The Federal Capital Territory Administration is worried that many property owners in Abuja have not been forthcoming in the payment of taxes amounting to N29 billion on those buildings now sprawling across the city. For this reason, the Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has pleaded with the property owners to pay up their taxes or face the wrath of the authorities. Bello, who spoke to journalists in Abuja, pointed out that the money being tied down by the property owners would have significantly assisted the administration in providing critical infrastructure if it had been paid by the defaulting entities and individuals. The Federal Capital Territory Minister who spoke through the FCT Director of Information and Communication, Malam Muhammad Hazat Sule, said the administration had gone far with the provision of multi-million projects including the “six major road projects with several interchanges, culverts, and bridges, crisscrossing the Federal Capital City.
Sule said, “Landmark projects in satellite towns are being rapidly developed to the credit of the present FCT Administration. These major roads in the City Centre include construction of the Southern Parkway (S8/9), stretching from the National Ecumenical Centre/CBN to Ring Road 1(Nnamdi Azikiwe Expressway). The Road is a 10-lane freeway traversing the southern development corridor of the city centre (Abuja Central Business District). The Parkway encloses the cultural spine of the city with edifices such as NTA, FCDA Complex, National Ecumenical Centre, National Mosque, National Museum & Millennium Towers, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), National Library, Yar’Adua Centre to mention but a few. The FCT Administration spokesman emphasised that the on-going projects are clear pointers to the good intentions of the government and described the Parkway as the longest street in Abuja crisscrossing major districts in the FCT. “This Administration is also working on the construction of the 15km left-hand service carriageway of outer southern parkway (OSEX) stage 11 from the Ring Road 1 to Wasa Junction,” he added.
Another project by the Bello Administration according Sule is the provision of engineering infrastructure to Wuye, Jahi and Guzape 11 districts as well as undertaking the dualisation of the Lower Usuma Dam-Gurara Water Transfer project in Kaduna State. “This Administration’s desire to complete work on the Greater Abuja Water Supply Project and reticulate water clean and safe drinking water to FCT residents is not in doubt. This ambitious project is expected to provide potable water supply to 50 districts of the FCT, covering about 1.5 million residents, who are currently depending on other sources of water that may not be hygienic and safe for use. On insecurity, Sule disclosed that stand-alone solar-powered streetlight has been deployed across the city to light up Abuja especially at night, adding, “The FCT Administration has improved security surveillance with the procurement of modern security gadgets and operational equipment for security agencies in the FCT.
“In the area of Healthcare delivery, efforts are being made to resuscitate the abandoned 240-bed Utako District Hospital; in addition, the Administration has introduced Automated Registration of Private healthcare facilities to check incidences of quackery. On education, the Director said the Abuja University in Abaji would soon come on board while the Administration had taken full measures to ensure that all schools in the FCT are provided with adequate security. He said that the Bello Administration has also built modern library at the College of Education, Zuba in addition to building many classroom blocks for primary and secondary schools.
