VICE President Namadi Sambo Thursday directed the Presidential Committee on Federal Government Intervention for Infrastructural Development of Peri-Federal Capital Territory( FCT) Communities to fix time frame in the recommendations for the development of towns in the contiguous states.
Meanwhile, the FCT Minister Bala Mohammed has explained that the recent shortage of pipe borne water in Karmo, Gwagwa and other surrounding communities in the area was as a result of infrastructural upgrade.
In a related development, the FCT administration yesterday demolished illegal structures and shanties at the Apo Mechanic Village in Abuja in continuation of a clean up exercise.
Main communities being proposed for Federal Government complimentary intervention for infrastructure development are Suleja and its environs in Niger State; Karu/Mararaba axis in Nasarawa State and Chikara in Kogi State.
Within the FCT, the satellite communities being considered are Karshi, Jikwoyi, Nyanya, Karu and Zuba.
Sources told The Guardian that the total cost of the project is about N1.45 trillion.
Vice President Sambo told the Technical Sub-Committee meeting of the body in the State House, Abuja, that the financial involvement of the Federal Government, the states concerned and the local councils should be clearly stipulated.
Sambo added that time to start the project as well as when it will be completed should also be indicated in the recommendations.
He noted that the idea of complimentary intervention of the Peri-FCT communities was not to build new towns but to develop the ghettos in the boundary communities to the FCT.
Sambo also tasked the committee not to go beyond the communities surrounding the FCT.
He also cautioned that building schools to be jointly managed by the contiguous states and the FCT would not be necessary given that the Federal Government was building the Universal Basic Education(UBE) in all states and communities in the country.
Sambo said the immediate items to consider were transportation, electricity, housing, portable water, health issues and sanitation in these areas, adding that the amount already envisaged by the committee was on the high side.
The minister who commended the affected communities for their patience and understanding yesterday in his office, assured that the major upgrade of the infrastructure would soon be completed to facilitate resumption of normal supply to the area.
The Guardian
Guess the information got to them.
They should work on what he advised