2015: Between FCT Minister and Jonathan

Its evolution was necessitated by the urgent need to correct the flaws in the country’s drive for development where there is absence of long-term planning, and lack of continuity, consistency and commitment.  The culminating effect of these has been growth and development of the Nigerian economy without a concomitant improvement in the overall welfare of […]

Its evolution was necessitated by the urgent need to correct the flaws in the country’s drive for development where there is absence of long-term planning, and lack of continuity, consistency and commitment.  The culminating effect of these has been growth and development of the Nigerian economy without a concomitant improvement in the overall welfare of Nigerian citizens. In evolving this agenda, the President believes that if a suitable environment is provided, Nigerians have the ability to transform the country through productive activities.
With this agenda as a compass to find direction for the nation’s economy, all Presidential aides are expected to key into it to achieve the much desired results. Juxtaposing the implementation of this Agenda viz-a-viz individual minister’s contribution to its success so far, one may not be too far from the truth to say that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Bala Mohammed’s role has been quite outstanding in all ramifications.  
As a loyalist of the President, the minister has been working assiduously to give the Agenda a positive face, a development that has enhanced the image of the President both in Nigeria and in the comity of nations.
It has been proven over time that appointment to manage any portfolio in the public realm is a call to patriotic service, which involves vacating all personal goals, dreams and activities for the attainment of the collective objective. These sacrifices provide the undercurrent for responsible leadership. Arguably, Bala, like his boss at the Villa, has been providing such leadership in the FCT. Devoid of politics, both of them, through the instrumentality of Transformation Agenda have been able to make Nigerians feel the impact of their stewardship.
To strengthen the arm of the Agenda, the minister has completion of the expansion of modern 10-lane multiple carriage super highways: the Umaru Musa Yar’adua (Airport Road) Expressway; the Outer Northern (Murtala Mohammed) Expressway otherwise known as the Zuba/Kubwa/City Centre Highway as well as the dualization of the Nyanya Expressway.
In addition, several districts have been opened up for development through provision of massive infrastructural facilities. His quest to provide infrastructural facilities for the FCT resulted in the historic flag-off of development of three new districts, just as  the total development of Katampe District to be executed through Private Public Partnership (PPP) and estimated at N61,194,747,645.00, with Kagini 1 District costing N52,609,879,284.47, while   Maitama Extension District will gulp N137,454,626,929.00.
To further give teeth to his quest to modernize the nation’s capital city, Bala’s administration entered into series of agreements with Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which is a special agency of the federal government set up to boost investment in infrastructure by the private sector through the PPP initiative.
As a matter of fact, the single biggest private sector investment is the Abuja Millennium City currently being handled by a consortium, Nigeria Centenary City Plc valued at $18billion.  Another of the minister’s audacious policy is the land swap project valued at $4.5bn, which is geared towards opening up 10 new districts for development simultaneously. In addition, work is currently going on at six districts namely Jahi, Wuye, Guzape, Maitama Extension (Goodluck Jonathan Estate), Kagini and Katampe.
The first phase of the light rail and Abuja-Kaduna railway projects embarked upon by the Bala Mohammed administration, which is expected to ferry 700,000 passengers daily is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2015.
Equally determined to make the satellite towns in Abuja experience real development, the minister re-established FCT Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA). This is with a view to making it an all inclusive city in line with the dreams of its founding fathers.   
Even in the area of water supply, the administration just commissioned Tanks 1 and 6 with 40,000 cubic centimeters storage capacity.
At this juncture, it is necessary to unequivocally state here that for chroniclers of history who desire to do justice to the success of the Transformation Agenda, an agenda that will be the utmost decider for President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 presidential election, that extra attribute of wisdom which demands fairness, thoroughness, sincerity of purpose and a good application of the contending issues within the unique circumstances as epitomized by the pivotal role of Bala Mohammed need to be applied. Bala has indeed given the Agenda a positive face and this requires commendation from all and sundry.
Rogers Ochela is based in Abuja, FCT