Addressing critics who accuse the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) of focusing mainly on roads, the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has said the administration is investing heavily in education and other essential sectors to improve the lives of residents across Abuja and its satellite towns.
Wike, who spoke at the commissioning of the Phase II rehabilitation of the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa, directed the Secretary of Education to publish a list of completed, renovated, and ongoing schools in both urban and rural communities under the Tinubu administration.
On the controversy surrounding alleged unpaid indigenous contractors, the Minister insisted he would not bow to pressure to pay for irregularly awarded jobs, describing the uproar as a pushback from entrenched corruption.
“When you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. But we will defeat corruption. If anybody says I awarded a contract, let them bring the documents. I will not be intimidated,” Wike declared.
He accused some civil servants of awarding frivolous contracts worth between ₦5 million and ₦25 million without ministerial approval, warning that such practices in the past had drained resources meant for critical infrastructure.
According to him, his leadership has reversed the trend by slashing recurrent expenditure and channeling 70 percent of the FCTA budget into capital projects.
“Computers every year and foreign trips will not solve our problems. What will help is the development of our people—roads, schools, water, and security. That is what is important,” he stressed.
The Minister reaffirmed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already transforming Abuja, pledging that his administration will leave behind a legacy of growth and accountability.
“This opportunity Mr. President has given us, history will be on our side. When we leave, we will leave with our shoulders high, knowing that we have changed the narrative in Abuja,” he added.
Wike further disclosed that through reforms, the FCTA has raised its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from ₦9 billion to not less than ₦30 billion monthly, which has been critical to funding projects without excessive borrowing.
He explained that the completion of Phase II of the Lower Usman Dam—awarded in 2022 at about ₦50 billion—will boost water supply across the city, while Phases I, III and IV have been approved by the Federal Executive Council to expand capacity further.
The Minister also revealed that the administration had signed a ₦90 billion agreement with Chinese firm CGC to provide water for satellite towns, with flag-off ceremonies slated for Bwari and Karu this week.
“We are not just concentrating on the development of the city; we are taking development to the satellite towns. Water is life, and Mr. President has directed that every resident must feel the impact of governance,” Wike said.
He insisted that despite criticisms, the FCTA under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is focused on tangible projects that directly benefit residents, from roads and schools to clean water and improved services.
