Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed say for development to come to the city, collective sacrifices, including demolition of illegal structures must be made by the administration and the residents.
Mohammed stated this yesterday while receiving the award of “Outstanding Leadership in Nation Building & Development” from the Character World Magazine in his office.
Chief of Staff to the minister, Alhaji Mohammed Yau Gital, who received the award on his behalf said, “this demolition is to create a conducive environment for all especially the influx that places the moral burden for a better environment in the territory. We feel the pain as those affected but for the good of all, we need to make these sacrifices.”
Speaking further, he stated that issues such as demolition became necessary as the administration was faced with the challenge of population growth which had put a strain on existing infrastructure and infrastructural provision, adding that the administration’s decision to expand the settlements by ensuring good sanitary condition of the FCT as well as sustaining development captured by the Abuja master plan in the various districts brought about the need for the demolition of some of the illegal structures.
Speaking while presenting the award, Publisher of the magazine, Mr. Victor Osadolor, said the award is in recognition of the minister’s aggressive pursuance of the transformation agenda of the president through continuity of projects that make life easier for the residents.
Osadolor said unlike in the past where the minister in the saddle would personalise his office and jettison continuation of projects that would better the lives of the residents, Mohammed had taken a right path of governance and ensured continuity, citing the recent re-activation of the rail project which he noted would drastically reduce the challenge of transportation to residents of the satellite towns who are faced with daily challenge of getting to the office due to traffic congestion and other cases of high cost being decided at the whims of the drivers, as an example.