The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has expressed deep concern over the growing security and healthcare challenges in Abuja, calling for a coordinated national response to tackle the issues effectively.
Speaking during the FCTA’s 2025 budget defence session before the Senate in Abuja, Wike stressed that the FCT’s unique role as the seat of the Presidency, National Assembly, and diplomatic missions makes it impossible to operate with full autonomy like other states.
“You cannot speak of autonomy in a city where the President, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and heads of major institutions reside,” Wike said. “The security of this city cannot be handled by the FCT Administration alone.”
He emphasized the Administration’s ongoing collaboration with federal security agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Police, in building a comprehensive security architecture for the nation’s capital.
“This city demands an integrated security framework. We’ve begun working closely with national agencies. Failure is not an option,” he declared.
The Minister also lamented the absence of functional surveillance infrastructure, particularly the long-standing issue of non-operational CCTV cameras in Abuja, attributing the delays to political interference and bureaucratic sabotage.
“People often ask why Abuja still lacks effective CCTV coverage. The answer, unfortunately, is internal politics and deliberate sabotage. Even after approvals, some individuals find ways to frustrate implementation,” he said.
Wike warned against calls for full FCT autonomy, arguing that the current constitutional structure is intentional and essential for national security and governance.
“This is not just another state. We don’t have a House of Assembly; our laws are enacted by the National Assembly. This is deliberate, and we must not oversimplify the governance of the FCT,” he added.
To chart a long-term solution, the Minister proposed a multi-sectoral summit involving key players in security, health, and governance to design a coordinated response to Abuja’s unique challenges.
“We need a collective roadmap. These are complex issues that demand collaboration—not isolated interventions,” he said.
On the healthcare front, Wike revealed that the FCTA has finalized the procurement of advanced medical diagnostic equipment to boost service delivery across FCT hospitals.
“As of yesterday, we concluded the procurement process for MRI and CT scan machines. These will be delivered to our hospitals soon as part of efforts to strengthen access to quality healthcare,” he announced.
