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FCT Minister Wike Calls for Urgent National Intervention on Security and Health Challenges

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has urged urgent, coordinated national action to tackle Abuja’s pressing security and health issues, stressing that the city’s role as Nigeria’s seat of government requires a unified approach beyond the FCT Administration.

Speaking during the budget defence before the Senate on Wednesday, Wike emphasized Abuja’s unique status as home to the President, the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and leading corporate executives, noting that its security cannot be managed by the FCT alone.

“You cannot talk about autonomy in a city where the President resides, where the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and every corporate head of the country operates from. The security of this city is not something we can handle alone,” he said.

Wike revealed ongoing collaborations with federal security agencies including the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), advocating for a comprehensive security architecture tailored to Abuja’s national importance.

He lamented the absence of functional surveillance infrastructure, attributing delays to political interference and sabotage.

“You wonder why we still can’t have effective CCTV coverage in the capital. Sometimes, it is internal politics, sometimes it is outright sabotage. Even when projects are approved, you find people who deliberately frustrate implementation,” Wike explained.

Regarding calls for FCT autonomy, the minister noted the constitutional complexity of the matter.

“The FCT is not like any other state. You don’t have a House of Assembly here. Our laws are made by the National Assembly. This setup is by design and cannot be wished away,” he said.

Wike proposed convening a multi-sectoral summit involving security, health, and FCT stakeholders to craft coordinated solutions for the capital’s challenges.

On healthcare, he announced the completion of procurement for advanced MRI and CT scan machines for FCT hospitals, underscoring efforts to improve medical services.

“As of yesterday, we completed procurement processes for an MRI and CT scan machine. These will be delivered to our health facilities soon,” he added.

He reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to enhancing access to quality healthcare within the territory.

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