Wike plans big celebration as FCT marks 50 years

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced plans to celebrate the FCT’s 50th anniversary during President Bola Tinubu’s third year in office.

Wike made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while meeting with staff of the FCT Administration as part of activities marking the territory’s golden jubilee.

He said a committee would soon be set up to plan both the FCT’s 50th anniversary and President Tinubu’s third anniversary in office. According to him, a special publication highlighting the history and achievements of the FCT will also be launched during the celebration, expected to take place in about three months.

The minister thanked God that the FCT reached its 50th year while he is serving as minister. He said the major changes seen in the FCT over the last two and a half years would not have been possible without the support of President Tinubu.

Wike explained that development in the FCT was slow in the past because the administration was under the Treasury Single Account. He said Tinubu’s decision to remove the FCT from the TSA made it possible for the administration to access funds from commercial banks and carry out important projects across the territory.

He said many people now see visible development in the FCT because the financial restriction was removed. According to him, this decision laid the foundation for the progress currently being recorded.

Wike also said workers in the FCT Administration have benefited under Tinubu’s leadership, especially in career growth. He noted that staff now have opportunities to rise to the positions of Permanent Secretary or Head of the FCT Civil Service.

He said past administrations did not make this possible, but Tinubu changed the system to give workers hope and motivation.

Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, said the level of infrastructural development recorded in the last two and a half years is the highest in the 50-year history of the FCT.

Dauda said many projects inherited in August 2023 have been completed and commissioned, while others are close to completion. He credited this progress to the leadership and commitment of the current FCT Administration.

He added that nine projects were inaugurated during Tinubu’s first year in office, while 17 projects were inaugurated in the second year.

He expressed confidence that up to 50 projects may be inaugurated by the time Tinubu marks his third anniversary in office.