By Abubakar Yakubu, Abuja

Wike, who has spent just 18 months on the seat, is being praised for the numerous infrastructural and transformation projects the FCT Administration has embarked upon to make life easy for residents of the territory.

Based on the promises made by Wike and the progress of the construction works seen on ground, majority of FCT residents spoken to have given the incumbent minister the nickname ‘Talk and Do.’

The name is only given to a politician who matches words with action and it was coined out of the New Masquerade T.V drama, where politicians who visit communities to campaign and make promises that are later fulfilled earn such name.

Dr Seyi Kolawole, a medical doctor accused some sections of the media for underreporting the achievements of Wike during the past 18 months. “What I read in the newspapers or listen to in the broadcast media is that the minister is commissioning roads. The man is not only commissioning roads but is also transforming the health and education sectors in the FCT.

“For example, the public health centres in the nation’s capital was almost collapsing with doctors, nurses and other medical specialists fleeing the country in droves for greener pasture aboard when the minister was appointed. He stopped the problem by first approving the payment of arrears of the upward review of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for the period of five months.

“He also approved payment for the new Accoutrement Allowances for the same period as well as the skipping arrears’ shortfalls for those employed in 2019,” he disclosed.

Kolawole further praised the minister for the general renovation of call rooms in some FCT General Hospitals and the commissioning of the Medical Out-Patient Department and Library unit at the Wuse General Hospital.

“Wike is a typical example of a politician whose words are his bond and that is why majority of us here call him ‘Talk and Do.’

A senior staff of the FCT Hospitals Management Board who pleaded anonymity, described other achievements in the FCT public health sector last year as the establishment of two additional oxygen plants at Abaji and Bwari, in addition to the commissioned one at Maitama District Hospital; enrolment of all pregnant women who have registered for antenatal in any FCTA Health facility for free; introduction of a revenue collection system in all FCTA Hospitals to ease stress on patients during payments; introduction of solar powering systems in hospitals to address the cost of running generators; the transformation of Utako General Hospital, Gwarimpa  General Hospital and Gwagwalada Cottage Hospital; and the disbursement of nutritional support and the creation of the Social and Nutritional Support Unit in the Health Secretariat’s Public Health Department to ensure the social needs of HIV/AIDS patients is ensured.

The FCTA has also directed that all bonafide members of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS should be enrolled freely into the FCT Health Insurance Scheme for a year.

“Residents of the FCT now have confidence in the FCTA’s hospitals and this accounted for the 797,224 patients that attended the 14 general hospitals in the capital city between January to December 2024,” the official disclosed..

This reporter, from documents sighted, noted that between January and October last year, 12,799 deliveries were performed, while 11,867 surgical operations were also performed in FCTA’s hospitals within the same period.

Maternal and child mortality showed a downwards trend during the period with unhindered service delivery as a result of no strike action.

The FCTA also commissioned a 100kwa solar system for alternative renewable energy supply to three health facilities; upgraded equipment especially in the neonatal units in many FCTA health facilities.

Members of the Association of Resident Doctors, FCT Chapter in a letter of appreciation jointly signed by the President, Dr. Rahman Olayinka and Secretary-General, Dr. Francis C. Okpalaobi, commended the effort of the FCT Administration under the leadership of Wike in approving the payment of arrears of upward review of CONMESS for five months as well as the payment of the new accoutrement allowance for the same period.

In the area of security, Wike was also praised for tackling the security problems he met on ground.

An Abuja resident, Jacob Abah, said Wike’s appointment as FCT minister in 2023 was welcomed with series of bandits attacks, where a barman Akpagher Joseph Terzungwe; Talatu Salihu, a 500-level Library and Information Science student of Bayero University Kano as well as 13-year-old secondary school student, Folorunsho Ariyo, all residents of an estate at Dutse in Abuja were killed on January 7, 2024 and their remains dumped by their abductors at Idah Junction, along the Bwari-Jere road on Kaduna road.  Also dumped along with their bodies was the corpse of Nabeeha Al-Kadriyat, a 400-level Biological Sciences student of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. 

“Wike immediately sprang into action by holding town hall meetings with relevant stakeholders in the affected communities to find solutions to the problems; meeting with President Bola Tinubu to intimate him of the problems and meeting with the service chiefs to work out modalities to stop the menace,” he said.

According to him within a few days, brand new motorcycles, Hilux vans and armed troops were drafted to the troubled areas and the problem was curbed.

A retired police superintendent, Ibrahim Onipe, commended the minister for providing over 100 vehicles to various security agencies in the nation’s capital with the implementation of bolder and innovative strategies to put an end to insecurity so that residents can be safe.

Chris Anayo, another resident, said the administration has rehabilitated several schools, so that children can learn in conducive environments

Ameerah Salamatu Muhammad (Mrs), a resident, described Wike as a different kind of politician.  “I am used to politicians who make empty promises but Wike is different as whatever he says he will do is done to perfection,” she said.

She pointed out the road construction project from Karishi to Apo as the best thing any minister can do for people staying along the Karu and Orozo axis. “I learnt the contractor was given six months to complete the project and I am sure once it is completed, house rents will crash,” she added.

The minister has so far commissioned the newly constructed five-kilometre Naharati- River Ukya to Unguwan Hausawa Road with three Span River Bridge in Abaji Area Council; 11km Yangoji-Sukuku-Ebo Road, in Kwali Area Council, and the rehabilitated 9km Paikon Kore-Ibwa Road within Gwagwalada Area Council; Asphalt Carriageway from Garage Junction to Local Education Authority Secretariat in Kuje Area Council; the Gaba-Tokulo Road in Bwari Area Council, which was constructed with a two Span River Bridge; the Access Road to Saburi I and II communities in the Abuja Municipal Area Council from ONEX to Old Keffi Road near Dei-Dei International Market

Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, disclosed that new road projects like the construction of Kabusa-Takushara Access Road, construction of Kabusa-Ketti Access Road, access road to the new EFCC Academy site in Giri District and 15km Road from A2 Junction Abuja-Lokoja Road to Pia in Kwali Area Council are ongoing with the completion date expected to be met.

Other ongoing projects according to him, include the 25km Kwaita/Yebu road in Kwali Area Council, rehabilitation of the Old Ushafa- LUD Road and Dutse-Lower Usuma Dam Dual Carriage in Bwari Area Council, construction of 11km Aguma Palace – Radio Nigeria – New Market Road in Gwagwalada Area Council and Dakibiyu District Dual Carriage Road.

“Also ongoing are; 11km Kuje Road, Full Scope Development of 4km Arterial Road N5 (Obafemi Awolowo Road) from Life Camp to Ring Road III, arterial road N16 (Shehu Shagari Way) from Ring Road II to Ring Road III with two interchanges and 11.3km Access Road to the Judges Quarters in Katampe from Arterial Road N11 (Ahmadu Bello Way in Mabushi).”

Wike during the commissioning of the Naharati-River Ukya to Unguwan Hausawa road on Tuesday declared that every promise the FCTA has made under this administration will be fulfilled. ”Don’t take us as the usual politician, as ours is to make a promise and fulfil the promise to the people,” he stated.

Daniel Yakubu, a resident who also calls Wike ‘Talk and Do’, advised the minister to adopt the method of using unmarked vehicles to monitor activities in the nation’s capital.

“Although the minister warned all the directors in the FCTA to be proactive, he should visit Wuse Zone 6 to see how commercial vehicles have taken over the walkways,” he said.

Yakubu also advised the minister to set up a monitoring committee to check the standards of projects being embarked upon by the area councils of the FCT.