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FCTA to complete abandoned projects, solicits UN-Habitat partnership

By Anthony Otaru, Abuja
23 September 2019   |   3:40 am
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is soliciting partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) for improvement and development in the critical areas of transportation, waste management as well as mass housing in the territory.

Abuja. Photo: WIKIPEDIA

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration is soliciting partnership with the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-HABITAT) for improvement and development in the critical areas of transportation, waste management as well as mass housing in the territory.

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said that with the increasing population flow into the nation’s capital, challenges such as the provision of affordable mass housing, mass transportation and waste management need to be seriously tackled.

Bello made the call when he received a delegation of officials of UN-HABITAT led by its Director, Regional Office for Africa, Dr. Naison Mutizwa Mangiza, in Abuja.

He noted, ‘’the use of electric/hybrid buses to create a reliable mass transportation system will reduce the number of vehicles on the roads and ultimately lead to a cleaner and safer environment he reiterated’’

On waste management, Malam Bello explained that the technical support of the UN organization would help the FCT better manage waste collection and disposal, which includes recycling. This, he noted has the potential of providing jobs for many unemployed youths in the society.

While commending the UN-HABITAT’s plans to upgrade the Nigeria country office to a multi-country office, the Minister stressed the need for FCT to avoid mistakes of many urban cities that tend to grow, develop and eventually decay.

Earlier, the UN-HABITAT Regional Director commended Nigeria’s leadership role in the funding of UN-HABITAT programmes and activities, not only in Nigeria, but other African countries.

In a related development, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijani Aliyu has said that the administration will give more attention to the completion of all abandoned projects, especially in the satellite towns.

Aliyu said: ‘’The wisdom behind this directive is that government is a continuum and if we continue to award fresh projects, there is tendency that Nigeria will inherit more abandoned projects in the near future and is not healthy for our development.” 

The Minister gave the assurance when she held a meeting with heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies under her supervision stressing that the importance of synergy between the relevant agencies in the FCT Administration has become key for speedy development.

She called on the Secretariat, Departments and Agencies (SDAs), under her supervision to be transparent, committed and focused in the discharge of their responsibilities. 

Meanwhile, Bello has set up a 10-member committee to clear traffic and ease movement on the axis. The committee is Chaired by Attah Ikharo including the Chief Security Officer, CSO to the Minister; the FCT Police Commissioner; FCT VIO Commander; AEPB, with others drawn from security agencies and others paramilitary organisations.

Chairman of the committee, said the committee will submit a comprehensive report of findings and recommendations to the minister in one week.

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