(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Sen.-Bala-Mohammed-2-300x224.jpg) The provision of critical infrastructure, health and human services, wealth creation and poverty reduction, safe and secure environment, logistic support to security agencies as well as procurement and distribution of 114 operational vehicles fitted with modern communication and security gadgets were developmental strides in the scorecard of the FCT Administration in 2013. The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed told the nation at the 2013 Ministerial Platform held at the National Press Centre, Radio House, Abuja on Thursday, 20 June, 2013.
The Minister pointed out that Police stations have been provided across the Federal Capital City in a bid to control crimes as well as enhance effective and efficient administrative frameworks. He said that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was confronted with 1,700 litigations between 2011 and 2012 which have now been reduced to 800 cases. He said, over 200 cases were resolved through alternative dispute resolution options.
In a bid to also sustain the tempo of the regional security outfit, he said that the G7 Security Summit was organised to help combat insecurity in the territory through joint collaborations. "The incidence of highway crime within the contiguous states has reduced substantially. Use of informants, public enlightenment and call centres has been reinforced with adequate personnel and channels for easy response to distress calls"; he reiterated.
Bala Mohammed explained that 351 suspected armed robbers were arrested in the period under review; 753 stolen vehicles were recovered and the cleaning and evacuation of wastes in the six Area Councils and the capital towns of Kuje, Abaji, Kwali, Bwari, Gwagwalada and Abuja Municipal have been ongoing. He further said that the licensing of 22 lots pilot scheme on waste evacuation in satellite towns have been executed to keep them clean.
The FCT Minister added that sensitisation and advocacy programs were engaged in the six Area Councils to foster attitudinal change and create awareness on environmental sanitation and public health; adding that a plant nursery was established in Pegi to raise assorted seedlings for different tree planting programmes. "There was also the beautification and metal fencing of Karu interchange and the cleaning of Zuba and Nyanya interchanges."
In carrying out its mandates, FCT Minister identified some challenges faced by the FCTA, which he said, include: the need for enactment of a bill for the establishment of the FCT Board of Internal Revenue and bill to formally establish a Public Service Commission for the FCT. Others identified were the problems of increasing demographics due to migration from other States to the FCT in search of greener pastures and infrastructure deficit funding. "Abuja is the fastest growing city in the continent of Africa and one of the fastest growing cities in the world"; he observed.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria