LR: Mr Bayo Ouga, MD of with FCT minister Bello.
MD Ouga (9middle), Deputy Director of Marketing Lawal (R) and Executive Director of Finance and Account.
MD Ouga (L) with FCT minister Bello.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has identified hawking, traffic offences, prostitution, street begging and vandalism as major problems.
The minister of FCT, Mallam Mohammed Musa Bello, stated on Thursday in Abuja that efforts were being made to solve the problems.
Bello who received the management staff of the NAN in Abuja today, stated that FCTA was planning to create informal markets that would not disrupt traffic or cause sanitation problem.
The minister explained that such markets were not permanent but meant to solve immediate shopping problem of residents without jeopardising security, free movement and sanitation.
Bello expressed disgust with the attitude of residents, believing that citizens should conform to international standards of behaviour.
He wondered why motorist still have to beat traffic light, drive one way and some people vandalise infrastructure and engage street trading.
He stated that residents should identify with the international code of behaviour.
Most awful, he said, are incidences of facility vandalism, especially infrastructure provided for traffic lights, bridges and Abuja light rail projects.
He stated efforts were being made to make Abuja a model in Africa.
The minister stated maximum security of FCT was a priority and expressed happiness at the level of cooperation by the security agencies in ensuring safety of lives and property.
He stated FCTA was committed to the revival and completion of abandoned projects in Abuja.
Focus, he said, would be placed on the development of satellite towns because most of the road construction in Abuja would be completed in the next few months.
He named some of the major roads still under construction to include the Musa Yar’Adua and Airport roads which would be substantially completed in a few months.
The minister explained that there was the need to partner with the media for the development of FCT.
He explained that city management and security could not be left with the government alone but be seen as a collective responsibility.
FCTA plans to re-allocate land have not been developed over the years by government’s agencies, ministries and other organizations either as a result of merger or inability to utilise the land.
He stated that there were no more lands in the city, but that with the identification of idle plots of land and the opening up of more areas, needy organizations would be able to access land.
The Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria , Mr . Bayo Ouga, had requested for land for the construction of Staff estate.
Ouga, who paid a courtesy call on the minister in Abuja on Thursday, unveiled strategies to reposition the Agency.
He explained that aside form creating subscriber and free website, the Agency would soon launch its photo and video portals.
The Managing Director stated that the Agency’s products, including SMS and PR wire could be fully utilised by FCTA to able to reach the grassroots.
He explained that the visit was to deepen relationship between the Agency and FCTA.