The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, is actively mobilizing Abuja youths and other stakeholders against participating in the planned nationwide protests set for August 1 to 10, aimed at addressing hunger and hardship in Nigeria.
During a ministerial engagement with FCT youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency in Kwali Area Council on Sunday, Wike emphasized the importance of understanding the negative impacts of protests and why they should not join. He announced that similar engagements would be held in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils in the coming days.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Wike held a similar interaction with stakeholders in Abuja Municipal Area Council on Saturday. The minister expressed gratitude to traditional rulers and area council chairmen for mobilizing FCT youths to participate in these enlightening interactions.
“There is no need for the protest. The current administration is barely one year in office and not enough to assess its performance. You can’t judge leadership within one year. I have not been in office for up to a year, but I have done so much that should be appreciated and convince people that FCT is working,” Wike stated.
Highlighting achievements in education, health, and security, Wike urged residents to commend and encourage security agencies for their efforts. He argued that the FCT has seen significant improvements in security and that peace is paramount.
Regarding the proposed Federal Capital Territory University of Science and Technology in Abaji, Wike assured that efforts were underway to establish a top-tier institution. “I don’t want to set up a glorified university. I want to put up a university that we will all be proud to have, and gladly tell the world that this is the university I attended,” he said.
Addressing land matters, Wike lamented the overwhelming focus on land requests rather than development. “The problem of Abuja is land. Once you’re made a minister, it is as if you are coming to share land. Nobody talks about development. Everybody is land, land, land, land, land. I feel so bad. Each time I am in my office, when 20 people come to see me, 18 will talk about land,” he expressed.
Wike urged the youths to cooperate with the current government and avoid participating in the planned protests, organized by individuals with unclear agendas. “We want peace in FCT and so, we cannot fold our hands and allow it to be destroyed in the guise of protest,” he concluded.