Senator Bala Mohammed: Successfully opening fresh boundaries in the FCT

By MOHAMMED AWWALU IBRO
posted: Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Ostensibly, Senator Bala Mohammed has recorded a plethora of glaring achievements since taking over as the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory; sublimely done to the commendation of most of the residents of the FCT and visitors alike; and also to the mortification of his opponents that believed he could record such feats.
It is on the record that Senator Bala Mohammed took over the reigns of office in early April last year and instantaneously commenced the implementation of his blue print for the practical agenda invented for the broad development of the FCT. And essentially this has worked with the actualization of a framework for most of the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Programmes. These programmes are inclusive of but not restricted to development of tourism; which Senator Bala has used to attract investors in diverse areas.
Investors are pouring in with the singular intention of investing in the expansion of Abuja Botanical Garden and park where almost $700 million will be injected into the economy by a consortium. An American company is also coming in to invest in the building of Abuja Boulevard, otherwise known as Abuja Town Centre and the total sum of the investment is worth $2.6 billion which is expected to come into effect this year. Of course, the Churchgate Group is also building what is expected to be the tallest building in Nigeria, which is a World Trade Centre in Abuja here. The construction is starting this year, all things being equal.
In view of Senator Bala’s apparition for infrastructural development, the FCT Administration is not resting on its oars. The FCT Minister has diligently continued with all the programmes that were inherited, like the various road contracts, the Airport Road expansion from 2 lanes to 10 lanes, expansion of Zuba/Kubwa/Tipper Garage road to link the city which is also 10 lanes by road. Of course the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has graciously approved the award of contract for road diversions that will take off the pressure on the ever busy Keffi/Nyanya/Abuja road. The diversion will see another axis being opened all the way from Keffi area passing through Karshi and then cutting close to Jikwoyi and moving directly to Kuje. It’s going to be a diversion that will see vehicles coming from that axis having a bypass over Abuja. The FCT Administration has also awarded another contract for another bypass starting from Gwarimpa, then cutting Mpape and other areas coming out from behind the Mogadishu Barracks, so that people travelling to Kubwa axis and also from Keffi, Lafia and the whole of Northeast can afford to bypass the city and travel all the way to Kaduna and other places, including Lagos.
Senator Bala Mohammed has restated his administration’s commitment in evolving the transportation system from a mono model transportation array to a multi model approach. Even though Abuja is totally a land territory without seaports, the land transportation system which we operate in Abuja is being expanded to encompass motor road, railway, monorail and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), otherwise known as Park and Ride Mass Transit. All these are coming into effect, just as the various consultants and investors that are coming in are going to start work this year. All these things are going on through the public/private partnership initiative (PPPI) arrangement of the government.
In order to set up a proper framework for all these activities, the FCT Administration has entered into series of agreement with Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission (ICRC), which is a special agency of the Federal Government that was set up to boost investment in infrastructure by the private sector through the principle of public/private partnership Initiative (PPPI) and in this area; Abuja is the pioneer because the current administration signed a contract last year with Deanshanger Nigeria Limited for the provision of primary and secondary infrastructure at Katampe District at a cost of N65 billion. That project is the first of its kind in Nigeria and it is a trail blazer that is already being commended in various quarters. It is expected that such partnership will come into effect this year to cover other districts, due to the fact that Bala Mohammed and his Administration are doing everything humanly possible in the bid of ensuring that they keep to their own part of the agreement.
Steps have been taken to enhance security in Abuja, improve water supply, electricity supply, street lighting, environmental sanitation and other aspects. The FCT Minister is optimistic that all these areas will continue to improve.
But in the main time, Senator Bala Mohammed, on behalf of the FCT administration will use this medium to send greetings to all residents of Abuja over the unfortunate bomb blast, which affected Abuja on two occasions. One was during the 1st October Anniversary of Nigeria’s 50th Independence celebration and the other one was the New Year Eve bombing. These incidents are unfortunate and security men have been working on their toes to apprehend the perpetrators.  While appreciable progress has been made in arresting the masterminds of the October 1 bomb blast, the security agents are also working round the clock to fish out the perpetrators of the December 31st, 2010 bombing.
The administration is determined to forestall a reoccurrence of this kind of ugly occurrence. Bala Mohammed is assuring all residents that Abuja still remains the safest place for business and for living; and that law abiding citizens should be assured of security at all times.
All of the massive achievements that have been recorded in this brief period of Senator Bala’s leadership are as a result of his dexterity, commitment, dedication and pragmatism; which has ensured his strict adherence to the vision of President Goodluck Jonathan who wants a virile, stronger, more productive and developed Nigeria in apparition for the vision 20:20:20 of which Senator Bala Mohammed, the FCT Minister is proving to be pivotal towards its actualization.
Ibro, is at 17, Adisa Estate, Abuja.