The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Gida Mustapha has reiterated that about one hundred and Sixty communities (160) throughout the Federation have benefitted from the Federal Government accrued share of Ecological Fund. He said that all these communities are very grateful to the Federal government because in most of these communities, the only Federal Government presence witnessed is the interventions through the Fund under the present administration.
Boss Mustapha said this over the weekend while entertaining questions from journalists at the commissioning and handing over ceremony of the Federal Government’s awarded, executed and completed projects of Erosion and Road Improvement works at Lugbe and Gully Erosion and Flood Control Works at Wuye respectively, under Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said that the one percent Ecological and derivation Fund accrued to the Federal services the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Great Green Wall (GGW), Ecological Fund Office (EFO) and other agency at the directive of Mr. President. According to him, EFO which is under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation intervenes in virtually all the thirty-six states of the Federation including FCT. He promised that with the commissioning of completed projects, Nigerians would be seeing more of the interventions of the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office.
Boss Mustapha who represented Mr. President, President Muhammadu Buhari, at the commissioning and hand-over ceremonies at Lugbe and Wuye reiterated the present administration’s pledge that no part of the country would be neglected under this administration owing to its geographical location or political considerations.
He said that the Federal Government’s execution of projects across the country also demonstrates the sincerity of purpose of the present administration towards entrenching justice, equity and fair play to all and sundry.
He pointed out that with the completion of these projects, the living standard of Lugbe and its environs would be enhanced as well as that of Wuye school community. According to him, the intervention of the Federal Government has helped in reducing the dangers associated with erosion and persistent flooding that the communities have experienced.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, (EFO), Dr. Habiba Lawal while commending the contractor, consultant and the EFO staff for their efforts in ensuring timely completion of the project, reiterated that the handover was meant to enable the host communities take over and exercise ownership over the projects, to ensure their maintenance and sustainability. She urged the host community not to allow the resources the Federal Government committed to the projects to waste.
In his reaction, the Executive Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government on the projects. He appreciated Mr President, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Ecological Fund Office and the contractor for seeing to the award and completion of the projects in AMAC. He said that construction of the Lugbe road would enhance the commercial activities in the area especially as the Council was relocating a market around the area. He promised to personally go on a sensitization tour round the project sites to educate the communities on what they need to know and do in order to keep and protect the projects in their respective localities within AMAC.
In the same vain, the representative of Lugbe community, Barr. Salihu Momoh on behalf of the community expressed his joy on the completion of the project. According to him, the community had struggled for the past ten years to get the attention of government on the road without result. He commended the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari and the Secretary to the government of the Federation for the attending to the yearnings of local communities.
As every voice could not be heard at the ceremony, many youths were seen with their placards hailing the leadership of Mr President, SGF and AMAC. As ‘Oliver Twist’ they requested for the construction of more roads in Lugbe.
At the Federal Government boys’ Secondary School, Wuye where the other completed project was commissioned, the school authorities were grateful to the Federal government for the quick intervention in rescuing the school’s permanent site from dangerous gully erosion threat.
The event witnessed a huge turnout of AMAC staff, EFO Directors and Management staff, OSGF Directors and the Gentlemen of the press.
