Adamu Wanki, permanent secretary, treasury and budget, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has reiterated his commitment to effective treasury management to provide critical infrastructure for residents.

Mr Wanki spoke on the sidelines of the Chattered Institute of Treasury Management (CITM) mandatory professional training/induction in Abuja on Saturday.

He said that managing the treasury and funding critical infrastructure in the FCT remained a complex challenge, especially within a volatile economic environment.

“With a focus on diversifying revenue streams, strategic financial planning, and leveraging public-private partnerships, the FCT can continue to develop and maintain essential infrastructure,” he said.

He said such infrastructure must support its growing population and evolving urban landscape.

Mr Wanki said that despite challenges, the FCT offered an important example of how governance in Nigeria could navigate fiscal constraints while striving to build sustainable and resilient capital.

According to him, effective treasury management is essential in ensuring that funds are efficiently allocated and spent in an unstable economy.

“The treasury must ensure that there is enough liquidity to meet the daily operational needs of the government while planning for long-term capital expenditures,” he said.

According to him, this requires forecasting revenue, monitoring expenditures, and controlling debt.

He said the FCT, like other sub-nationals, faced pressure to borrow to fund large infrastructure projects.

The permanent secretary, however, said managing debt effectively was key, particularly given the volatility of global financial markets and the potential impact of currency devaluation.

According to him, in a volatile economy, treasury management must account for the possibility of sudden revenue shortfalls or unexpected costs.

“The FCT needs contingency funds to address emergencies such as health crises, natural disasters, kidnapping, banditry, or political instability,” he said.

The permanent secretary said politics and governance played a significant role in shaping the funding and management of critical infrastructure projects in the FCT.

He said infrastructure funding was often influenced by the political interests of the government in power.

“These priorities can shift with changes in leadership or political ideology, potentially affecting the completion of long-term projects,” he said. 

(NAN)