By Sarah NEGEDU
Inspite of the economic and administrative challenges that rendered the Abuja Urban Mass Transportation Company comatose, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to overhaul the company so as to develop the transportation system in the FCT.
The minister, who made the promise when he received members of the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee set to Investigate Failure of Mass Transportation in Nigeria, said it was embarrassing that a capital city like Abuja lacks a world class mass transportation system.
Wike, while lamenting that AUMTCO buses were loaned out for other uses without maintenance, blamed its failed state on the attitude of the leadership the AUMTC stating that, “People think that government business is not their business, but where you work should be your concern.”
He also assured residents that he will tackle the menace of one chance at once, noting that with a functional transportation system in place, one chance operators will disappear.
He disclosed that N2 billion was approved for palliatives by President Bola Tinubu for FCT in the Federal Government’s subsidy programme and his “concern was transportation, but I need to know where are we.”
The minister also warned allottees owing the administration ground rents to either pay or have their property revoked and reallocated to those who can pay.
His words, “I have calculated the debt of non-payment of ground rent, which is about N34 billion and I am going to collect all of those back. I don’t care. All I want is for the rent to be paid.
“We will be publishing on Thursday for all those who are meant to pay their ground rent. They will be given the grace of two weeks to pay.
“Whoever doesn’t pay, I’ll revoke it and give it to whoever will pay so that the necessary services will be rendered. People want to live in a beautiful city but don’t want to pay their dues which is impossible.”
On his part, the chairman of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee, Afam Ogene, said his committee was at the FCTA to find solutions to the poor mass transportation in the country and FCT after over N16 billion had been put into it during Sure-P.
He said the committee was ready to provide all the necessary support to the minister to enable him effectively revamp the transportation system in the territory as well as ensure that the Abuja Metro Line fully comes alive in line with the Minister’s determination.