A glittering Diamond in the African Savanah
Created in the year 1979 from five neighboring states in Nigeria’s central guinea savannah region, the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, or commonly known as “FCT Abuja” has been Nigeria’s capital for almost half a century. Starting off as a small community and sparsely populated with a few hundred inhabitants it has today grown to a city hosting well over six million inhabitants with hundreds of representatives from each state and local government area across the nation. Every tribe and tongue within the Nigerian Federation of states in ably represented in this multi-ethnic and multi-cultural land. Visitors from across Africa and the rest of the world love FCT Abuja due to its beautiful and breath-taking landscape and scenery, world-class infrastructure and facilities, state-of-the-art accommodation, optimum security, professionally landscaped parks and green areas, vibrant and colorful nightlife and so much more. Abuja has always been a city that captivates the hearts and minds of first-time visitors and returnees.
A major hallmark of Nigeria’s capital are its numerous and well-maintained infrastructure that evokes a sense of security and warm chief of which are the thousands of streetlights on the major highways, inner-city streets and surburbs. An aerial view of the FCT Abuja is a spectacle to behold: With amazing and dazzling lights Abuja at night can be liken to cities across the world such as Cape Town, Kigali, Cairo, London, Los Angeles, etc which has also contributed to its overall beauty and splendor.
From shimmering brightness to ominous darkness
In recent times an ominous sense of dread has gradually taken hold of the city’s numerous night-time enthusiasts. This sinister feeling though limited in scope has all but become palpable across the FCT Abuja from the hours of 6:30pm through to 7:30 am. The prime suspect is the enveloping darkness that shrouds the FCT Abuja every night with illumination coming from vehicle headlights and a few dimly lit streetlights here and there. This dark blanket has resulted in an increased crime rate across the city with many of her residents seeking shelter in highly secured districts and estates. Abuja during the day and Abuja at night are two entirely different cities, like the mythical Dr. Jekel and Mr. Hyde, FCT residents have to deal with this new challenge and it has and continues to prove insurmountable. Along the major highways and even on inner-city roads deep darkness shrouds the districts creating hideout for miscreants to hide, stalk and eventually pounce on their unsuspecting and hapless victims. Muggings, pilfering, pick-pockets and the now all too common kidnapper-drivers commonly known as “One Chance” have become a recurring decimal swarming the FCT Police Command with more cases than available manpower can sufficiently handle.
In addition to the above, vandalism but scavengers popularly known as “Baba Bola” or “Mai bola” in the Hausa language is slowly and steadily becoming a threat to lives and properties. They patrol the streets picking junk and scraps along the road and from trash cans for sale and recycling purposes. Every so often this day job of theirs is but a ruse to scout new houses and places to lay siege to once darkness covers the city. Their activities have become a huge dent to several neighborhoods as their actions have directly resulted in mass arrests on occasion of incessant security breaches.
Taking The FCT back to its glory
At the current rapid rate of decline urgent steps must be taken to halt the downward spiral for the good of Nigeria’s capital city. It has become imperative for His Excellency, Barrister (Dr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike to beam his searchlight of positivity on this sector of the nation’s capital in order to ensure the FCT Abuja is restored to its rightful position as the crown jewel of Africa.
Without a shred of doubt the current minister of The FCT Abuja in the person of His Excellency, Barrister (Dr) Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has far exceeded expectations. His juggernaut-styled move has seen to the completion of tens of abandoned projects. Abuja has become a massive construction and restoration site overnight which is bringing immense relief to all her residents and visitors alike. His direct action of opening new areas with state-of-the-art roads has resulted in the steady decongestion of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) resulting in improved accommodations, infrastructural development and various other fringe benefits now being enjoyed by the residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Our hope as residents of Abuja is that this same attention is shifted towards making Abuja bright and beautiful just the way it was in years past when the FCT always wore a new and improved look during the Festive periods of Christmas, Easter and Eid celebrations.
