The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike to tackle the rising spate of insecurity and the deplorable state of infrastructure in the territory.
Chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara (APC, Borno) made the call at the inaugural meeting of the committee at the National Assembly.
Betara said the rising rate of insecurity, especially the increased activities of “one chance” taxi drivers who rob unsuspecting passengers in the territory must be addressed.
“The safety of our residents and visitors is of utmost importance. We must collaborate with relevant security agencies to address this issue and restore trust in our transportation system”, he said.
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He also charged the minister to tackle decaying infrastructure due to a lack of regular maintenance.
“The current state of our infrastructure presents a significant challenge. Other issues include the incidences of knocked-down street lights that have turned the city into darkness at night, which aid the activities of hoodlums. Similarly, most of the manholes within the city are left open thereby causing accidents to motorists and pedestrians.
“Hon Minister, we need to prioritise regular maintenance to prevent further deterioration and ensure the safety and comfort of FCT residents and visitors”, he said.
He also lamented the declining revenue from some major revenue-generating agencies such as the Abuja Water Board, Department of Parks and Recreation, and Abuja Environmental Protection Board, adding that the trend will not augur well for sustainable development of the territory.
“We must explore innovative solutions to ensure that these vital institutions can operate effectively while also generating the necessary revenues needed to provide infrastructure and services”, he said.
He assured the minister that the Committee on FCT stand was ready and committed to support and cooperate with his leadership in contributing to the development of the territory.
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