The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, announced plans by the FCT Administration to celebrate the territory’s 50th anniversary during the third anniversary of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Wike made this known during a meeting with staff of the FCT Administration held as part of activities marking the golden jubilee of the Federal Capital Territory. He said the FCT would combine its 50th anniversary celebration with Tinubu’s third year in office, adding that a committee would soon be set up to plan both events.
The minister said the FCT reaching 50 years during his tenure was something he was grateful for, noting that a special publication documenting the history and progress of the territory would be unveiled during the celebration, which is expected to take place in about three months.
Wike explained that many of the projects and changes seen in the FCT over the last two and a half years were made possible through the backing of President Tinubu. According to him, development in the territory had been slow in the past due to funding limits, but the decision to remove the FCT Administration from the Treasury Single Account opened the door for access to funds from commercial banks, making it easier to carry out projects across the city.
He also said the Tinubu administration brought progress not only in infrastructure but also in the career growth of FCT civil servants. Wike noted that workers now have better chances of rising to top positions such as Permanent Secretary or Head of the FCT Civil Service, describing this as a major step forward for staff morale and motivation.
Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Richard Dauda, said the level of development recorded in the FCT in the last two and a half years was unmatched in the territory’s 50-year history. He explained that when the current FCT leadership took office in August 2023, several projects were inherited from previous administrations.
Dauda said many of those projects have since been completed and commissioned, while others are close to completion due to what he described as strong leadership and commitment from the current FCT Administration. He added that nine projects were inaugurated during Tinubu’s first anniversary in 2024 and 17 more during the second anniversary in 2025.
He expressed confidence that with the number of projects currently being worked on, the total number of projects inaugurated since Wike became FCT minister could reach about 50 by the time Tinubu marks his third anniversary in office.