Nyesom Wike, the minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, August 22, advised directors in the FCT Administration and that of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to seek redeployment if they can’t perform in their various offices.
Wike advised them to work without fear or favour, adding that they should not see him as a difficult person.
He explained that all he wants is results from them.
The minister who met with the senior bureaucracy of the FCT Administration, FCDA, and members of the media after the official handover ceremony was down to earth and spoke emphatically on issues bothering the well-being of the territory.
He told Nigerians and Abuja residents that he is ready to fix the short issues quickly while the long-term plan will commence later.
He added that the quick fixes to change the face of the FCT are in the areas of traffic lights, sanitation, street trading, transportation, insecurity and other issues.
Wike said: “We are here to deliver the short-term deliverables for people to see that Abuja is coming back to what it was supposed to be.
“People are complaining of street lights not working, I am complaining too. We must fix it within the shortest possible time.”
He told the director in charge of street lights to do everything possible in the shortest possible time to restore lights in the streets of Abuja.
On sanitation, Wike said Abuja must return to a clean city.
The meeting took a dramatic twist when Wike told the director in charge of sanitation to work hard.
He said he was ready to make the director develop high blood pressure on account of the job as he would not give him time to rest.
He stated: “You must be ready to work hard, I must make sure I give you BP, so you must work hard. You can’t be sleeping when the environment is dirty.
“You can’t be a director for nothing, it’s an opportunity for us to tell Nigerians and Mr. President that we can’t disappoint. If you are in charge of sanitation, buy your drugs, carry them all the time because I will disturb you all the time to make sure Abuja is clean”.
On transportation, Wike noted: “Wahala don come.”
The minister lamented the indiscriminate and illegal bus stops all around Abuja.
“I have respect, small, for women, but this one I will not. If you don’t have the capacity, let’s replace you now. On this job, people will not like you, but in the end, if you do it well you will be appreciated. Things are tough, yes, but we cannot live in a lawless society because things are tough.”
He said street trading would be a thing of the past, just like insecurity would be tacked with all seriousness.
Wike reiterated his administration has resolved to deal with illegal structures, shanties and other illegalities.
He said when his administration is done with the short-term quick fixes, it would proceed to development projects and that Nigerians should expect projects upon projects.
Wike declared: “There will be no abandoned projects in my time, there will be the money down before we start any project, we will make a difference. We are committed to achieving what Mr President promised Nigerians.”
The minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud urged all to support them for all-round development in the FCT.
