The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday issued strong warnings to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Christopher Maikalangu, and the Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, declaring that his administration would no longer tolerate racketeering, incompetence, or poor service delivery in the FCT.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony for engineering infrastructure projects in Guzape District (Cadastral Zone A09, Lots 1 and 2) and the AIT neighbourhood in Asokoro (Cadastral Zone A04), Wike condemned what he described as the “sale of street names” in Abuja by corrupt officials.
“You don’t just wake up and name a major street after someone simply because they have ₦2 million to pay. That is unacceptable,” he said. “I have forgiven past offences until yesterday, but from today, I will not tolerate such acts. If anyone has collected money for street naming, they must refund it immediately. Streets should be named after individuals who have genuinely contributed to the growth and development of Abuja and Nigeria. We cannot commercialize our heritage.”
Wike also directed the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Hayyo, to compile and submit a comprehensive electronic record of all rehabilitated, ongoing, and proposed school projects across the six Area Councils since August 2023—or face dismissal.
“I have made it clear that if he fails to present this report, someone else will take his position. If I am expected to do the job alone, then there’s no reason to have a Mandate Secretary for Education,” Wike stated. “Nigerians deserve transparency. They must be able to see, school by school and council by council, what has been done. This is no longer about reports on paper—it is now operation ‘show your report card.’ Seeing is believing.”
The Minister linked the ongoing infrastructure projects to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing that the administration is committed to completing key projects neglected by past governments.
“Residents here know that for years, this area had no roads. But today, under President Tinubu, that is changing. No one can deny that this administration is making a real impact,” Wike declared.
He further urged the contractors, Dantata and Sawoe, to ensure timely completion of the projects while employing local youths to improve community livelihoods. He also cautioned residents against obstructing construction progress.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Richard Yunana Dauda, explained that the contracts, which were first awarded in 2005, cover approximately 24 roads spanning 9.2 kilometers. The works include asphalt surfacing, drainage systems, streetlights, power and water supply networks, as well as telecommunication ducts.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, described the projects as a clear reflection of President Tinubu’s commitment to transforming Abuja into a world-class city. She praised Wike for his “dynamic and purposeful leadership” in driving the FCT’s development agenda.
