Wike Distributes 80 Vehicles In Abuja’s Empowerment Programme
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has distributed over 80 vehicles to youths of the FCT under the FCT Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Programme.
Speaking during the flag-off exercise, Barrister Wike stressed the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the lives of FCT youth through the Renewed Hope Youth Empowerment Initiative.
Didactic Information Hut reports that the distributed vehicles included 30 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs), 30 7-seater Suzuki Minibuses, and 20 14-seater Hiace buses.
Wike said the vehicles 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.
“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,” the FCT Minister said.
Barr. Wike added 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”.
Wike also announced the plan to profile commercial buses and taxi operators within the FCT alleging that some of the tricycle and taxi operators in Abuja were informants to criminals.
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.”
Those in attendance at the meeting included Senator David Jimkuta, Chairman of the Senate Committee on FCT Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, Hon. Aliyu Betara, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on FCT, former Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, Mandate Secretary, Youth Development Secretariat, Hon. Abdullahi Ango, anf Chief Ferdinand Alabraba.
