Barely 48 years after the creation of Abuja, Nigeria’s new Federal Capital Territory, in 1976, the FCT administration has commenced moves to review and upgrade the Abuja Master Plan.
The FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, made this known in Abuja when he hosted the ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Matsunaga Kazuyoshi.
Kazuyoshi had led a delegation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to the FCT minister to discuss plans for the commencement of work on the Upgrading of the Integrated Urban Development Master Plan of Abuja, as well as seek the minister’s support on key JICA projects, including its nutrition improvement programme.
While commenting on the urban development plans, the minister pledged continued support of the FCTA, insisting that the departments of Satellite Towns Development and Land Administration, among other relevant bodies, for a successful master plan review.
Wike, also pledging the commitment of the FCT administration to improve budgetary provisions in the 2025 estimates for the nutrition programme, thanked the ambassador and assured that they are keenly committed to seeing the projects come to fruition.
“We are grateful; we will continue to see good things from JICA. I hope you have not backed out on training our teachers in Mathematics and other science subjects.
“The FCTA will continue to support you to make sure we bring back the hope people have lost, which is the vision of Mr. President,” he said.
Earlier, Kazuyoshi disclosed that JICA had introduced baby and cost-friendly toilets in Kwali, Abuja, adding that the programme had checked open defecation and made Kwali area council declared open defecation free.
He solicited more support from the FCT Administration to manufacture more toilets to reduce FCT and Nigeria’s high ranking on the world open defecation index.
The Japanese envoy revealed that his agency has also carried out nine pilot projects on nutrition improvement in local communities of Gwagwalada and Abuja municipal area councils.
According to him, besides providing relevant training, JICA has also carried out a demonstration farm on growing nutritious food crops, saying there has already been a huge improvement in nutrition cases monitored in those areas.
Kazuyoshi revealed that, with necessary preparations and approvals, upgrading and reviewing the Abuja Master Plan should commence by June, next year.
Reviewing the entire FCT would encompass sector centres, transportation development, and linking the city and satellite towns.
Executive secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad, whose agency is in charge of the master plan, explained that the planned project would look into issues around water drainages, urban mobility, traffic congestion, and the smart city initiative
