BY AYODELE SEUN
 |
| BABATUNDE FASHOLA |
In 1975 an official
decision was taken by the then Federal Military Government of Nigeria to set up
a committee under the leadership of Justice Akinola Aguda to examine the
suitable of the dual role of Lagos as a state and Federal Capital. The
Government under General Murtala Mohammed accepted the recommendation in the
committee’s report that the capital city of Nigeria be relocated to a new
Federal Capital Territory in the geographic Centre of the country, at Abuja.
The acceptance of the committee’s recommendation led to the enactment of degree
NO.6 of 1976 leading to the establishment of a new Federal Capital.
Nigeria Federal Capital
Territory (Abuja) since its establishment has been administered by the
following ministers:
- · Mobolaji Adeogun Ondo state 1976-1979
- John Jatau Plateau state 1979-1982
- · Iro Abubakar Katsina state 1982-1983
- · Haliru Dantoro Niger state 1983-1985
- · Mamman Vatsa Niger state 1984-1985
- · Hamza Abdullahi Jigawa state 1986-1989
- · Gado Nasko Niger state 1989-1993
- · Jeremiah Useni Plateau state 1993-1998
- · Mamman Kontagora Niger state 1998-1999
- · Ibrahim Bunu Borno state 1999-2001
- · Abba Gana Borno state 2001-2003
- · Nasiru El-Rufai Kaduna state 2003-2007
- · Aliyu Modibo Gombe state 2007-2008
- · Adamu Aliero Kebbi state 2008-2010
- · Bala Mohammad Bauchi state 2010-2015
Most of these
ministers recorded achievement in developing, structures and administering of
FCT. The brief period when Kontagora was in charge of FCT saw a boom in
construction of housing and infrastructure.The now Governor of Kaduna State
Mallam. Nasiru El-Rufai recorded landslide success in the area of structures
and restructures of FCT, He was first minister of FCT that started implementing
FCT master plan.EL-Rufai within 4-year turn Abuja to envy of other city, there
is massive construction of roads network, construction of estates and
restructures of FCT to meet the master plan. The FCT (Abuja) of today is built
by Mallam.El-Rufai administration.
The infrastructures of
the FCT has been built by past FCT ministers including Sen.Bala Mohammad who
implemented many project at the tail end of his administration, ranging from
estate construction and traffic light.
Nevertheless, FCT still
faces with a lot of challenges ranging from social problems and unemployment. FCT
Youths are highly involves in hard drugs consumption ,prostitution is common
job among Abuja babes, black market and with Nigeria political bourgeoisie with
their excessive accumulation of wealth kept a lot of empty houses in Maitama and
Wuse,they are neither residential nor business building. Most of the hotels in
Abuja are not actually meant for business but hidden property for corrupt
public officials. Most of the FCT agencies are not performing their statutory
obligation but rather extorting money from Abuja residence.Eg Abuja
Environmental Protection Board.
President Muhammadu
Buhari needs best hand to administer FCT, a capable hand who can turn Abuja
around and make it save heaven for all Nigerian and envy of the world. Abuja
must be administer by someone who can curb menace of social problems and create
jobs for the youths through establishment of viable agencies and boards, who
can make Abuja economic viable, generate revenue and redistribute income.F CT
minister should be who can enterprise, re-orientate and rebuild the
superstructure of FCT to maintain and sustain the infrastructures.
President Muhammadu
Buhari most select the best cabinet members regardless of region, religion and
tribal line by appointing former Governor of Lagos state Babatunde Fashola FCT
minnster. Lagos state is a testament to his administrative achievement and his
the best candidate for the position of FCT minister. Fashola will not only curb
social problems in FCT but will also generate income and create job for the
youths.
How I will wish “EKO
ONI BAJE O” (Lagos will not spoil) will soon turn to “Abuja ONI BAJE O” (Abuja
will not spoil).
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