Reps tell Wike to prioritise security, revenue generation

…want recurring boat mishaps tackled

The House of Representatives on Wednesday challenged Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to pay attention to the security of lives and property and to leverage his experience and network to improve revenue generation to fund the infrastructural development of the FCT.

Muktar Betara, the chairman of the House committee on FCT, made the call in Abuja at the inaugural meeting of the committee. He said the planning and development of the FCT, secondary and tertiary education, public transport system, and annual budget estimate of the FCTA were part of the committee’s oversight responsibilities.

The lawmaker urged the FCT authorities to take a cue from vehicle inspection officers who before the expiration of vehicular particulars often send notifications to car owners for renewal while informing those who owned undeveloped landed property to pay ground rent without delay.

Betara listed the oversight role of the committee to cover the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and its agencies including the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS); the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); Abuja Metropolitan Management Authority; Abuja Investment Company Ltd; FCT Mass Housing Department; FCT Pension Board, among others.

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Speaking on less privileged in FCT, a member representing Gboko/Tarka Federal Constituency, Regina Akume pleaded with the FCTA to slow down on the demolition of illegal structures.

Contributing, Saidu Abdullahi, representing also a member of the Committee and lawmaker representing Bida/Gbako/Katcha Federal Constituency, Niger State, said a lot of work must be done to return the past glory of the nation’s capital.

Responding on behalf of Wike, Adesola Olusade, the permanent secretary of the ministry, urged the committee to work on bills pending before them concerning the development and decongestion of the city capital.

Similarly, the House committee on inland waterways, called on the ministry of marine and blue economy and parastatals under its jurisdiction to address the root causes of boat mishaps in the country.

Contributing, Martins Esin (Akwa-Ibom, PDP) said the responsibility placed on the committee was enormous due to the dwindling revenue generation of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) as an agency, saying the revenue generation should be taken up by the committee.