Some residents of Bwari Area Council have appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to improve on water supply, transport services and rehabilitation of public schools in the council.
The residents spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Saturday in Abuja.
They lauded the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike’s administration, for the ongoing and completed road projects at the various communities in the different area councils.
They, however, asked that more basic amenities be put in place to improve on the livelihood of residents.
Mr Haruna Zamayi, a public servant, said it was beautiful to see the administration working hard to ensure access to roads at the community level.
He, however, said that if the development could include provisions of other basic amenities at the local level, it would go a long way to improve the lives of residents.
“We believe that these roads will definitely link the rural areas to the urban and bring development in the capital city, so it is really a good and beautiful thing.
“I will also like to see the water board giving constant supply of water to residents in Bwari especially, as we cannot be the host supplying water to the city, yet keep buying water from local vendors.
“Transportation should be considered too; it is either we have new vehicles that can convey people at cheaper or susidised rates or they fix the old broken ‘El-rufai’ buses and keep them running,” he said.
He said that transportation from the satellite towns to city centre was a major challenge to especially government workers going to work every day, in spite of hike in fuel price.
Similarly, Ms Roseline Yuhe, an educationist and school proprietor, advocated for an improved learning structures for public schools in the area.
According to Yuhe, many public schools in the area, suffer from poor infrastructure, including inadequate classrooms, lack of proper sanitation facilities and poorly maintained buildings.
She said: “Learning takes place in a conducive environment not in dilapidated structures.
“You see a block of classrooms with damaged roofing or ceilings, yet pupils are made to stay inside to learn.
“Overcrowded classrooms are big challenge too and unfortunately extended to some private schools and this makes it difficult for teachers to manage classrooms effectively,” she said.
She urged the administration to look into addressing the challenge, while prioritising the education of children at the rural level with utmost attention.
Another resident, Mrs Christy Chibuzor, trader at the Bwari town market, also appealed to the administration to improve on the security of the area.
Chibuzor, who said though the Nigerian Police Force and other joint security forces were putting their best to secure lives and property in the area, however, added that crime was still increasing.
“Armed robbers keep disturbing some particular places in this town, like the Pambuara-Ushafa areas, Tudun-Fulani and so many other places and most times, they abscond before the police arrive.
“Even though we have heard less of incidents of kidnappings unlike last year to early this year, some of these criminals still operate on low key.
“We are hoping and trusting that the minister will not be tired or relent in the good work he has started, “she said.
Chibuzor also called on governments at all levels to have a review on taxes imposed on essential goods and services, adding business was slow and too much burden on average Nigerian. (NAN
