FCTA to Descend on Street-Naming Cartels in Abuja

By: Vivian Adewoye & Emmanuel Tortiv

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded plans to deal decisively with street-naming cartels and racketeers in the nation’s capital, Abuja, to ensure the elimination of their nefarious activities.

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) in collaboration with Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) as well as other relevant agencies of the FCTA are to ensures that the appropriate authority continues the implementation of the policy of street naming.

Briefing Journalists on Thursday in Abuja, the Coordinator, of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, said streets are named in line with National recognitions rather than revenue drive.

According to him, the ‘infamous’ and ‘unwholesome’ activities of street naming cartels, if not checked are capable of tarnishing the image of the country.

Shuaibu disclosed that the Minister of FCT, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, had directed that AMMC collaborate with AMAC and other relevant stakeholders to address the issue of indiscriminate street naming in the Federal Capital Territory, forthwith.

The Coordinator quoted the Minister saying, “the streets that have been changed by the AMAC staff and consultants should be re-installed immediately, to which the Chairman agreed and promised to expedite action on the restoration.”

Shuaibu added that in the course of executing the statutory mandate, it was discovered that many practices emerged that compromised the integrity of the Administration and abused the established protocols for the naming of streets in Abuja.

‘’Even the AMAC leadership is not aware of the extent of the damage and quantum of corruption perpetrated in the name of street naming under it. They have a wide range of implications for security and information systems across the city. They have the tendency of tarnishing the image of our dear nation because world-renowned names which these streets are named after are involved”, he emphasized.

The AMMC Coordinator, however, expressed the willingness of the FCT Administration to come up with a better policy to harmonize the issue of street naming; stressing that FCTA will collaborate with relevant anti-corruption agencies to ensure that those found culpable are made to face the wrath of the law.

Also speaking at the briefing, the AMAC Chairman, Mr. Christopher Maikalangu said events regarding the contentious street naming issues preceded his administration and that the Area Council is willing to harmonize with AMMC to reach lasting solutions”.

It would be recalled that a broad-based inter-agency advisory committee was put in place in 1983 to handle all street naming and house numbering in the FCT.