Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has called on the nation’s capital residents to manage their expectations, noting that it was unrealistic to expect a complete transformation of all sectors within two years.
The minister made the assertion during his monthly media briefing in Abuja, where he addressed concerns about infrastructure, education, healthcare and transportation.
Wike criticised the obsession with quantity over quality in educational infrastructure:
“Every inner school that wants to provide access to education, we don’t want to talk about the quality of education. Everybody wants the university to be in his community. Nobody has asked, what’s the quality of these two universities you are providing?” he said.
The minister advocated for fewer but better-equipped institutions, “I would prefer that I have three universities, for example, and then you can talk about the quality of those universities or schools.”
While addressing hospital rehabilitation, Wike dismissed expectations of overnight transformation.
Wike while admitting Abuja’s transport system remains chaotic, assured ongoing reforms.
“We are trying to see what we can do to put it in order, which we have started. This is just two years in office. It is not possible for you to turn around all the sectors. It is not possible.
“A government must be forward and targeted. From this period to this period, this is what we’re going to do in this area. That’s how government is supposed to work,” he said.
When questioned about the low visibility of mandate secretaries, Wike said, “You will not advise us how, in terms of public appearance, in terms of interviews.
“Do I look like somebody who will sit in the office? I mean, that would be very unfair for you to say. I sit and I approve funds for you to utilise.
And then you are asking me if I supervise?”
Wike revealed plans to showcase completed school projects, though with less fanfare than road inaugurations:
“We are making progress in upgrading educational infrastructure, but we don’t do elaborate ceremonies for schools like we do for roads,” he said.
