Abuja, Nigeria – The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued strong remarks on both political and administrative matters, reaffirming the legitimacy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) South-South zonal congress and unveiling plans to improve education and healthcare in rural parts of the FCT.
During his monthly media parley held in Abuja on Monday, Wike declared that peace within the PDP could only return if the party accepts and upholds the outcome of the South-South congress held in Calabar, where Chief Dan Orbih emerged as National Vice Chairman.
“Our South-South zonal congress that was held must be upheld. There’s no doubt, no two words about it,” Wike said firmly. “The Court allowed for the congress to hold. There’s nothing anybody can tell us.”
He criticised the party’s interim leadership for allegedly suggesting that PDP governors did not support the congress. “Where are the PDP governors now?” he asked. “Our congress held, and that’s final.”
Education, Healthcare: New Commitments
In the same media session, Wike addressed growing concerns that his administration’s focus on infrastructure development in the FCT has come at the expense of critical sectors like education and health.
Reacting to these concerns, the Minister pledged to establish 10 new schools in rural areas of the capital territory. He instructed the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education to commence the project immediately.
“I promise ten schools. As I leave here, I will tell the mandate secretary to set up the scheme. It will be in the rural areas,” he stated.
Wike also defended his administration’s record in the health sector, citing ongoing rehabilitation efforts at Gwarimpa Hospital, the long-abandoned Utako Hospital, and other medical facilities in the FCT.
“Take, for instance, the abandoned Utako Hospital, Gwagwalada Hospital, Gwarimpa, the doctors’ quarters, and the mess. Like I said, this is just two years in office; it is not possible to turn around every sector,” he explained.
“Impossible to do everything in two years”
Responding to criticisms that his projects have disproportionately favoured infrastructure, Wike maintained that it is unrealistic to expect full-scale development across all sectors within such a short period.
“This is just two years in office,” he reiterated. “You can’t turn around every sector overnight. But we are working—health, education, roads—all are receiving attention.”
Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State, assumed office as FCT Minister in August 2023. His tenure has seen major urban renewal projects, road construction, and public infrastructure upgrades in the capital, though opposition figures and civil society groups have repeatedly called for more balanced development priorities.
