FCT minister Nyesom Wike says Abuja will not be available for protesters on August 1.

Mr Wike gave the warning while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the FCT security council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

He said that August 1 had been set aside for the chairpersons of the six area councils of Abuja to give out certificates of recognition to their traditional rulers.

“That is the day FCT has set aside for the entire area councils to jubilate, to give out certificates of recognition for their traditional rulers. We will not allow that day that FCT has set aside to honour their traditional rulers for their people to rejoice, and then somebody will come and disrupt that day. We will not allow it.

“We want people to come out and celebrate, as part of the achievement of the current administration. That day is not available for those who want to protest and FCT is not available for the protesters,” the FCT minister said.

Mr Wike said the security council was aware of the threat of the protest and what some people may call the “end bad governance.”

Noting the right of people to protest or demonstrate, the minister said that such rights must be done within the ambit of the law.

“This period, we think that all Nigerians should work collectively to salvage our country. I am aware that there are challenges, but President Bola Tinubu and his team are working right now to ensure that these challenges facing our country are addressed.

“We know that it is a very difficult period for citizens; Tinubu has come out clearly to say that there are challenges; there are problems, but these challenges and problems will be tackled,” Mr Wike said.

The minister, who expressed confidence in Mr Tinubu’s capacity to address the challenge, urged all Nigerians to be patient.

“For instance, in FCT, we have seen the changes. We have seen that the government is working. Tinubu is giving FCT so much support that all of us can attest to the fact that there are a lot of changes going on in FCT.

“Therefore, we will not allow anybody to set us back. We are looking forward to making sure that we take FCT to where it is supposed to be as one of the major cities, not only in Africa but in the world.

“So, we will not allow anybody to disrupt peace and set us back. For those who want to protest on August 1, or thereabout, FCT is not available for such protest,” Mr Wike said. 

(NAN)