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Directs resumption of work on abandoned Utako General Hospital
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Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the construction of new divisional police stations across the territory, a ₦5.7 billion electricity project in Bwari Area Council and the comprehensive rehabilitation of 14 general hospitals.
The approvals, which cut across security, healthcare, power supply and other critical infrastructure, were among the major decisions taken at the 19th meeting of the FCT Executive Council, presided over by Wike and attended by the Minister of State, Mariya Mahmoud.
The council also approved the resumption of work on the long-abandoned Utako General Hospital, with plans to complete, equip and staff the facility to expand access to healthcare in the nation’s capital.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Chidi Amadi, said the council considered 20 memoranda submitted by various secretariats, departments and agencies of the administration.
The approvals also included the digitalisation of 67 courtrooms in the FCT High Court, the provision of examination materials for public schools and several infrastructure projects in satellite towns.
On security, the Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, disclosed that the council had approved the construction of a new divisional police station at the Wasa Informal Sector, ahead of the planned relocation of mechanics and artisans from Apo to the area.
Gwary said the six-month project followed Wike’s directive to strengthen security in the area in anticipation of increased economic activities following the relocation.
He said the Wasa police station was part of the minister’s broader security initiative to bring policing closer to rural and developing communities across the FCT.
According to him, the administration plans to construct two divisional police stations in each of the six area councils, bringing the proposed number to 12.
He disclosed that two stations at Ushafa and Saburi had already been completed, furnished and handed over, with each facility having a furnished six-man staff quarters.
On healthcare, the Mandate Secretary of the Health Secretariat and Environmental Services, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said the council approved the immediate renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of all 14 general hospitals in the territory.
She said the intervention would include the procurement of new medical equipment, X-ray machines and diagnostic materials, as well as the upgrading of hospital theatres.
Fasawe also disclosed that Wike had directed the immediate resumption of work on the Utako General Hospital, which had remained abandoned for years.
She said the project would cover construction, equipping and staffing, adding that the intervention was designed to improve the availability of quality, affordable and accessible healthcare for FCT residents.
The health secretary further disclosed that the administration had continued to meet its financial obligations to health insurance providers and Health Maintenance Organisations through the payment of premiums and capitation.
In the power sector, the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) secured approval for a ₦5.703 billion contract for the construction of a 33kVA power supply line from Dawaki to Tukulo and surrounding villages in Bwari Area Council.
The STDD Coordinator, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, said the contract had been awarded to CGC Nigeria Limited, with an eight-month completion period.
The council also ratified two completed road projects in the satellite towns, including the construction of the Gaba-Tukulo Road and a two-span river bridge in Bwari Area Council.
The road and bridge project was awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited for ₦8.219 billion, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT.
The second project, the rehabilitation of the Paikon Kore-Ibuwa Road in Gwagwalada Area Council, was also executed by Setraco Nigeria Limited at ₦8.890 billion, inclusive of VAT.
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Zulkiflu said both projects, which had 12-month completion periods, had been completed and commissioned.
In the justice sector, the council approved the digitalisation of the FCT High Court, covering approximately 67 courtrooms across its judicial divisions.
The General Counsel, Salman Dako, said the project would replace manual recording and physical filing of cases with electronic court recording and digital case-management systems.
He said the initiative would address challenges associated with handwritten records and manual documentation, adding that implementation was expected to commence immediately, with noticeable improvements targeted within two weeks.
The Education Secretariat also secured approval for two contracts to provide examination materials for pupils and students in public primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools across the territory.
The Mandate Secretary for Education, Danlami Hayyo, said the approval was part of the administration’s efforts to improve the quality of public education through school renovation, improved classroom facilities and the provision of instructional materials.
He said improvements in public school infrastructure had encouraged some parents to withdraw their children from private schools and enrol them in public schools.
Hayyo added that the provision of examination materials would ensure the smooth conduct of examinations across public schools in the territory.
Similarly, the Department of Land Administration secured approval for three memoranda aimed at improving its operations and strengthening revenue collection.
The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said the council approved the procurement of utility vehicles and an integrated information and communications technology infrastructure for the department.
The ICT upgrade would include desktop computers, workstations, display screens, scanners, network switches, fibre-optic connections, data-centre servers, monitoring systems and cooling facilities.
The council also ratified the award of a contract for the printing of customised revenue receipt booklets with enhanced security features to prevent alterations and fraudulent practices in land revenue collection.
Nwankwoeze said the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, which produces the country’s currency, would handle the printing of the new receipts.
On environmental management, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) secured approval for six memoranda, five for ratification and one for fresh approval.
The Acting Coordinator of AMMC, Mary Ahmadu, said the approvals would facilitate maintenance works across the capital, particularly in waterways and areas affected by environmental challenges.
She identified indiscriminate refuse disposal as a major contributor to blocked waterways and flooding in parts of the FCT, stressing the importance of sustained maintenance and effective environmental management.
The FCT Water Board also secured approval for two memoranda, including the procurement of powdered chlorine, known as high-test hypochlorite (HTH), for water treatment.
The Acting General Manager of the board, Chinyere Elechi, said the chemical was essential for disinfecting water and eliminating disease-causing microorganisms before distribution to consumers.
She said adequate water treatment was necessary to prevent waterborne diseases, including cholera, typhoid and dysentery.
The second approval concerned the renewal of insurance for facilities associated with the Lower Usman Dam Treatment Plant.
The latest approvals underscore the FCT Administration’s ongoing infrastructure programme, with projects spanning healthcare, security, electricity, education, judicial services, environmental management and water supply.
