Henry Umoru
9 January 2009
MINISTER of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero yesterday denied reports that the Federal government had plans to power the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja with generators.
But the minister at a press conference with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday had said, "Street lights in Abuja must be functioning at all nights, we know there are peculiar problems, particularly along the Airport road, we are even thinking of buying generators just to ensure that in the night, if there is no power from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, we put on those generating sets to light the city".
According to Aliero at the briefing, he stressed that "Major roads in the city or major streets in the city would also be provided with generating plants, we don't want a situation where Abuja will be engulfed by darkness, there must be a change during our own tenure."
The minister in his denial through the Senior Special Assistant (Communication), Diran Onifade said, "My attention has been drawn to the front page story in today's Vanguard captioned 'FG to power Abuja with Generators.'
"While I commend you for your continued interest in the affairs of our nation's capital, it is necessary to put the facts of the subject of the report in proper perspective. Please, note that what the FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed Adamu Aliero stated clearly to reporters is that plans are on this year to procure generators to power street lights along the Airport road.
"The minister did not say that the plan covers the whole of the FCT. This is for your necessary attention and correction please".
Vanguard correspondent had the minister on tape where he stressed further that, "Abuja has to be safe because it is not only the capital city of Nigeria, but also the city that hosts members of the diplomatic community accredited to Nigeria, it is the administrative centre of the nation, it is the pride of all Nigerians and we have to ensure that everybody coming here is safe and secured.
"Secondly, we are also going to concentrate on improving the municipal services. You might have noticed that there has been serious degree of deterioration as far as municipal services are concerned.
"At the end of that deadline, if we have not achieved the desired result, we have to think of those that are responsible for it and what to do with them.
Street lights in Abuja must be functioning at all nights; we know there are peculiar problems, particularly along the Airport road, we are even thinking of buying generators just to ensure that in the night, if there is no power from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, we put on those generating sets to light the city.
Major roads in the city or major streets in the city would also be provided with generating plants, we don't want a situation where Abuja will be engulfed by darkness, there must be a change during our own tenure".
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