1. 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.

2. Speaking during the flag-off exercise, which rounds 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.”

6. 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.

7. 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”.

8. 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.

9. 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."

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. The highlight of the event was the flag-off and distribution of the vehicles by elder statesman Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.


ANTHONY OGUNLEYE

DIRECTOR, PRESS

(OFFICE OF THE HON. MINISTER)

31/10/2024

FCTA/ODP/PR 606




PHOTO CAPTIONS

1) L-R: Chairman, House Committee on the FCT, Hon. Aliyu Betara, elder statesman. Chief Ferdinand Alabraba and FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike during the presentation of vehicles to youth groups during the flag off of the FCT Administration's youth empowerment programme on Thursday.

2) Elder Statesman, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba presenting the keys to a vehicle to a female beneficiary of the FCT Administration's youth empowerment programme on Thursday. Looking with interest is the FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike (2nd right) and the Secretary for Transport, Dr Chinedu Elechi (2nd left)

3)An aerial view of the vehicles given to FCT youth groups during the Flag off of the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme in Abuja on Thursday

Chinjo2:
In preparation for the next election of course.

Babangidapikin:
Oga Wike has a good side too ... It is good ... Just wish he will reconcile with his Son that he haboured in Government house, his legacy his making another harbour is father in Kogi .

Elsanchez:
Them go give them for public then go behind and collect it.

Fear Nigerian Politicians.

Renewed sege!!

vanitybutiwanti:
Nobody is forgiving anybody, it's fight to finish, winner takes all.

Babangidapikin:

Oga no dey put fire for the fight na, consider the long term division it will cause in Rivers politic.

vanitybutiwanti:
sharrapp, no more taxis, keke and Bikes in Abuja from next year, these cars will be plying the high brow areas

Zaheertyler:
They already picked the winners before the buses where even purchased
Welcome to Nigeria
Regardless wike try

vanitybutiwanti:
Fubara made everybody hate a man that promoted him through multiple cadre in the civil service, ceased four month allocation of elected chairmen, allied with individuals that fought wike because wike chose him to be governor, lied that lawmakers ambushed him when he infact treated them with disdain. This fight has gone beyond settlement, a winner will emerge and the winner will take all

Elsanchez:


Mumu, na this 80 cars way won ply abuja?

I can confidently tell you that Mr Wike will not share any car for this purpose again.

By the time Politicians use your head finish, you will learn.

Your daftness is on steroids

AFONJAmiracle:


You be Mugu if na your papa sperm e follow

You sha reject am na