July 08, (THEWILL) – The Minister, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has charged the media to support efforts by the FCT Administration, to protect public facilities in the territory.
Bello gave the charge when he received the management team of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), led by the Managing Director, Buki Ponle, on a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
Malam Bello expressed the hope that the agency would use its far reach to propagate the Administration’s policies and programmes, especially in the fight against the vandalisation of facilities like manhole covers, streetlights fittings, rail tracks, as well as the preservation of parks and gardens in the territory.
The Minister stressed the importance of the manholes in the protection of critical national telecommunication infrastructure amongst others and assured his guests that the FCTA was willing to partner with the media to ensure that the public are properly sensitised on the need to own and protect the city.
He said, apart from the remodeling of the manhole covers using concrete and composite materials, the FCTA has strengthened enforcement as part of measures to curtail theft of the manhole covers, while disclosing that rehabilitation work was ongoing on traffic lights to equip them with monitoring cameras to improve seamless traffic flow and make motoring pleasurable in the FCT.
The Minister solicited the support of the media in naming and shaming those who violate traffic laws and those caught vandalising facilities, adding that the Administration would continue to arrest, prosecute and conduct psychiatric tests on the attested.
While commending NAN for its concern for the city and passion for its greenery, the Minister stated the determination of the FCTA to retain 40 percent of green area, as designated in the Abuja Masterplan, in line with the dream of Abuja’s founding fathers.
Earlier, Managing Director, NAN, Buki Ponle, had commended the Minister for the delivery of world class infrastructure and services in the FCT and the greening of the City.
Ponle, who expressed concern over the vandalisation of manholes and other public facilities in the FCT, pledged to support the FCTA in informing residents on the need to protect rather than vandalise them.
He also called on the States of the Federation to emulate the good work in the FCT.
