Local News
‘No Sector Has Been Neglected, But We Can’t Fix Everything in Two Years’, Wike Defends FCT Progress
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the efforts of the current administration in addressing developmental challenges across sectors in Abuja, saying his government is committed to progress despite constraints.
Speaking during a media parley on Monday, Wike stated clearly that no sector has been left out under his leadership. According to him, expectations for a total turnaround in two years are unrealistic.
“This is just two years in office. It is not possible for you to turn around all the sectors. It is not possible. But that does not mean any sector should be neglected. And we’re not neglecting,” he said.
The Minister, responding to concerns over the state of education in the FCT, emphasised that while primary education is constitutionally the responsibility of area councils, the FCT Administration has continued to intervene to ensure learning environments are improved.
“Most of the schools that have been rehabilitated are being carried out by us. By the FCT. Because we believe that, yes, it’s their responsibility. But again, if anything happens, nobody will talk about that,” Wike said.
On criticisms suggesting the administration is more focused on infrastructure as a form of showmanship, Wike rejected the notion outright.
“Somebody who has no mental problem will say that building bridges is a showman. I don’t understand that. I don’t understand how you go to school when there’s no road. Some of you have complained that taking your children to school is a problem. Something that will take you 30 minutes will take you two hours. A government has come to say no. This can’t continue,” he stated.
While addressing complaints about poor public schools and healthcare services in some area councils, Wike explained that expectations must be matched with the available resources and constitutional realities.
“I don’t know why anybody would think that within two years in office you will provide a general hospital for every media council. That is not possible,” he said.
He added that the administration is already undertaking renovation works at several key health institutions.
“We’re trying to reconstruct the Utako General Hospital. That was a pan-Nigerian hospital. We’re renovating the Gwarinpa General Hospital. Go and see the work they are doing there,” he said.
Wike also dismissed insinuations that his administration lacks stakeholder engagement in governance planning.
“We are going to visit all the six media councils. We are going to start with the youth. And that’s going to be the first time that the stakeholders will say, look, this is our major priority,” he said.
He urged critics to recognise the strides the FCT Administration has made under the current government and emphasised that public service must be approached with a sense of focus and phased planning.
“The government must be focused on targeting that from this period to this period, this is what we’re going to do in this area. That’s how government is supposed to work,” Wike said.
