Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has urged Abuja youths and stakeholders not to join the planned nationwide protests against hunger and hardship, scheduled for August 1-10.
During a ministerial engagement with FCT youths from Abuja South Federal Constituency, Wike said, “Youths and other stakeholders in Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils will also be engaged on the same issue in the coming days.”
Wike explained that the interaction aimed to enlighten them on the negative consequences of protests and why they should not participate. He thanked traditional rulers and area council chairmen for mobilizing FCT youths for the interaction.
“There is no need for the protest. The current administration is barely one year in office and not enough to assess its performance. You can’t judge leadership within one year. I have not been in office for up to a year, but I have done so much that should be appreciated and convince people that FCT is working,” he said.
Wike highlighted achievements in education, health, and security, urging residents to commend and encourage security agencies.
“It is not fair to say we have not done anything on insecurity when we have improved security in FCT,” he said.
He emphasized the need for peace, not protest, in the FCT.
He said, “We want peace in FCT and so, we cannot fold our hands and allow it to be destroyed in the guise of protest.”
Regarding the proposed Federal Capital Territory University of Science and Technology, Abaji, Wike said efforts were underway to make it one of the best universities in the country.
On land matters, Wike expressed concern that everyone’s focus was on land allocation, rather than development.
Wike added, “Nobody talks about infrastructure; nobody talks about no hospitals; nobody talks about no schools, everything is, I need 20 hectares of land.”
Wike urged youths to cooperate with the government and avoid the planned protests, organized by individuals with unclear agendas.
