The FCT minister cites infrastructure development, improved security and engagement with indigenous communities as evidence of the administration’s performance….
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has expressed confidence that his administration’s infrastructure projects and engagement with indigenous communities will strengthen support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking during a media parley in Abuja on Tuesday, Wike said his administration had brought governance closer to residents through road construction, consultations with traditional rulers and engagement with stakeholders across the territory.
He maintained that political support should be earned through visible achievements rather than campaign promises, arguing that the government’s performance in the FCT would speak for itself.
The minister disclosed that former senators, ex-members of the National Assembly and former area council chairmen had recently united in support of the administration despite their different political affiliations.
According to him, their decision reflected growing recognition of the government’s approach to governance and its engagement with various communities.
“It’s not about the candidates; it’s about the style of governance and administration as it regards the FCT,” Wike said.
He highlighted consultations with traditional rulers and other community leaders, noting that sustained engagement was essential to addressing residents’ concerns and had received insufficient attention under previous administrations.
Wike also said his administration had responded to security challenges by constructing at least two police stations in each of the FCT’s six area councils.
He stressed that the government’s development programme was not limited to central Abuja but extended to communities on the outskirts of the capital.
The minister further announced plans to commission at least 10 projects before the end of December, including road projects linking Karshi, Kubwa and other communities.
He said the projects demonstrated the administration’s determination to spread infrastructure development across the territory.
Wike dismissed suggestions that his political mobilisation efforts in the FCT were aimed at securing only the minimum electoral threshold required for a presidential candidate.
“How do you look at me? Coordinator of FCT, and I am looking for 25 per cent? That must be a joke,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the administration had taken its message directly to residents through its projects and engagement efforts, while acknowledging that the final electoral outcome would be determined by voters.
The minister also defended his handling of issues concerning indigenous communities, including traditional institutions and appointments.
He challenged critics to identify another civilian administration that had done more to accommodate indigenous interests through appointments and other initiatives.
On the elevation of traditional rulers and the presentation of staff of office, Wike said arrangements were underway to present certificates to the relevant beneficiaries.
Addressing concerns over water supply in Karu, where residents reportedly remained without water despite the commissioning of a water project, the minister said the government had provided the main infrastructure and access points.
He explained that residents would need to arrange connections to their individual properties to receive the supply, rejecting calls for the government to extend direct connections to every household.
Wike maintained that the administration’s record in infrastructure, security and community engagement would play a significant role in shaping public support for Tinubu.
