BY EMMA PETER, ABUJA
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has commissioned the newly completed “Barr. Nyesom Wike Civic Centre”, formerly known as Gwagwalada Town Hall, following its renovation and renaming in honour of the minister.
Wike commissioned the facility on Monday during an interactive meeting with political stakeholders, traditional rulers, community leaders, youths and residents of Gwagwalada Area Council, where he commended leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for putting aside their political differences in the interest of the people.
The minister described the emerging political cooperation, popularly known as the Rainbow Coalition, as an important step towards promoting peace, understanding and collective development in the FCT.
He said the decision by political leaders from the two major parties to come together and discuss issues affecting their communities represented a positive departure from the political hostility that had characterised previous engagements in the territory.
“Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space, they have no capacity to even hold their families, and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So they can open their mouths and say there is no Rainbow Coalition,” Wike said.
The minister assured the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, of continued partnership and support, particularly on projects and requests that would directly benefit residents.
He recalled that during his first interaction with the chairman, several requests were presented, including road infrastructure linking communities to Zuba, adding that the FCT Administration remained committed to addressing genuine development needs.
Wike also responded to the appeal by youths for recreational facilities where they could engage in sporting activities, promising that the abandoned sports project would be revived and completed.
He said providing sporting facilities at the grassroots would create opportunities for young talents to develop, noting that the country could discover future international football stars from communities such as Gwagwalada.
The minister further directed the Director of Agriculture, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to work with the Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman towards relocating the abattoir to another suitable location.
He emphasised the urgency of the assignment, warning that the relevant official must ensure the directive was implemented.
On the request by students for greater attention to technical education, Wike directed his Chief of Staff to arrange an interactive meeting with FCT students to discuss their concerns and identify areas requiring government intervention.
He also commended the Gwagwalada Area Council administration for its performance, saying the projects and activities presented by the chairman demonstrated efforts towards addressing the needs of residents.
The minister particularly praised the chairman for completing the Civic Centre, formerly Gwagwalada Town Hall, which had remained abandoned following the vandalisation of the facility after an earlier administration initiated its construction.
Wike described the completion of the facility as an important contribution to community development, noting that the centre would provide a suitable venue for public meetings, social engagements and other activities that bring residents together.
He also commended traditional rulers for their participation in governance, stressing that no administration could achieve meaningful development without working closely with traditional institutions.
“You know your people more than us. You know the problems of your people more than us. So we must partner with you,” he told the traditional rulers.
He also assured women of continued attention to empowerment programmes, encouraging them to remain confident that government would support initiatives aimed at improving their welfare.
On the political front, Wike urged residents to take their Permanent Voter Cards seriously and participate actively in the January 16, 2027 elections.
He said the electoral process offered residents an opportunity to make their choices regarding political representation and governance, urging community leaders to mobilise eligible voters.
The minister also spoke about the importance of electing representatives who understood the challenges of their constituents, maintained regular contact with the communities and they should be accessible to the people.
He specifically referenced the need for residents to make informed decisions about their representation at the Senate and House of Representatives, arguing that elected representatives should understand the peculiar challenges facing communities across the FCT.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, commended Wike for his interventions in the council, particularly in road construction and other infrastructure projects.
Ikwa listed several road projects and interventions across Gwagwalada metropolis and surrounding communities, including Park road, market road, Aguma Palace Road, demonstration Road among other road projects undertaken by the FCT Administration.
He recalled that Wike had visited the council on March 6, 2026, when he was chairman-elect, and subsequently approved some requests, including the establishment of a facility in Gwagwalada.
The chairman also recalled his request for the extension of water infrastructure to communities within the council, explaining that he had submitted the necessary correspondence to the relevant authorities and following up on the matter.
He appealed for further intervention on the road linking the Army checkpoint to the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (Specialist Hospital), describing it as an important route serving several communities and government institutions.
According to him, the road provides access to important institutions, including the 176 Guards Battalion, FCT Passport Office, International College, (Specialist Hospital), Nigerian Immigration Service facilities and other establishments within Gwagwalada.
Ikwa also appealed for the rehabilitation and completion of other roads linking several communities, noting that the roads were important to residents and commuters.
The chairman said his administration was committed to improving public infrastructure and providing an enabling environment for residents, adding that the completion of the former Gwagwalada Town Hall was part of efforts to provide functional public facilities.
He explained that the facility had suffered vandalisation after being abandoned for several years, but his administration decided to complete the project to provide a suitable environment where government and community activities could take place.
He thanked Wike for his support and appealed for sustained partnership with the FCT Administration to address outstanding development needs in the council.
In his remarks, former Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Zakari Angulu Dobi, commended Wike and the incumbent chairman for ensuring the completion of the Civic Centre.
Dobi recalled that the project was substantially completed during an earlier administration but suffered vandalisation after it was abandoned for several years, reducing the level of completion from about 80 per cent to approximately 40 per cent.
He expressed appreciation to the incumbent chairman for reviving the project, describing its completion as a development that should be celebrated by residents irrespective of their political affiliations.
He also called for additional road infrastructure, particularly the dualisation of the road from SDP Junction towards the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, noting that the route serves several communities and connects residents to important facilities.
Dobi further appealed for improved road connections towards neighbouring communities and adjoining areas, including routes linking the council to Niger State.
Also speaking, former Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Adamu Mustapha, popularly known as Obama, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Wike as FCT Minister, describing the appointment as an opportunity for the territory to receive greater attention.
Mustapha urged political stakeholders to sustain their support for the administration and strengthen cooperation among political leaders across the FCT.
He also appealed for greater recognition of APC members and grassroots political stakeholders in appointments and other opportunities within the administration.
The event further provided an opportunity for political leaders from APC and PDP to reaffirm their commitment to peaceful coexistence and cooperation in addressing the developmental needs of their communities.
As part of the celebration, the Executive Chairman donated 10 Sharon vehicles to PDP Ward Chairmen and 6 Golf Wagon vehicles to former APGA Ward Chairmen.
The minister had earlier assured the council chairman that his administration would continue to support requests that were in the interest of residents, while urging traditional rulers, women, youths and community leaders to remain partners in the development of the FCT.
The event attracted Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, APC Senatorial Candidate for FCT; the FCT leadership of the APC and PDP; traditional rulers, including the Aguma of Gwagwalada, HRH Alh. Mohamed Magaji; former council chairmen; political stakeholders; Mandate Secretaries; heads of security agencies and community leaders.
Also in attendance were the Chairmen of Abaji, Kuje, Bwari and Kwali Area Councils, alongside party officials, government representatives and other stakeholders.
