Let Abuja ideas translate into Bauchi dream
However, despite despair and hopelessness, there is splatter of hope in some quarters especially at the federal level and some few states. For instance in the FCT, where I reside, the last one year recorded mixed achievements which cannot just be dismissed but reflect on. Of course, the chief architect of the Federal Capital Territory […]
However, despite despair and hopelessness, there is splatter of hope in some quarters especially at the federal level and some few states. For instance in the FCT, where I reside, the last one year recorded mixed achievements which cannot just be dismissed but reflect on. Of course, the chief architect of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) re-engineering project, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, is one of the few ministers that have stood out in the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. Since his appointment in 2010 and re-appointment in 2011, Mohammed, as a technocrat and politician per excellence from Bauchi State, has been on his toes trying to upgrade the city which is not only the capital of Nigeria but our heart and the only city that considers Nigerians as one. This also informed the reason why many Nigerians are today interested in what is happening in the FCT, the centre of unity. The transformation that has been going on in the FCT has also lured many Nigerians into the city to find a means of survival hence the over stretching of the infrastructure and the complications in administering the city. But not deterred by some of these challenges, Mohammed came up with innovative ideas to improve Abuja’s internal revenue generation through harnessing its untapped potentials in order to reduce stress on the federation allocation and make the authority financially independent. This beautiful innovation has earned the minister commendations from President Goodluck Jonathan who considers Mohammed not only as his minister but a close aide in oiling the transformation agenda. The innovation gave birth to widely acclaimed land swap scheme to accelerate provision of affordable housing in Abuja. Under the swap model, competent developers are granted an agreed percentage of land to develop for development under special contract arrangement. In exchange for the grant, the developer is to provide primary infrastructure without any financial, technical or demand risk on the part of the FCT. Under the land reform, Mohammed reinvigorated the Abuja Geographical Information System and the Land Department.
Under his watch, the FCT also saw the commencement of the phase one of Abuja rail mass transit project (Lots 1&3) being executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC, Nigeria Ltd. The project is due for completion in 2015. That project alone has provided over 430 jobs to Nigerians.
Other revenue sources developed by Mohammed to bolster the IGR include the Abuja property tax and the anticipated revenue from the proposed park-and-ride project. Mohammed in his own wisdom also engaged the National Institute for Hospital and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) to develop a tourism master plan that will explore the tourism potentials of the conference city of Africa.
Another sector where the FCTA has recorded considerable breakthrough, apart from massive road construction, is attraction of direct foreign and local investments, totalling over $4.6 billion within two years of his stewardship.
Mohammed has also created three new districts, Katampe, Maitama Extension, and Kagini 1 to open up the city in order to accommodate the growing population. The minister during his period awarded the rehabilitation of the Kubwa expressway and Abuja Airport road. He has also opened up the satellite towns and gave them the leverage to certify plots to enable residents acquire lands without hiccups. He recently purchased vans and ambulances for accident rescue operation and traffic control.
These and many other achievements especially in the areas of health, water supply, transportation, security and education have qualified the minister for many more opportunity to serve humanity. This may be the reason why the people of Bauchi State are calling on their son, the minister to offer himself for a shot at Bauchi most coveted seat to enable him replicate the Abuja feats. The request is necessitated by the desperate desire of the people of the state to redeem the dreams of the founding fathers. Luckily, now that one of their sons has demonstrated that ability, they cannot but pray for him to come back home and navigate them to the Promised Land. Bauchi like Abuja, has the natural resources that have been left untapped despite the raging poverty that has been pervading the state.
Shehu wrote in from Ran Road, Bauchi. Email: [email protected].