PRESS RELEASE:FCDA BOARD MEMBERS CHARGED TO ENSURE ADHERENCE TO EXTANT LAWS

Members of the newly inaugurated Board of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) have been charged to ensure strict adherence to laid down extant laws in the discharge of their assignment. 

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who is also the Chairman of the Board, gave the charge last week during the inaugural meeting of the 7th Board of the FCDA. 

“As Public Officers, either on part-time or full-time capacity, you should be guided by the ‘Guidelines on the Operation of Public Officers’”, noting that rule of law is one of the cardinal objectives of this Administration and anything contrary to that should completely be avoided. 

The Minister reminded members that their appointments were based on their excellent track records, urging them to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the development of the FCT by providing sound policy direction for the attainment of a City development that is comparable to any Capital City in the world.

He called on members to do their utmost best make an indelible mark that will transcend their tenure. 

Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin who is also the Secretary of the Board, briefed members on the traditional mandate of FCDA which is primarily to plan and carry out physical development of the Federal Capital Territory.  

The Executive Secretary also drew the attention of members to the perennial problems that had militated against the timely delivery on the mandate of the FCDA, adding that paramount among the challenges are the issues of inadequate funding; uncontrollable influx of people into the Territory thereby over-stretching the infrastructure and problem of resettlement of the original inhabitants of Abuja.

Responding on behalf of other members of the Board, Hussaini Monguno to the Chairman’s remark as well as the Board Secretary’s briefing, the Board Members commended the Minister/Chairman, FCDA Board for his openness and insistence on rule of law. 

He said: “While appreciating the enormity of the responsibilities ahead, we pledge our allegiance and promise that we shall settle down quickly for business and ensure that the challenges highlighted are surmounted with a view to moving FCDA and indeed the FCT to a higher level.

He said of particular interest to Members is the need to be less dependent on Federal Government Budgetary Allocation by putting measures in place to increase the internally Generated Revenue (IGR), to encourage Public Private Partnership (PPP) for the development of District Infrastructure as well as the need to be able to generate cost effective, reliable and achievable project procurement documents with acceptable time line for completion.

Meanwhile, members of the FCDA Board have begun a guided tour of projects being undertaken by the agency with a view to enable members to better appreciate the various infrastructures either completed or on-going as well as have a general over-view of the City development.

Some of the projects visited on this first phase of the site visits include the construction of Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX), the Roads B6, B12 and Circle Road which is one of the gateways into the City Centre from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport which on completion, will provide a seamless movement to and from the airport from the two directions instead of one as currently exists.

Also visited by the Board Members includes the Cultural Centre and Millennium Tower which is expected to give Abuja its character as it is with other major cities of the world and lastly the Guzape District Infrastructure Development, Lot 2, Phase 2.

It will be recalled that the 10-member FCDA Board was inaugurated with other Boards of FCT Agencies and Parastatals on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

Lami Ishaku

Deputy Director/Head

Public Relations, FCDA.