Maureen Okpe
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Youth Stakeholders Forum, a platform for socio- economic and political engagement has called on the newly Inaugurated FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike to prioritize the involvement of youth in his administration, while mapping out necessary development areas in the nations capital.
The forum made the call on Wednesday, during a Press conference on setting the agenda for the new FCT administration, with theme, ‘All Inclusive Administration Towards a 21st Century Capital City,’ in Abuja.
Co-convener, Abdullahi Suleiman Ango stated that it was expedient for the youth in FCT to be given priority attention in the scheme of things, especially as they represent the strength and future of the Territory and the country.
Ango commended the President, Bola Tinubu on the choice of the FCT Minister,
while stating thematic areas of development that needs urgent overhaul in the capital.
According to him,”the youth are a key component of economic drive and are the largest demographic in the FCT. We have no doubt that the President took this fact into consideration in appointing the Honorable Minister and Minister of State solely to ensure that the youth are duly carried along in policy conception and implementation to ensure broad based support for the success of President Tinubu’s vision.
“FCT have been relatively peaceful over the years but there is an aggressive rise of cases of insecurity in the rural communities and some part of the city with recorded ill activities of Kidnaping, Incessant killings, Wonton destruction of properties, and One chance as well as Car Theft.
“There is need to rejig both the primary and secondary education in Abuja to ensure quality education, the tertiary education is in dire need of better commitment and overhaul.
“FCT College of Education is in need of improved funding and massive infrastructural development to enable the institution absorb more young persons in Abuja and for it to compete with other institutions across the country.
“The FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji is also in need of funding and political will for take-off with a view to helping in producing young vibrant graduates in different fields of science that will drive the economy of Nigeria.
Speaking further they noted that, “FCT has deteriorated in terms of environmental sanitation management, and there is a need for a more holistic approach to improve environmental sanitation management beyond mere waste collection and disposal towards sustainable development of the FCT.
“There is no doubt that the FCT is in urgent need of urban renewal to bring it back to a position of pride in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. FCT need good hands to handle the management of the city as promised by the Honorable minister in his address on assumption of office.
“Sensitizations, Collaborations, Dialogue and Consultation should be key instrument in policy formulation of the administration.
The FCT Youth Stakeholders Forum will continue to engage the relevant stakeholders in ensuring that there is improvement on some key areas of development.
“The new administration must give more than usual attention to this area so that the people can feel the impact of the government more and for new economic frontiers to open up within the FCT. More importantly the indigenous people should be carried along in all developmental policies as its affect their communities.
Also, Zakari Gambo Babale another Co-convene, tasked the administration to consult widely especially with indigenes to know the places of needs and yearnings of the people of the FCT.
Babale said, “If we are consulted on what to do and how to do it, we know the yearnings and pains of our people , if consulted we will better guide the administration on what they need to do and how they need to do it to have a better governance in the FCT. We will be partner in progress, because we want political and economic relevance for our people.
“We have always work in collaboration with the past administration and we will continue to do so even with the present.”
The forum call on all young persons in Abuja to join hands with the current administration to build a city that will work for all.