This is your time to benefit, Wike assures FCT rural dwellers

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister, Barrister Nyesome Wike, has assured rural dwellers in the nation’s capital city that it is their time to benefit and access infrastructure development from the administration under his watch.

Wike stated this in Yangoji while flagging off on Wednesday the construction of an 11-kilometre rural road to connect Sukuku Ebo and Yangoji in Kwali area council.

He said, “This is the first time we are going to drive development in rural areas. We are touching rural areas to renew their hope because they have suffered years of abandonment.

“This is your time to benefit. “If we don’t take care of rural areas, then we have failed as a government.”

According to the minister, the current government will be a complete failure if it fails to impact rural communities positively, stating that the rural road intervention and other infrastructural development earmarked for rural communities were in fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

He asked the area council chairmen to stay in their domain and develop their communities.

“Continue to stay at home. Don’t come to the city regularly. Stay there and do the work. My own is to support you. If you don’t do well for rural communities, you will create problems for the city,” he said.

Wike, who was conferred with the traditional title of Kauran Kwali (undefeated war leader) by the Kwali community, thanked the people for the gesture and promised not to let them down.

Earlier, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Mr. Danladi Chia, thanked President Tinubu for approving the construction of three rural roads in each of the six area councils.

Chia said that the gesture would complement the efforts of the Kwali area council towards improving infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

He said that his administration had constructed and rehabilitated 11.3-kilometre roads and graded 13-kilometre additional roads to ease the movement of his people and drive economic activities.

Dr Olusegun Olusa, Oversite Director, Satellite Towns Development Department, FCTA, explained that the project, awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Ltd., would be completed by May.

The traditional leader of the area, the Chief of Pai, Alhaji Abubakar Sani, thanked President Tinubu and Wike for their commitment to providing infrastructure in rural communities, particularly roads.

Sani said that the road, when completed, would make it easier for farmers to transport their farm produce and improve security in the area.

He appealed that the gesture should be extended to primary healthcare centres to improve the quality of health services in rural areas.