Malam Muhammad Bello, FCT Minister
As the city of Abuja marks 40 years of creation as Nigeria’s federal capital, some residents of the territory have complained about the pace of infrastructure development in satellite areas.
Mr Salihu Abubakar, a resident of Byazhin, a suburb of Kubwa in the FCT, bemoaned the high cost of accommodation in the capital city.
He said successive administrations had not made effort to regulate accommodation cost and provision of infrastructure in the suburbs where a large number of the population lived.
“Most of us, average residents, can only afford to reside in the satellite towns of Abuja and many of these towns lack standard infrastructure, such as roads, electricity and water supply.
“It is as if those of us living in the suburbs are not in Abuja and that is unfair,” he said.
Mr Ikenna Okey, a resident of Lugbe, Abuja, also said residents in the suburbs had not been treated fairly; adding that the lack of infrastructure had made life difficult.
“The difference between the city centre and the satellite towns in terms of infrastructure development is too glaring and this should not be so.
“I advise government to take quick steps to address this, after all, we are all Nigerians and are entitled to reside in the FCT,’’ he said.
Mr Harrison Igbe, a resident of Kubwa, however, commended the FCT Water Board for supplying potable water.
“I cannot talk of another location but here in Kubwa, the water supply is almost uninterrupted, although there are issues with electricity and cost of accommodation.
“I urge government to take practical steps to address these issues so that average Nigerians can reside in the Federal Capital Territory with minimal stress,’’ he said.
Mrs Habiba Kure, a resident of Nyanya, complained about insecurity in parts of the FCT.
“I assume that the city-centre is relatively secure but the satellite towns are vulnerable to insecurity.
“Armed robbery has become a regular occurrence in these places and as the FCT continues to grow, I urge government to take steps to improve on security,’’ he advised.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Abuja became the federal capital on Feb. 3, 1976, when the late Head of State, Gen. Murtala Muhammed, made the proclamation in a national broadcast.
The seat of government was, however, moved from Lagos to Abuja on Dec. 12, 1991 by the then Head of State, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida.
Abuja at 40: Residents of satellite towns complain of poor infrastructure
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