When Nyesom Wike was appointed minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in August 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, many noticed it as a curious chapter in a profession marked by achievement, epic political mud fights and burned bridges. From an eventful eight years as governor of Rivers State to Peoples Democratic Social gathering (PDP) energy dealer and potent opposition determine, the 60-year previous has at all times occupied a fancy house the place achievement and ambition intersect.
As FCT minister, Wike’s signature is imprinted on its infrastructure: its roads, bridges and actual property. It was a capital metropolis grown messy with neglect; journey by way of satellite tv for pc cities to the guts of Abuja right this moment and you’ll go over refurbished roads, hyperlink bridges and thoroughfares as soon as pockmarked by potholes.
Within the first months of his tenure, Wike seemingly under-promised and over-delivered. He oversaw the close to completion of over 150 kilometres of roads within the FCT, each within the metropolis and its suburbs. The Outer Southern Expressway, the Wuye Flyover Hyperlink Bridge, the refurbishment of the Abuja Metro Rail Venture and the renovation of key public edifices, such because the Worldwide Convention Centre, have collectively reworked massive components of Abuja’s panorama. There’s additionally a refurbishment of the vp’s residence and the Defence Intelligence Company’s headquarters.
Salim Yunusa, an Abuja-based journalist, says that, given his profession to this point, Wike’s appointment was seen as a shock, maybe even a bet. “It paid off, and Wike right this moment stands as top-of-the-line appointments of the present administration. In simply two years, he has tackled the infrastructural and administrative backlogs that stalled the FCT for eight years. The once-dark capital lit up; roads opened throughout the metropolis and its satellite tv for pc cities; indigenes lastly felt included.”
However amid the progress, Yunusa says, two issues linger. “The rising value of residing, and a surge in crime. The very individuals who preserve town operating can’t afford to reside in it, and need to take care of one-chance assaults and insecurity.”
Mary Ene Inalegwu, a filmmaker, echoes Yunusa’s views on infrastructure, however feels that progress is being made on crime. “Safety has improved, with beforehand unsafe darkish spots now safe. My metropolis feels safer than it has been shortly,” she says.
“Motion has grow to be simpler, and roads that had been deserted for years have now been accomplished, and even routes and bridges I by no means knew existed have opened up to be used.”
Monetary autonomy
However Wike’s ambitions prolong past concrete. He has additionally pushed for monetary reforms, with the FCT’s removing from the Treasury Single Account (TSA) being a notable instance. The TSA is a monetary administration system that mandates all federal authorities income and receipts to be collected and accounted for in a single checking account.
Whereas TSA was launched to centralise and oversee federal authorities funds, for the FCT it meant delays and dependence. President Tinubu expressed the hope that leaving the TSA would velocity up improvement of the FCT and improve residents’ participation in governance.
Escaping from that bureaucratic net offers the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) better management over its internally generated income (IGR). which is projected at over 600bn naira ($401.2m) this 12 months. The nationwide senate handed a statutory price range of roughly 1.78 trillion naira ($1.19bn) for the FCT in Might. The minister has additionally expanded the gathering of beforehand dormant floor rents, and has moved ahead with long-standing tasks such because the second runway at Nnamdi Azikiwe Worldwide Airport, together with tackling compensation disputes with host communities.
One other mission is college rehabilitations: 19 have been tackled to date, with bigger plans to cowl 40 throughout Abuja. He has additionally moved to shore up the safety structure, together with cooperation with nationwide safety companies, requires enhanced surveillance infrastructure (resembling closed-circuit tv and rapid-response capabilities), and the reinforcement of police in crime-prone areas. All these have earned him the nickname “Mr. Venture”.
Obinna Ekene, a safety guard at a preferred Maitama shopping center, says the impression of Wike’s administration has been felt even in his distant satellite tv for pc city. “Sure, there’s nonetheless crime, but it surely’s significantly much less, and like I heard on the radio, it’s as a result of Wike’s spearheading of a robust collaboration between safety companies,” he says, including: “I may not like what he’s carried out in Rivers State, however I’ve to respect a politician who truly works greater than he talks.”
In 2015 an election fee ordered a re-run of Wike’s election as governor of Rivers State, over depend discrepancies. He was alleged to have threatened fee officers in the course of the re-run, which he gained.
Emperor of Abuja?
Wike has been granted powers within the FCT not often seen earlier than. Some critics argue this setup edges towards an “emperor of Abuja” dynamic. A concern is that Wike’s energy within the FCT is rising with out parallel will increase in accountability. However lawmakers have, by and huge, praised the administration.
Considered one of them, John Alphabet, a self-described advocate for non-partisan nationwide improvement, was in 2023 an opposition candidate for the Home of Representatives protecting Abuja Municipal Space Council (AMAC) and Bwari.
He has since decamped to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) social gathering. He says that is primarily as a result of Wike and that Wike’s type has been outlined by daring decision-making, systematic monitoring and strict analysis.
“Drawing on the Abuja grasp plan as a basic premise, he has pursued particular infrastructural tasks throughout the six space councils of the FCT. His insistence on well timed supply and adherence to requirements has despatched a robust sign {that a} ‘new sheriff’ has certainly arrived on the town,” Alphabet says.
Not all are so satisfied by Wike’s management, with some critics pointing to the social and environmental tolls of the speedy improvement. Hamza Idris, editor-in-chief and chairman of the editorial board of the influential Abuja-based nationwide newspaper Every day Belief, views Wike as a paradox. “Whilst you should acknowledge the truth that he has opened up Abuja with infrastructural developments which haven’t been seen for the reason that days of Nasir El-Rufai, Wike can also be doing the unthinkable – allocating inexperienced areas and waterways for the development of homes and buying malls.”
Nonetheless, Wike’s uncommon recognition has led analysts to contemplate his future. Some speculate that Abuja is a step on the highway to nationwide energy, maybe even attempting once more for the presidency – in 2022, he was defeated within the contest to be the PDP’s presidential candidate. Certainly, Wike is now greater than a reputation. He’s a presence in Abuja, bodily and institutionally, financially and administratively. The distinctive place of the FCT – which performs host to the federal government and its many branches – is a place that offers him nationwide visibility.
And regardless of prompting divergent views, even his fiercest critics appear to agree that, since tackling the FCT, Wike has been “a politician who truly works greater than he talks”.
