By Stanley Onyekwere
In order to ensure inclusive and rapid development of Abuja, nation’s city, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has revealed that the FCT Administration is working in synergy with chairmen of the six FCT Area Councils to drive development the rural areas.
Wike said the ongoing road intervention and other infrastructural development in rural communities across the Councils was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
He asserted this yesterday, in Yangoji, while inaugurating the construction of 11-kilometre rural road to connect Sukuku Ebo and Yangoji in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.
In his words: “This is the time first time we are going to drive development in rural areas.
“We are touching rural areas to renew their hope, because they have suffered years of abandonment. This is your time to benefit. I we don’t take care of rural areas, then we have failed as a government.”
Also, the minister noted that the current government will be a complete failure if it fails to impact rural communities positively.
“Continue to stay at home. Don’t come to the city regularly. Stay there and do the work. My own is to support you.
“If you don’t do well for rural communities, you will create problems for the city,” he charged the chairmen.
Furthermore, Wike, who was conferred with the traditional title of Kauran Kwali (undefeated war leader) by the Kwali community, thanked the people for the gesture and promised not to let them down.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, thanked President Tinubu for approving the construction of three rural roads in each of the six area councils.
He opined that the gesture would compliment the efforts of the Kwali area council towards improving infrastructure for the benefit of the people.
He added that his administration had constructed and rehabilitated 11.3-kilometre roads and graded 13 kilometre additional roads to ease the movement of his people and drive economic activities.
Oversight Director, Satellite Towns Development Department, FCTA, Dr. Olusegun Olusa, explained that the project, awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Ltd, would be completed by May.
On his part, the traditional leader of the area, the Chief of Pai, Alhaji Abubakar Sani. thanked President Tinubu and Wike for the commitment to provide infrastructure in rural communities, particularly roads.
Sani expressed optimism that the road, when completed, would make easier for farmers to transport their farm produce and improve security in the area.
He however, appealed that the gesture should be extended to primary healthcare centres to improve the quality of health services in rural areas.
