Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday issued stern warnings to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, and the Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, declaring that his administration would no longer tolerate racketeering in street naming or incompetence in service delivery.
Speaking at the flag-off of engineering infrastructure projects in Guzape District (Cadastral Zone A09, Lots 1 and 2) and the AIT neighbourhood in Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Wike condemned what he described as the “sale of street names” in Abuja by unscrupulous officials.
“You don’t just wake up because somebody has ₦2 million and then name a very important street after them. That is not possible. I have forgiven you till yesterday, but from today, I won’t forgive such acts. If people have paid you money, better go and refund it. Streets must be named after those who have contributed meaningfully to the development of the city and the country. You cannot commercialize our heritage,” he warned.
Turning to the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Wike demanded a verifiable electronic record of all rehabilitated, ongoing, and planned schools across the six Area Councils since August 2023, threatening dismissal if the directive is not met.
“I have told him, if he doesn’t bring it, another person will take his job. If I am going to do it alone, then there is no need to have a Mandate Secretary of Education. Nigerians must see, school by school, council by council, what we have done. It is no longer 3D job; it is operation show your report card. Seeing is believing,” Wike said.
Linking the projects to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Wike insisted that the administration was determined to deliver infrastructure where previous governments failed.
“Those who live here know that for years, there were no roads. But now that Tinubu has come, there is road. Nobody can say this administration has had no impact,” he declared, urging contractors Dantata and Sawoe to complete the projects on schedule and employ local youths to boost livelihoods. He also warned residents against frustrating construction timelines.
Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, said the contracts, first awarded in 2005, cover about 24 roads totaling 9.2 kilometers with provisions for asphalt surfacing, drainage, streetlights, power and water supply networks, and telecommunication ducts. He said the project is expected to be completed in 18 months and would “ease movement, improve security, and significantly raise living standards in Guzape and Asokoro.”
In her remarks, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the projects as another clear demonstration of President Tinubu’s vision of making Abuja a world-class city, while commending Wike’s “dynamic and purposeful leadership.”
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