Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike on Thursday, October 31, 2024 flagged off the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme by distributing 80 vehicles to youths in the FCT.
Speaking during the flag-off exercise, which ronds up the minister’s nine days of project flag-offs, Barrister Wike stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the lives of FCT youth through the Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative.
He said the vehicles—30 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), 30 7-seater Suzuki Minibuses, and 20 14-seater Hiace buses—would provide employment opportunities for the youth and also reduce the cost of transportation in the FCT.
The Minister added that the brand-new vehicles were being provided by the government at no cost to the beneficiaries from across the six Area Councils of the FCT to give them a source of livelihood and urged the beneficiaries to utilise the vehicles for the purpose which they had been provided.
The FCT Minister said, “These are brand new vehicles, and they are not paying a dime. We are not saying pay the government any money. The government is saying this is our own support to make sure you have something to feed, to make sure you can support your family, and also to reduce the cost of transportation in the city.”
Barr. Wike also disclosed that the vehicles would be used as a pilot scheme to gradually phase out tricycle operations in parts of the Abuja city centre, adding that more vehicles would also be procured to address possible shortages.
He said, “I’m not saying there will be no more Keke. No, you will go to certain areas. But for now, we will try to see the pilot scheme in Maitama, Guzape and Asokoro. Let us see how it will work, and by the grace, it will work well because Mr. President means well for everybody”.
Noting that some of the tricycle and taxi operators in Abuja were informants to criminals, the Minister also disclosed plans to conduct security profiling of commercial buses and taxi operators within the FCT, adding that they must also operate with the Abuja taxi colour.
He said, “From January next year, nobody will operate as a taxi driver or a bus driver without approval from the security, without security profiling you, and without the Abuja colour. So, there is nothing like using any vehicle on the road. From January, we will not allow that. We would have also brought in more vehicles so that we won’t have a shortage.”
He also charged the Mandate Secretary, Youth Development Secretariat, Hon Abdullahi Ango, with devising programmes and proposals that will benefit the youth, such as skill acquisition, stressing that he would not approve money for conferences that would not help the youth. The Minister also disclosed plans to revive the abandoned skills acquisition centre in Nyanya, Abuja, where youths could be trained in ICT and other areas.
Barr. Wike thanked President Tinubu for his overwhelming support for the FCT Administration, saying all requests from the FCTA to the President have been approved and called on the youths to support the President and desist from any mischief.
In their separate remarks, Senator David Jimkuta, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, and Hon. Aliyu Betara, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, acknowledged the transformative efforts of the FCT Minister in providing infrastructure and empowering the youth and pledged the continued support of the National Assembly for the FCT Administration.
Also speaking, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, commended the FCT Minister for the youth empowerment programme, saying that the gesture will not only empower the youths but will also give hope to other youths across Nigeria that someday, fortune will shine in their direction and they will be empowered.
Speaking earlier, the Mandate Secretary, Youth Development Secretariat, Hon. Abdullahi Ango, thanked the FCT Minister for empowering the FCT youths and including them in the government decision-making process.
He said the provision of the buses was aimed at ensuring that the Renewed Hope Agenda positively impacts the lives of the beneficiaries and pledged the support of FCT youths for the government’s policies and programs.
The highlight of the event was the flag-off and distribution of the vehicles by elder statesman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
