not to shy away from reality as there were a number of pending projects that will require the cooperation of the communities to ensure success and the overall development of the FCT.
The Minister said that he was an advocate of community integration and urban renewal where urban development is implemented around indigenous communities, but this will require the cooperation of those communities.
He decried situations where community heads are refusing to cooperate with the Administration for the development of certain areas within the FCT. He reminded the leaders that the development of towns and cities take years and could not be accomplished within short periods of time.
The minister encouraged community leaders who had been relocated and resettled to move to the new locations as this will encourage the community members to follow suit, adding that, community heads should show leadership and lead by example.
At the meeting, Senator Philip Aduda said that the delegation was in the FCTA to register concern over the removal of illegal structures in the affected communities within the Abuja Municipal Area Council. He said that in future , before such exercises are carried out, enough notice and time should be given to the affected communities to forestall any hardship.
Similar speakers were House of Representative member, Micha Jiba representing the AMAC Bwari Federal Constituency, the Executive Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Adamu Abdullahi Candido, the Sapeyi of Garki, HRH Usman Ngakupi, and other members of the delegation.
Also in attendance was the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, the Executive Secretary FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, and the Director of Security, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary.
