FCT minister Nyesom Wike has pledged to ensure the completion and inauguration of the University of Science and Technology, Abaji, during his tenure as minister.

Mr Wike made the pledge on Tuesday in Abaji while addressing stakeholders, leaders, women and youth groups during the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders’ meeting under the Rainbow Coalition.

Responding directly to requests presented by the chairman of the Abaji area council, Abubakar Abdullahi, the minister assured residents that the project, which has faced long delays, would receive immediate administrative and financial backing.

“Let me tell you, you should thank yourself that it is in your tenure that the university will be open. I can’t go back having felt that this is a major problem touching your people,” he said.

He directed his chief of staff and relevant agencies to immediately assess the financial requirements needed to operationalise the university, promising that the institution would open before the current administration elapsed.

Highlighting his administration’s track record in the council, Mr Wike pointed out previous interventions, including road construction projects and the establishment of a local police station.

He restated that governance must focus on delivering tangible results and improving the living conditions of the populace.

Beyond local infrastructure, the minister rallied the coalition to ensure a complete victory for President Bola Tinubu across all electoral wards and units in Abaji. He also reassured residents that ongoing power and infrastructure issues in Abaji would be addressed decisively before the elections.

“Governance is about the happiness of the people. When hairdressers, barbers, and artisans are packing out of Abaji to Gwagwalada because of power and facilities, it hurts the local economy. That suffering ends today,” Mr Wike stated.

Mr Abdullahi appealed for the urgent completion of the long-overdue university, noting that the institution’s takeoff would naturally drive socio-economic expansion across the territory.

He also highlighted a lingering one-year power outage caused by bottlenecks along the 32-kilometre Kwali-Abaji feeder line, with only two kilometres under Abaji’s jurisdiction.
He pleaded with the FCT minister to use his executive influence to intervene with relevant federal power authorities.

“We know some of these issues are outside your direct jurisdiction, but with your capacity and voice, we know you can come to our rescue,” Mr Abdullahi said.

The chairman commended Wike for the unprecedented developmental strides in the area, which he said were already attracting developments. He specifically listed major projects delivered to the council, including the construction of a five-kilometre road network that has unlocked major housing developments at the council headquarters.

He equally pointed to the construction of a modern and fully equipped police station and staff accommodation in the area.

(NAN)