Wike Seeks Partnership With EU On Investment, Culture, Development

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked European Union (EU) countries to collaborate with the FCT Administration on investment, cultural exchange, and shared development goals to drive prosperity in Abuja and Nigeria.

During a meeting with EU Heads of Mission at the EU House in Abuja yesterday, Wike expressed his commitment to sustained engagement with EU member states to accelerate the FCT’s growth.

The session was chaired by Ambassador Gautier Mignot, head of the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, and attended by envoys from 16 countries, including Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Sweden and Poland.

Mignot, who set the tone for the meeting while introducing the minister, described the EU as Nigeria’s first trade and investment partner.

Addressing the EU Heads of Mission, the minister spoke about the FCTA priorities as a government, investment opportunities in the FCT and the political landscape of Nigeria.

He also noted FCT’s position as a business-friendly capital city, listing investment opportunities in real estate and housing, entertainment and tourism, agriculture, solid minerals, and waste management, among others.

“I thank the European Union Delegation to Nigeria for the invitation and continued partnership with the Nigerian government in advancing shared values of development, stability and prosperity.

“Today, drawing from the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I will briefly highlight the priority areas of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), the investment opportunities therein, and offer an overview of Nigeria’s evolving political landscape,” Wike said.

He noted that the government has prioritised urban/rural development and infrastructure, security, education, health, social welfare, land administration reforms/revenue generation and rule of law.

“We have embarked on a deliberate and sustained investment in infrastructure as a catalyst for economic growth and social inclusion by expanding road networks, modernising public transport and improving water supply.

“As a priority too, the administration has strengthened security infrastructure through the building of 12 new fully equipped/furnished Divisional Police Headquarters and Officers’ Quarters (two each in the six Area Councils).”

Wike, who fielded questions from the ambassadors, described the amended Electoral Law as part of governance reforms to further guarantee the integrity and credibility of electoral processes, while also saying growing reliance on legal, institutional and constitutional mechanisms to resolve political disputes by aggrieved parties rather than resorting to self-help and violence was a reflection of greater trust in judicial processes and maturing democratic culture.

“In the newly amended Electoral Act, there is a provision for the electronic transmission of results. But because of our peculiarities, it was included that where electronic transmission fails, manual transmission can be used. Meanwhile, there is no such provision in the 2022 amended Electoral Act,” he said.

Wike also said that in a country like Nigeria, where democracy is evolving, opposition should not be seen as an avenue to cause or promote crises, but rather as an alternative to guide the government.