A northern-based socio-cultural group, Gamji Heritage, has called on the federal government to accelerate infrastructural development across the country to reduce the sufferings of motorists and commuters.

President-General of the group, Ahmed Abdullahi, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a news conference to mark the 60 years and seven days of the assassination of the late Sardauna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, and Prime Minister, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

Gamji Heritage is a pressure group dedicated to preserving the legacies of the late Sardauna and Balewa.

Mr Abdullahi particularly called for speedy completion of the ongoing reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna road and the railway projects along the corridor.

He said that though the federal government was doing well in the provision of infrastructure, there was still room for improvement to ensure that the travelling public move to their locations on better roads and railways across the country.

Mr Abdullahi also enjoined the federal government to intensify its fight against insurgency, banditry and terrorism, noting that the group was convinced and confident that the present security architecture was working.

He said, “We support the government and advise all Nigerians to put hands together to support the government in this endeavour.

“We must not relent until we achieve a lasting peace, and government should intensify efforts toward the protection of both public and private property.”

He further appealed to the government to focus more on economic recovery, strengthening of the value of the naira and ensuring the smooth functioning of people-oriented programmes, such as the students’ loan and agricultural revival programmes, among others.

Mr Abdullahi, however, called on President Bola Tinubu to look closely at the situation in the Federal Capital Territory administration with a view to appraising the complaints surrounding some of the recent activities of the present FCT administration.

“We all welcomed the appointment of the present Minister of the FCT, Abuja, wherein we saw it as a way to strengthen national unity and cohesion.

“Alas, ongoing actions in the FCT have left much to be desired, with a record number of allegations ranging from abuse of office to outright looting of people’s properties, which is now affecting the validity of Abuja C-of-Os,’’ he stated.

Responding to questions, Mr Abdullahi explained that the activities of the FCT administration, which had affected several property owners in Abuja, had made banks view C-of-Os (certificates of occupancy) from Abuja with suspicion.

He also noted with concern that people’s means of livelihood were being destroyed in the FCT,  amid the critical economic situation most Nigerians were facing.

Mr Abdullahi, therefore, urged Mr Tinubu to look into the situation, considering its obvious political implications ahead of the 2027 general elections.

(NAN)