By Stanley Onyekwere
The FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike says there is political will to make Abuja Technology Village (ATV) active and operational for investors to immediately explore in the interest of the country.
Wike added that infrastructure such roads have been provided at the ATV site, located along the Abuja Airport Road, which the government must quickly move in and activate the place to attract investors.
Making this point yesterday, when he led his counterpart, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji on an inspection of the village, Wike said the FCTA is going to erect a befitting office for the ATV management, to show presence there.
He however, urge those who settled illegally in the Tech Village to move out immediately, as no amount of campaign will stop the FCTA from doing the right thing.
According to the Minister: “I have invited the Minister of Science and Technology, so that he could take active operation of the place and see how investors can come in.
“I was thinking that a lot of activities are going on here, not knowing that it is empty land. The roads have been provided, and that ought to interest investors, but it depends on what you people have been doing since. We must quickly see what we can do.
“We don’t lack the political will, as we do have it. If you don’t take action, people will not believe that anything is possible.
“As I go back now, I will call the Development Control Department and give them ultimatum for these people to leave. They have been compensated since 2015, but if that was the case, I don’t know why we couldn’t fence the area up till now. When this fencing takes place, you will see that they wouldn’t have choice, but to leave.”
Earlier, in his remarks, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, have a vision of technology village, is a replica of London Technology City, with an asset base of 6 billion pounds, in less than six years of operation, which is what they intend to do in the place.
He added that the infrastructure and technology that ATV is going to house, in a couple of years would be humongous.
According to him: “This is the kind of thing the honourable Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike will like to identify with.
“So, our mission here is in the interest of the country, and it is in keeping with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.”
He however, frowned at the level of encroachment into the land for the ATV, which is negatively affecting interests from investors.
Speaking on behalf of the management team of the ATV, the Acting Managing Director, Yusuf Shafeek Isa said their hopes are being renewed by the minister’s visit.
Isa assured that they will definitely send their request to the Minister’s office.
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