Bello restates commitment to develop satellite towns
NAN-H-115
Towns
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Oct. 26, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration will do everything within its power to develop the designated Satellite Towns within the territory, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has assured.
Bello gave the assurance when he received the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelepe-Adefulire, Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, the development of the Satellite Towns will go a long way to improve the standard of living of those residents in such towns.
He said that his administration would work toward the completion of some ongoing projects of the defunct Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the Satellite Towns, including the Multi-Million-Naira Abaji MDG Water Project to enable residents enjoy maximum benefits.
“This will enable the FCT Administration to accomplish the set goal of providing potable water to all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
Bello, who noted that though the reports available to him contrasted with what was on ground at the Abaji project site, said the administration would make funds available to complete whatever was left of the project.
“As a matter of fact, I visited Abaji and saw the tank that was constructed. From the reports available to me, most of the works have been completed.
“In terms of payments, about 90 per cent has been paid on that project.
“The initial challenges were with the framework of funding. Apparently there were challenges. Some others did not pay on time as they were supposed to pay,” he said.
He assured that the administration would partner with the SDGs to have the project completed within the available resources and any other projects that were outstanding.
“We will prioritise and see how we can move on. We need to showcase what a Federal Government agency is able to do here in Abuja so that we can use it as a benchmark.
“We can also use it as a means of putting pressure on states to comply with your requirements,” he said.
He said that in the FCT, the environment and water supply is paramount because in terms of population, the city and indeed the population is growing astronomically; so, we must have a clean environment and make sure that refuse is collected.
“You are invariably solving some of the other 17 items, especially those that have to do with basic healthcare and nutrition,” he said.
The SSA to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelepe-Adefulire stated that SDG targets were set last year, to build on the achievements recorded on the Millennium Development Goals.
Orelepe-Adefulire said that these goals this time around, include the unfinished goals of the MDG, now known as SDG with a social sector that deals with the unfinished business of the MDG.
“We have 17 goals that deal with three dimensions. One to six of the SDG deals with the unfinished business of the MDG and social development.
“Goal seven to 13 deals with development agenda, while 13 to 17 talks about climate change and environment. These goals are the targets that we must meet between now and 2030.
“The essence of the Abaji MDG water project is for the five communities to benefit and if it is not completed, I don’t see any benefit they will derive from it,” she said. (NAN)
KM/OFN
Edited by Felix Nwadioha