The authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have launched a campaign to inform rural dwellers not just of what the administration is doing but what opportunities are open to them. GRACE OBIKE reports
Rural residents often have their gripes. In the nation’s capital, the complaints are usually about neglect and a feeling of being unwanted. Their roads, where they exist, are narrow and potholed. Infrastructure and social amenities are in deficit, triggering a feeling that leaders care only about rural dwellers when elections beckon, and forget them soon after.
That was why the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA) launched a grassroots outreach programme to inform the residents of what the government is doing as well as existing opportunities they can tap into. For instance, the administration has told the rural dwellers of the capital city that it has approved the construction of five additional senior secondary schools in different area councils of the territory, to take off in September, the same time others resume after the break.
They were also told that the administration recently launched the sale of farming equipment at subsidised rates to farmers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The FCT Public Enlightenment team informed the rural dwellers about all these in an attempt to educate them on the activities of the administration. Head of the team, Josie Mudasiru explained that the administration is informing people at the grassroots of the policies and activities of the administration, to enable them key into such policies.
She said, “We are trying to enlighten people on the policies of the FCTA. We tell them about scholarships, FCTA has a policy where it gives scholarships to indigent students and those that perform well in their exams and cannot afford to pay fees, from secondary to tertiary institutions.
“We want to let people know that there is an approval for five new senior secondary schools, we want to let people at the grassroots be informed, most of this information has been written in papers, shown on TV and radio. We have gone to schools, the market in the six area councils. Not only are we telling people of what the administration is doing, we are also receiving feedbacks so it helps the administration do more.
“We are also speaking to them in agriculture, about the recently launched sale of subsidized farm equipment, security, ongoing road projects around the territory, we want people to know that the minister is completing abandoned projects, especially in road construction, he is also completing hospitals, one was recently upgraded in Gwagwalada area council, we are informing them to enable them key into these opportunities.”
Chairman, Bwari Area Council Musa Dikko said a lot of things come up in the territory which residents especially those at the grassroots need to be aware of.
He said, “Information is key to every progress you think of, what people need from the administration is information about its activities and the way resources are being managed; this is an idea that should be keyed into if we must have positive change in the country.
“People need to be sensitised more in the area of agriculture; right now a lot of people do not seem to understand why we need to go back to agriculture, people need to know we never had a refinery until resources came from the sale of agricultural produce in the country, they need to know that the only way of sustaining the economy is through agriculture.
“In the area of security, people don’t know how to secure their environment, they must know that their mindset is important, who comes to the environment at what time, the secured areas in their environment and the best way to cooperate with government to avoid insecurity.”
Chief of Bwari, Esu Bwari HRH Ibrahim Yaro stated that although the administration of the FCT has done a lot so far, the real issue yet to be looked into in the area council is the lack of access roads. He added that although Bwari is the food basket of the FCT, the lack of access roads makes it difficult for farmers to bring their products to the market for sale, raising the price of food products. He lamented that this lack of roads has made his people on several occasions, ask him if they are truly part of the FCT.
Some residents of Bwari also weighed in. Yam seller, Calister Egbo in a chat with newsmen said, “The government needs to get past telling us what they have done and do what we can see, look at the road how bad and dusty it is, if not for the rain, you will not be able to stand here because of the dust, we also want light, power supply is horrible in Bwari. With better road, fresh food will be brought in from the market and the price will reduce, people are hungry and dying of hunger.”
Another resident, a motorcycle operator Dalhatu Umar lamented the bad road and cost of living. “They have just told us what the government is doing which is greatly appreciated but we ask them to tell the government to help us because we are hungry and in the process of trying to take care of my family, I drive this motorcycle but the road is terrible and worst in this season which can affect our business, so we are calling on the territory to also help us in this aspect.”
