Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has defended the security situation in the nation’s capital, stating that isolated incidents of crime do not mean the city is unsafe.
The minister made this known on Saturday while fielding questions from journalists after an inspection tour of ongoing projects in Kuje and Wuye district of the territory.
Wike’s comments came in response to growing concerns over recent reports of robberies and killings within the nation’s capital.
“I have always told people, take for an example yesterday, we were talking about Light Up Abuja. Light Up Abuja is not just to beautify the city. It’s also to improve security.
“The problem we have here is that when an incident happens, we forget three months ago that nothing happened. You will give us the credit, the security agencies, that we are doing quite a lot to make Abuja safe.
“And Abuja has been safe, but we do agree something may happen, that does not mean that the place is not safe,” he said.
The minister drew international parallels to buttress his statement. “Just look at what happened in America, Michigan. See how people went to church, and start shooting.
“Would you say that America is not safe? You see Charlie Kirk? He was killed. Would you say that America is not safe? These are bound to happen.
“And I don’t want us to take that to mean that the city is not safe. If there is one safe city in this country, I think Abuja is,” he said.
Speaking on infrastructure, the minister provided updates on key road projects, highlighting them as part of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.
He announced a significant milestone for the residents of Wuye District, revealing that the long-awaited road network, initially awarded in 2009, would be fully completed within the next 10 days.
“What they are doing now, and which they have promised in the next 10 days, they would have finished the road on Monday,” he said.
Regarding the critical Airport – Kuje road, which he has visited not less than seven to eight times, Wike praised the contractors for their work on the challenging rocky terrain.
He projected that the road would be ready for commissioning by the third year of the current administration.
“By the time this road is commissioned, which is not less than 8 lanes, dual carriage, it is not 15, 20 minutes. You are already in the city centre. And that is what development is all about,” he said.
Wike said that the road project would make living in Kuje more attractive and reduce the pressure for housing in the city centre.
On the issue of indiscriminate refuse dumping, particularly along the Airport Road and Nyanya-Karshi axis, the minister admitted it was a major problem.
He revealed that a new contract for refuse disposal would be formally awarded within two weeks, promising to sideline political contractors in favour of those with proven capacity and equipment.
