Senate applauds FCT Minister over project implementation

The Senate Committee on the FCT has once again commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for his commitment to the execution of priority projects in the Territory.

Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Smart Adeyemi made the commendation during inspection of some projects as part of the Committee’s oversight function over the weekend in Abuja.

Adeyemi explained that the oversight project tour was necessary to enable members of the Senate Committee become acquainted with projects the FCT Administration has proposed for implementation in its budget proposals.

The projects visited included the rehabilitation works at the National Assembly Complex, the Operations Control Center of the Abuja Mass Rail Transit System, the Gosa dump site and landfill, the Wupa sewage treatment plant, Solar lighting systems as well as the facilities and equipment of the Department of Development Control.

The Senator, in the course of the tour commended the FCT Minister for his honesty and commitment to duty especially for his initiative of the installation of solar powered street lights in parts of the city to illuminate the streets at night and enhance security.

According to him, apart from providing security for residents and property, street lights also add to the overall aesthetics of the city and enhance the duties of law enforcement officials.

On the revelation that vandals have removed some of the newly installed solar street panels, Senator Adeyemi bemoaned activities of vandals who destroy public facilities and appealed to Nigerians to protect public facilities put in place for their benefit.

He also added that efforts must be put in place to secure and maintain all facilities in the city including traffic lights, rail tracks, manholes and power installations, amongst others and urged the FCTA to include security and maintenance components into budget proposals for proposed projects.

At the Wupa Sewage Treatment Plant, Senator Adeyemi also commended the FCT Minister for his efforts at efficiently running the plant especially with his directives that indigenous technical personnel should be in charge of the critical facility which is the largest in the FCT and treats liquid wastes generated across the city.

In the visit to the Operations Control Center of the Abuja Mass Rail Transit System, he directed the officials at the facility to remove the overgrown grasses on the premises as they pose a fire hazard.

The Senate Committee also inspected ongoing rehabilitation of both the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, where Sen. Adeyemi tasked the contractor to expedite action on the completion of the project before transition to next government in 2023.

He noted that the National Assembly was critical to democracy, hence the imperativeness for the rehabilitation of both Chambers to be completed on schedule

Speaking in response to the comments by Senator Adeyemi, the Executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed disclosed that the FCT Administration was working on drawing up a “Waste to Wealth and a Waste to Energy” policy using the waste at the Gosa Dumpsite and landfill.

On the security of critical infrastructure Engr Ahmed said the FCT Security Committee had mandated the FCT Command of the NSCDC to ensure the security of such facilities across the FCT.

Director, FCTA Department of Facility Maintenance, Engr. Omoniyi Olaloye explained that the solar street lighting initiative became imperative due to inadequate power supply from the national grid.

Olaloye revealed that over 4000 units of solar powered street lights have been installed so far across the city, promising that more installations would be made.

Also present during the oversight project tour were some members of the FCT Senate Committee, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu; the Secretary for Transportation, Hon Abdullahi Candido, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council TPL Umar Shuaibu, Director, Department of Development Control TPL Mukhtar Galadima, Director Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Osilama Braimah and other senior officials of the FCTA.