Tag: Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, lamented individuals whom he described as notorious pretenders striving to achieve recognition in the Guinness Book of Records.

He spoke at the 60th birthday celebration of the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), south-south, Chief Victor Giadom, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, at the weekend.

Wike at the event, which attracted leaders across party lines, said Victor was not a pretender and was not fashioned like some persons, who failed to reveal their true identities as snakes.

The former Rivers Governor said: “Even though we were of different parties, Victor had never gone on television to abuse any of his friends. He doesn’t allow politics to be a wedge between him and his friends. He plays politics and still remains with you.

“Victor is someone, who will tell you he will be with you and he will be with you. Victor is not a pretender. He is not one of those who have made the Guinness Book of Records as pretenders. There are those, who had made the Guinness Book of Records by pretending. Nobody knew that they were snakes.

“Victor could tell you I will not do this and he will not do it. He will tell you I will do this and he will do it. I know his children and his wife. He has been my good friend and I like to associate with people who remember tomorrow. I like who will not forget when things were not good to them. Victor is not somebody who gives excuses”.

Wike insisted that since his days as Obio-Akpor Local Government Chairman, he had known Victor as a grateful person.

He said: “Victor is not an ungrateful person. He is not an ingrate. He remembers those who stood by him and who will stand by him. When I was Chief of Staff, Victor became the chairman of Gokana Local Government. He left us and went to the other side.

“Unfortunately for him since he left us he had not won any election again. It is on record since 2015, Victor had not won any election. But because he came to us again in 2023, he now won an election. Victor remembers his friends.  I thank God Almighty for what he has done for his family”.

Wike emphasized that he remained a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite that his lawmakers in the state had joined the APC.

He said as a PDP member, he had defeated Victor many times in elections, but said their political differences would not stop him from identifying with the APC chairman.

He said: “He belongs to the APC, I belong to the PDP. I am a member of PDP even though my Assembly members are APC but I am a good member of PDP. I have come here to identify with him. I have defeated him but it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t come and celebrate with him”.

Wike congratulated Giadom for attaining 60 years of age and prayed God to grant more fruitful years.

In his remarks, the Vice-President, Kassim Shettima, who was represented at the event by Dr. Kingsley Uzoma, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agribusiness and Productivity Enhancement, Office of the vice-president, commended Wike and others, who worked in Rivers to give President Bola Ahmed Tinubu victory in the last election.

Acknowledging the hardship, Shettima appealed to the people to exercise a little patience insisting that President Tinubu was moving in the right direction.

He said for the first time, the country was confronting its real problems under Tinubu insisting that Nigeria had been mismanaged for a long time.

Shettima said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is today the President of the country. We are quite happy for the support we got from here. It is true that times are difficult everywhere. But I appeal that we have a little patience because for the first time Nigeria is actually challenging the problems.

“Nigeria has been mismanaged for quite a while. It is time to make it right. It is true that there had to be sacrifice for anything that is going to be good. Inflation that is biting the world round is not just in Nigeria.

“What is happening is a call to service. We need to raise our productivity and the moment we do our nation will be respected. I assure you that the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going in the right direction and will deliver all his promises.”

Other dignitaries, who graced the occasion were the National Chairman of APC, Abdullahi Ganduje; APC national and state leadership; Governor of Cross Rivers State,  Bassey Edet Otu; Minister of Petroleum (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martinn Amaewhule and other Assembly members, senators, members of the House of Representatives, traditional rulers among others.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has appointed Hon. Chidi Amadi as his Chief of Staff.

The appointment, Wike said, is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Administration of the FCT.

According to a statement issued on Friday by the Director Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, Amadi has vast experience in public service and has held several strategic political positions, including PDP Chairman of Obio /Akpor Local Government Area and Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State.

Read Also: JUST IN: Wike appoints Chidi Amadi as Chief of Staff

Ogunleye said: “As Chief of Staff, Hon Amadi will play a pivotal role in supporting the FCT Minister in the formulation and execution of policies and programmes aimed at advancing the development agenda of the Federal Capital Territory and will provide strategic guidance as well as ensuring the smooth functioning of the Minister’s office”.

The statement said, Amadi will be sworn into office on Monday March 18, 2024.

• Minister commissions Waterpark in Abuja

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made the development of tourism sector a priority.

Wike disclosed this when he commissioned a private-owned recreational facility, Sunrise Waterpark, located opposite Abacha Barracks, Asokoro District in Abuja.

The minister called on investors to invest and explore the largely untapped tourism potentials that abound in the nation’s capital.

Wike, who noted that Nigeria’s tourism sector has remained largely untapped, said President Bola Tinubu is desirous to see that the tourism sector is properly harnessed with a view to creating more jobs for the citizenry.

He said: “It is not secret that the tourism sector in Nigeria has the potential to become one of the highest foreign exchange earners for the country. But sadly, the sector remained largely untapped and underdeveloped.

“The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has made the development of the tourism sector a priority”.

The minister reiterated the readiness of the FCT Administration to continue to support investment drive in Abuja, adding that having such a facility in the FCT is a testament that FCT is committed to promoting ease of doing business for businesses to thrive.

Read Also: Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike

He said such investments will help correct Forex exchange capital flight.

“I have never gone to commission any project that is private initiative. But this one, I decided to commission it because of the importance of this particular waterpark. It is important for us to know that commissioning of this Sunrise project is a testament to the vibrancy and potentials of our beloved city Abuja” Wike said.

He commended the NADEEM Group for its foresight in establishing such a gigantic world-class water park, which is said to be the largest in West Africa.

Chairperson of NADEEM Group, Nadia Nadeem explained that the landscaping philosophy of the waterpark was designed to showcase the unique beauty of the Abuja city.

She noted that the waterpark promises to create hundreds of jobs for Nigerians in many sectors, including tourism, hospitality, entertainment, transport, media, trade and commerce, real estate and construction.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has appointed Hon. Chidi Amadi as his Chief of Staff.

The appointment, Wike said is to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the Administration of the FCT.

According to a statement issued on Friday, March 15, by the Director Press, Office of the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye, Amadi has vast experience in public service and has held several strategic political positions including PDP chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and Chief of Staff to the Governor of Rivers State.

Read Also: Wike: Security in Abuja has improved significantly

Ogunleye said: “As Chief of Staff, Hon Amadi will play a pivotal role in supporting the FCT Minister in the formulation and execution of policies and programs aimed at advancing the development agenda of the Federal Capital Territory and will provide strategic guidance as well as ensuring the smooth functioning of the Minister’s office”.

The statement said, Amadi will be sworn into office on Monday, March 18.

Retired Directors of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have hailed the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike for all-round development in the nation’s capital.

They said Wike’s dedication to Abuja’s development is uncommon.

The 74 retired directors praised the minister during a dinner in their honour.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, while responding said the FCT Administration would continue to tap from the experience and expertise of retired management staff of the FCTA, for the growth and advancement of the territory.

Wike said he is optimistic that the wealth of experience of the retirees will be of great value to the administration.

Represented at the event by the acting Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Udom Atang, the minister pointed out that the batch of retirees were among the earliest staff of the FCTA, and therefore played crucial roles in building Abuja from scratch to its present state.

He assured that the FCTA would reach out to them during in-house training to coach and mentor young ones because of their institutional knowledge and experience, adding that, “nobody can do it better than those who have been here before.”

The minister also restated the commitment of the FCTA under the renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration towards the wellbeing of FCT Staff, saying it is a new dawn for them.

Read Also: Abuja Rail Mass Transit project 95 per cent completed – Wike

On her part, the acting director of reform coordination and service improvement, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, applauded the retirees for dedicating a significant portion of their lives to public service.

Ahmadu in her address of welcome noted: “Throughout their tenure, these directors have exhibited exemplary leadership, dedication, and professionalism, serving as beacons of integrity and steadfast commitment to the welfare and progress of the FCTA.

“Their unwavering dedication has contributed to the advancement of our administrative processes, the implementation of crucial policies, and the successful execution of numerous projects that have transformed the landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.”

Some of the retirees who spoke to reporters on the sideline of the event encouraged those still in service to build on the successes of the retired management staff for accelerated growth and development of the territory.

A former Executive Secretary of the FCTA Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Matthew Ashikeni, charged those still in service to focus more on adding value to the system, rather than what they can gain from the system.

Ashikeni, who retired as Director of special duties at the FCT Health Secretariat also asked the government to invest more in primary health care to attain Universal Health Coverage.

He said: “Preventive healthcare in Nigeria is still rudimentary. If you look at primary health care services, it needs a lot of improvement. So that people can access quality health care close to where they live and where they work. And that requires a lot of investment. So, I would love to see the Nigerian government investing more in primary health care. If we are talking about Universal Health Coverage, everybody everywhere, regardless of their age, gender, or social status, should be able to access quality healthcare anywhere they are without suffering financial catastrophe.

“My prayer and hope are that if we invest more, we will be able to build that level of care to a level where it will be able to serve its purpose. At the same time, we need to keep our health workers back home. Many of our health workers are migrating outside the country. In a situation where you don’t even have enough and the little you have been migrating out, you can foresee catastrophe at the end of the day.

“So, the Government must do everything it can to keep our health workforce at home. Improve the work conditions and make sure that the system works. And it takes very little to work, once we have the political will, things will work.”

The 74 retirees bowed out of service in the third and fourth quarter of 2023 after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 60, while some of them did after attaining 35 years of service as stipulated by law.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike says the Abuja Rail Mass Transit (ARMT) project is 95 per cent completed and will be ready for inauguration in May.

Wike stated this when the Belgium Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Daniel Bertrand, visited him in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister explained that the feat was part of efforts to improve public transportation in the federal capital, Abuja.

“When we came on board, we found out that the Abuja Light Rail was not functional and we felt that it will be a good thing for the people, if we decongest the city by putting it to function.

“So, President Bola Tinubu directed that whatever can be done, should be done, so that in his one year in office, the light rail will come on board for the use of the residents.

“The people can use it going out of the city, going to the airport and other area councils, and instead of going with their vehicles they can take the train.

“I can announce to you that we are almost there. The company handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), is almost 95 per cent completed.

“By the grace of God, we believe that in May, Mr President will inaugurate it,” the minister said.

Read Also: Abuja rail mass transit ready for inauguration in May – Wike

Wike added that discussion was on-going with private investors to change the mode of public transportation in the FCT.

He acknowledged that the deficit in public transportation constituted a security challenge in the city, adding that most of the operators were not registered.

He expressed concern that most residents did not know the vehicle they were boarding, adding that efforts were on-going to ensure all public transport operators were registered.

The minister added that the government had concluded plans to build taxi and bus terminals where residents could patronise registered and identified operators.

He further said that the construction of the terminals would commence in the next one month, with the approval of the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The minister also said that discussion was on-going with the Inspector General of Police, the Director-General, Department of State Services, and cattle herders on ways to stop open grazing in the city.

He explained that the discussion was to get the herders to understand why they should not rear cattle within the city.

“I can tell you that it is not what we want, but believing that the matter will be resolved and alternative will be provided for the herders to rear their cattle,” he said.

Wike also sought partnership with the Belgian government on security and agriculture.

Earlier, the Ambassador said that the visit was to get to know the minister’s plans in mass public transportation, update on the Abuja Light Rail project and the stand on open grazing in the city.

Bertrand expressed satisfaction with developments in the FCT, particularly the green vegetation and trees as well as less traffic.

He said that the Belgian government was open for partnership on areas of mutual benefits. (NAN)

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, March 6, expressed displeasure over the movement of cattle within Abuja city.

Wike assured worried residents of Abuja that plans are on to put an end to the roaming of cattle within the city centre.

The minister gave the assurance in Abuja when he received in audience the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Daniel Bertrand.

Wike said he had initiated multifaceted discussions with different relevant critical stakeholders on the need to end the roaming of cattle in the city.

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He also noted that fighting insecurity in FCT demands multifaceted approaches which the administration was already adopting to defeat criminalities.

He added that his administration has also intensified partnership drive with the private sector transportation players, in a bit to beef up security in the city.

Earlier in his remarks, the Ambassador, Daniel Bertrand who had raised concerns over the roaming of cattle on the streets of Abuja, expressed satisfaction, learning that the minister had initiated a fight against the menace.

Bertrand also expressed interest in getting investors from his country to partner with FCTA in the development of the nation’s capital.