Tag: Wike

…charges new appointee to ensure the cleanliness of area councils 

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Tuesday, April 16, expressed displeasure over the manner at which people lobby to be appointed coordinator Satellite town.

Wike charged the newly inaugurated coordinator of the Satellite Towns Development Development (STDD), Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, to perform above expectation.

The minister gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of the STDD coordinator, in which Justice Cyprian Agashieze administered the Oath of Office and the Oath of Allegiance, at the conference room of the minister, at his Area 11 office in Abuja.

Wike said most people were often carried away by the appointed and failed to settle down to their assignments and urged the newly appointed coordinator, to see the appointment as being found worthy to contribute to national development under President Bola Tinubu.

He further warned against the negotiation of contracts, rather than doing the work, noting that he would not fail to take necessary actions if he found out otherwise.

The minister said: “Most appointees are always carried away by the fact that they have been appointed, and so for them to settle down becomes a problem. See it as that Mr President finds you worthy to contribute at this point in time, to national development, particularly as regards the Federal Capital Territory Administration. 

Read Also: Kidnapping: Wike donates motorcycles to DSS, police, others

“For this government, our priority is to make sure that all the satellite towns get the impact of the government. It is your business to coordinate and liaise and brief me, the word emphasis, and brief me as the Minister.

“So many people are looking for this opportunity, so many people lobbied. In fact, at a time, I began to ask, ‘What is in the Department of Satellite Towns, what do they do, that people were lobbying, please make me coordinator, I need to understand’? I did not know that they have a lot of roads, you know, where it concerns contracts and things like that. So, that I came to know.

“Mine is to do your work. If you do your work, everybody will see that you are doing your work. I don’t like praise singers. I do not like praise singers; your action will speak for itself. So now that FCT is seriously involved in the satellite towns, make sure that things are done very well.”

Wike also congratulated the new appointee and urged him to ensure the cleanliness of the satellite towns, in order to prevent floods, noting that he would not approve payments if the Area Councils were not kept clean.

Minister of the Federal Captial Territory (FCT, Nyesom Wike, has donated over 60 motorcycles to the Department of State Services (DSS) and Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN).

Wike also gave 30 motorcycles to the police and five each to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The minister, at the handover yesterday, warned that the motorcycles must not be used in townships but in hard-to-reach parts of the territory to fight insecurity.

He urged the VGN to use the motorcycles to assist the police and other security agencies in combating crimes particularly in the rural areas. Wike thanked the group for its selfless sacrifices to secure lives and property in the nation’s capital.

He said: “Remember that security agencies requested for specialized motorcycles that will be used particularly in the rural areas. The vigilance teams will use them in the six Area Councils, and then the Police, the SSS, and the Civil Defence will also want to do theirs.

Read Also: Why Wike should be PDP national leader, by northern group

“Let me caution, particularly the security agencies, I don’t want to hear stories tomorrow that the motorcycles are nowhere to be found again. I don’t want to hear such stories, because sometimes when you give out vehicles, before you know it, the vehicles are no longer there. Please utilize these motorcycles to fight crime in the areas you have identified. “Ordinarily, the Chairmen of the Area Councils ought to handle this, but this is our support to them in the councils. Make sure these motorcycles are given out to the vigilance teams.

“I don’t want to see the motorcycles in the city here. It should be used in the rural areas. We are already trying to phase out motorcycles here, so please let it be taken to the rural areas. All the security agencies, the outposts, give it to them. We do not want to continue to hear excuses that the terrain is so bad, they require this and that and they have not been given. Now that you have been given, these may not be enough, we will continue to provide more.

“For vehicles, we believe by the next two weeks, the vehicles would have been ready to give out to the security agencies. For us, we will not relent until those who say we will not sleep, they too will also not sleep”.

A group within the northern branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called Arewa PDP Transparency Group, has stated that Nyesom Wike, the FCT minister, is the best candidate to serve as the national leader of the party.

The group’s endorsement of Wike comes ahead of the PDP’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, saying that the minister is the most qualified candidate for the position not only at the meeting but also in the future.

The group in a statement on Monday, April 15, by its convener, Hon. Haruna Bature, said the PDP as the biggest opposition party in Africa has suffered a lot of leadership crises, hence it cannot at this critical time be left in the hands of self-serving leaders, who only show up when they have political interests.

The group said: “The attention of the Arewa PDP Transparency Group has been drawn to several media publications about who becomes the National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to champion the state of affairs of the Party in the forthcoming National Executive Council Meeting and beyond.

Read Also: PDP NEC: Atiku, Wike camps go into trenches

“Leadership means care, concern and responsibility. It is not self-serving, not periodic and not spontaneous. The PDP as the biggest opposition party in Africa has suffered a lot of Leadership Crises which resulted in its loss of Power at the National Level from 2015 till date.

“These crises are largely self-inflicted due to insensitivity, lack of political vision, lack of care, concern and respect for the Vision of the Founding Fathers of the Party, and for the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian Citizenry. Charity, they say, begins at home.

“A party whose leadership cannot take care of its own and showing good leadership definitely cannot take care of Nigeria and offer good Leadership.

“We wish to particularly bring to the attention of the Leadership of the Party that the Fears by some PDP Leaders about His Excellency, Chief Barr. E. N. Wike’s appointment in an APC Government was born out of jealousy, hate, bitterness, bias and blindness to the political reality that the failure of the PDP to ensure power rotation to the South led to its loss of power at the centre.

“If such fears are genuine as they claim, why was the PDP still able to win Governorship and other elections in States across the Nation?

“We the Arewa PDP Transparency Group having assessed the performances of these Leaders say “NO” in strong terms to Self-Serving Leadership ONLY at times of political interest, Non-inclusivity, Lack of concern, sustenance and responsibility in the management of the affairs of the Peoples Democratic Party and hereby endorse His Excellency, Chief Barr. Ezebuwon Nyesom Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS Africa and Life Bencher as the National Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

Following some kidnapping cases in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has handed over 60 motorcycles to the Department of State Services (DSS) and Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN).

Wike also gave 30 motorcycles to the Nigeria Police and five each to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

The minister, at the handover ceremony held on Monday, April 15, in Abuja, warned that the motorcycles must not be used in townships but in hard-to-reach parts of the territory to fight insecurity.

While he charged the VGN to utilize the motorcycles to assist the police and other security agencies in combating crimes, particularly in the rural areas of the FCT, the minister expressed appreciation to the group for its selfless sacrifices to secure lives and property in the nation’s capital.

He said: “Remember that security agencies requested for specialized motorcycles that will be used particularly in the rural areas. The vigilance teams will use them in the six Area Councils, and then the Police, the SSS, and the Civil Defence will also want to do theirs.

“Let me caution, particularly to the security agencies, I don’t want to hear stories tomorrow that the motorcycles are nowhere to be found again. I don’t want to hear such stories, because sometimes when you give out vehicles, before you know it, the vehicles are no longer there. Please utilize these motorcycles to fight crimes in the areas you have identified. Ordinarily, the Chairmen of the Area Councils ought to handle this, but this is our support to them in the councils.

“Make sure that these motorcycles are given out to the vigilance teams, and we are going to provide logistics for those who are going to use these motorcycles. We are going to provide logistics for them. We have promised the residents of Abuja and the Area Councils that security is a priority for the Renewed Hope Agenda. Anything we can do to protect lives and properties; we are going to do it. So, I urge you to use it well and take it not for commercial purposes. I don’t want to see the motorcycles in the city here. It should be used in rural areas, so it should not be used here.

“We are already trying to see how we can phase out motorcycles here, so please let it be taken to the rural areas. All the security agencies, the outposts, give it to them. We do not want to continue to hear excuses that the terrain is so bad, they require this and that and they have not been given. Now that you have been given, these may not be enough, we will continue to provide more.

“For vehicles, we believe by the next two weeks, the vehicles would have been ready to give out to the security agencies. For us, we will not relent until those who say we will not sleep, they too will also not sleep”.

Read Also: PDP NEC: Atiku, Wike camps go into trenches

In his response, the Commandant General of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria VGN, Navy Captain Abubakar Bakori Umar (retd), commended the Minister for donating operational motorcycles to the group to enhance community security in the six Area Councils of the nation’s capital.

While thanking Wike for the good gesture, the VGN boss assured the Minister that the operational motorcycles given to the group would be judiciously deployed to enhance and strengthen rural security in the FCT.

The Commandant General noted that officers and men of the VGN are well trained and are embedded in the communities and rural areas across the country where they assist the police and other security agencies with vital intelligence resulting in successful counter-insurgency operations.

With the patrol motorcycles, the CG assured the minister and residents that they would enhance the operations and efficiency of VGN operatives while the incident response time would also be greatly reduced.

Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Saturday gave assurance that the commissioning of the Vice President’s residence by President Bola Tinubu on May 29 is certain.

Wike said this when he visited the ongoing construction of the Vice President’s residence, being executed by Julius Berger Plc, in Abuja.

The construction of a new residence for the vice president was approved in 2010 by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the cost of N7 billion but the project was abandoned by the previous administration.

The current administration commenced the renovation of the building project with the contract review of N15 billion.

The minister said he is optimistic and satisfied with the level of work done, adding that the FCT is wearing a new look in terms of infrastructural development in line with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Wike said several projects in the FCT would be inaugurated to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office and in fulfilment of the President’s agenda to renew the lost hope of Nigerians.

 This, according to him, will further strengthen citizens’ trust in the government.

 He said: “Let the residents know that the renewed hope agenda is a reality, because if you don’t tell people this has been done nobody will know that things have been done.

Read Also: PDP NEC: Atiku, Wike camps go into trenches

“Let people know that yes, this is the promise we made, and within one year in office, this is what we have been able to achieve, as far as the FCT is concerned.

“Not just the infrastructure, changing the structure of the FCT is another achievement”.

On the location of the VP residence, Wike said the Federal Government decided where the residence should be sited, adding that they have taken everything into consideration in terms of security and road.

He said the FCT Administration has invited the Office of the National Security Adviser for their advice, adding that the office had looked at the location and has made inputs.

On the possibility of traffic congestion, the minister said the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Julius Berger are making the needed amendment where necessary.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Friday said rural areas are also benefiting from good governance of the present administration

Wike said this while inspecting the ongoing construction of 11-kilometre Yangoji-Sukuku Ebo-Road and Kwali Unity Bank Road in Kwali Area Council of the territory.

He said the people are happy about development in FCT.

Wike said: “I feel delighted that we are taking development to rural areas. For me, it is very important to ensure that while actualising the “Renewed Hope” agenda of President Bola Tinubu, rural communities also benefit from the dividend of democracy.

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“The rural areas are part of the FCT and should enjoy good governance and the dividend of democracy”.

The minister pointed out that development should not be concentrated in the capital city, stressing the need to extend development efforts to rural areas.

This, according to him, will significantly mitigate the rural urban migration being experienced in the FCT.

He said: “You need to give them infrastructure to be able to develop their communities.

“Providing infrastructure, particularly roads, is key to the development of communities so that they can feel the impact of governance”.

He urged the contractor, Gilmor Engineering Ltd, to speed up the work to meet the agreed delivery dateline.

The minister also called on the council chairman to effectively monitor the execution of the project and not rely on reports by civil servants.

Wike assured that the FCT Administration would do all that needed to be done to ensure the completion of the projects.

As the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepares for the meeting of its national caucus on Wednesday, April 17, the two key issues at stake are picking a national chairman and deciding on sanctions against all those who engaged in anti-party activities in the 2023 general elections.

The appointment of a new national chairman to replace ousted Senator Iyorchia Ayu until a national convention in 2025 appears to have overshadowed all other issues but that of anti-party elements is also at the core of contending camps’ strategy to resolve the chairmanship issue.

Since the conclusion of the February, 2023 presidential elections, outraged party stakeholders, especially those backing the party’s presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had tactically pushed the subject of sanctions against FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the entire G5 governors and their loyalists who were suspected of mobilizing for the All progressives Congress’ presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who won the election.

Calls for sanctions such as suspension and expulsion to be meted out against all those who did anti-party mobilization in the 2023 general elections appear particularly aimed towards whittling down the potency of pro-Wike forces, but till date, no concrete action has emanated from such demands.

Even today, influential party leaders quietly acknowledge that the sanctions issue may now be the most significant decisive step to be taken by PDP leaders since the 2023 elections as such decision will determine who decides the appointment of a new national chairman and ultimately, significantly determine who calls the shots for the PDP’s 2027 presidential ticket.

Wike asserted his continued membership of PDP and party insiders believe that he has a special ‘working relationship’ with the party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagun who does not pretend that he is not beholden to Atiku at all.

Also, the party’s national secretary, Senator Sam Anyanwu; the National Vice Chairman (South), Dan Orbih and others are believed to be on the side of the FCT Minister.

At the March 26 meeting of the PDP National Executive Council with state chairmen of the party, the National Organizing Secretary, Captain Umar Bature (rtd) who addressed the meeting at length emphasized that in response to strong calls, the party had taken two crucial decisions to review the party’ leadership positions at ward, local government and State levels nationwide and also deal with elements doing anti-party activities.

“Lots of agitations are coming from party members to suspend this (person), suspend that (person) but you are the ones that are in charge of those states; you are to tell us who did anti-party activities and who did not do such so, based on that, PDP NWC will take decision.

“Write to us and tell us what transpired, no matter what happened,” said Bature while emphasizing the need for the party headquarters to have comprehensive reports on all those elements that perpetrated anti-party activities in various states during the 2023 general elections and the subsequent ones.

However, the review of the tenure of those in party executive councils at ward, local government and state levels has culminated into the constitution of caretaker committees that allegedly favours the pro-Wike camp in some places, including Rivers State where Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his loyalists have resolved to register a powerful presence at the April 17 PDP National Caucus meeting in Abuja.

According to a highly placed member of the party, a determined effort made by the Atiku camp to pursue the sanction issue ensured a meeting at the Abuja residence of Chief Tom Ikimi during the first week of August last year but the complexity of the issue was such that the meeting could not issue a communiqué and after the meeting, chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Bala Mohammed saved the party’s face by telling reporters about PDP concerns about rising food prices and the need for President Bola Tinubu not to go to war with Niger Republic.

According to the source: “At the August 2023 meeting initiated by the Atiku camp with a plan towards suspending Wike, Alhaji Bala Mohammed spoke first and said that Atiku will introduce the agenda of the meeting but he seemed to also go on towards making the conclusions

“When it was Damagum’s turn to speak, he pointed out that other than Wike who accepted APC’ ministerial position, PDP governors also accepted President Bola Tinubu’s offer of ten board appointees each from their various states; Damagum went on to say that if sanctions are to be decided, the meeting should give him the go-ahead there and then, warning that nobody should bother to call or send text messages once the issue was decided.

Read Also: Plot to pit Wike against Tinubu has failed, says ex-Rivers CoS

“Things became complicated because no decision could be taken without the governors’ endorsement and the sanctions issue was left aside, with persistent, angry murmurings and no concrete action, but let us see the magic that would be done over that issue at the forthcoming PDP National Caucus meeting,” he said.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike had advised residents of Abuja to be security-conscious at all times. 

Wike gave the advice in his Eid-el-Fitri message.

He congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the religious obligation and prayed that the supplications made to Almighty Allah be answered.

The Minister said the auspicious festival not only marks the end of a month-long period of fasting, prayer and reflection but also serves as a profound reminder of the values of compassion, generosity and unity that lie at the heart of Islam.

A statement by the Minister said: “As we bid farewell to the holy month of Ramadan, on behalf of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, I extend my warmest greetings to you on the occasion of Eid el-Fitr.

“During Ramadan, we witnessed the spirit of self-discipline, compassion, and unity that defines this sacred month. It is a time when we come together in solidarity, sharing meals, breaking fasts, and supporting one another in acts of charity and kindness.

“I urge us, however, not to limit these acts of charity, love, and tolerance to only the holy month but should inculcate this culture into our everyday lives.

“The end of Ramadan should also not signal an end to our prayers. I hereby enjoin us all to continue to offer supplications to the Almighty for our dear country Nigeria and her leaders for divine wisdom and guidance, especially as they work ceaselessly to overcome our current challenges.

“Fellow residents of the FCT, this spirit of unity and togetherness that characterizes the nation’s capital is not only integral to the observance of Ramadan but also resonates deeply with the values of harmony and cohesion that the Federal Capital Territory stands for.

“The FCT embodies diversity, tolerance, and harmony, serving as a symbol of unity for all Nigerians. Our strength lies in our ability to embrace our differences and work together towards common goals, regardless of ethnicity, religion or background.

“As we celebrate Eid el-Fitr, let us reaffirm our commitment to building a society where every individual is valued and respected, and where peace and harmony prevail.

“Let us imbibe the message of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR which prioritizes the well-being and prosperity of all Nigerians.

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“Under this noble agenda the FCTA is focusing on infrastructure development, healthcare, education, security, and economic empowerment.

“The progress we have made so far, especially in the areas of security and provision of infrastructure in the road and rail sectors and reforms in the administration of the FCTA, have been recognized and applauded.

“By investing in these key areas, we aim to create a more vibrant and resilient FCT, where every individual has the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

“As we celebrate Eid el-Fitr, I urge all residents to celebrate responsibly and be security-conscious at all times. Once more, I wish you all a joyous and memorable Eid-el-Fitr. Barka da Sallah”.