Wike flags off rehabilitation, reconstruction of 19 FCT schools
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has flagged off the rehabilitation and reconstruction of 19 schools in the FCT.
The FCT Minister who conducted the flag-off exercise at the School of the Gifted in Gwagwalada Area Council in the FCT on Wednesday, March 21, 2024, said the schools to be rehabilitated cut across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Barrister Wike while emphasizing the importance of education to the development of the nation said the FCT is poised to give the best to the education sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He said the FCT will not only provide access to education but will also ensure a quality and conducive environment for learning, adding that the expectations in the education sector in the FCT would surely be met.
He said, “It is not only access to education. If you give access to education without quality, then you have not given education. While we are providing access, we must also provide quality and the quality entails that the environment must be conducive and habitable. So, be assured that we will give you the best. We are looking into the teachers too, how we are going to provide quality teachers to teach our children”.
The Minister also assured the contractors working on the rehabilitation and reconstruction project of timely payment. He said funding for the project has been provided in the 2023 FCT supplementary budget adding that provision has also been made in the 2024 statutory budget for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of 20 additional schools.
He said, “Let me assure you contractors that nobody will be owed. As I came in, there was a file I met in the office. I made sure that your mobilization has been sent to the bank so that you don’t need to worry yourself. That has been done”.
The Minister also disclosed that the President has given him a marching order to give attention to the health sector and pledged that rehabilitation work would also commence there.
He said, “I can assure you now that the budget has been passed, we are coming back to Gwagwalada for the General Hospital in Gwagwalada to make sure that you are given the best.
“That is the essence of the renewed hope agenda. All those times you have lost hope, the hope is back under the government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu” Barr. Wike said.
The FCT Minister thanked the National Assembly for expeditiously passing the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget, saying “It means that you want us to start work without any hesitation”.
Speaking earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud commended the development efforts of the FCT Minister which she also said were in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the FCT.
Dr. Mahmoud who recalled that the flag-off of the school rehabilitation and reconstruction exercise was the third visit of the FCT Administration to the Gwagwalada Area Council, following earlier visits to hold security townhall meetings and flag off the construction of rural roads, also commended the FCT Minister for the improved security in the FCT.
Dr Mahmoud, while emphasizing the importance of education as the bedrock in the development of any nation and the cornerstone of progress, described the students as special gifts from God, leaders of tomorrow, and ambassadors of the nation.
She said the FCT was happy to commence the rehabilitation of the schools to give the students a conducive and very suitable place for their learning in order for them to achieve their dreams.
She said, “We are happy to have this flag-off for reconstruction and also rehabilitation of some of the dilapidated buildings. This is just the beginning as Mr. Project is on board and as he has said, we still come back to Gwagwalada for the next achievement. That’s where we will look at health and that’s where you will hear our voice soon”.