FCT residents set agenda for incoming minister

Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have listed their expectations from the incoming minister of the territory.

Blessing Ekwe, businesswoman
During the past administration, the Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB) didn’t do so well, resulting in a filthy city. My advice to the incoming minister should be to mandate the AEPB to always clean the city and satellite towns. They should also be mandated to ensure that drains running through or by the tenement areas are kept free from blockage, dirt and stagnant water.

Grace Uchenna, trader
Traders and beggars should be removed from pedestrian bridges which they have converted to mini markets. Their activities should be halted to enhance the free flow of human traffic. Pedestrian bridges throughout the world are constructed at strategic points to help people cross busy highways without having to risk their lives because of some reckless drivers, but in Abuja, it’s different. I think the government should take action against this act and stop it completely.

Shagari Isah, Bricklayer, Kubwa
As an indigene of Abuja, I must say I am highly disappointed in the past administration. The minister, through the Bwari Area Council, is supposed to provide basic amenities in Kubwa, but he didn’t do so. Most of the roads here are very bad. We are hoping that the incoming minister will help fix the roads. Also, pipe borne water is an issue; we pay the water board bill, but they don’t supply us with water. If these things are fixed by the incoming administration, we would be okay.

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Kayode Ruth, student
In the last eight years, the transportation sector in the FCT has remained difficult and challenging for its residents. The Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited (AUMTCO) has not been effective. Most of the buses are parked at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yard, Katampe Hill, along the Kubwa-Zuba Road; hence they are no longer available for residents, who lack an alternative means of transportation. Some of the buses that had only minor mechanical faults were left to rot, alongside those with major faults. This should be looked into by the incoming administration.

Julius Ogundipe, retired civil servant
A number of districts do not have functional traffic and streetlights. Some of the functioning traffic lights confuse many motorists, putting them at avoidable risk of accidents and even being robbed. When the new minister takes over, his team should move around at night to see what I am talking about.

Kelvin Nwadike, self- employed, Abuja
As a park worker, it affected my salary when FCTA ordered recreational facilities to shut down from 7pm in June last year. My boss bemoaned loss of revenues because he made sure we closed exactly at 7pm in compliance with the directives to avoid troubles from the government. The incoming minister should not come up with such a policy, please, no matter the circumstances.