Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Friday, presented vehicles to ten third Class Chiefs in Abuja and promised improved welfare for traditional rulers.
These third Class Chiefs represented various chiefdoms, which includes Gomani, Yaba, Bwari, Pai, Garki, Jiwa, Wako, Rubochi, Gwargwarda, and Zuba.
Wike, while handing over the Nissan Semi SUV keys to these traditional leaders, emphasized that this gesture aimed to facilitate their mobility.
He stressed the government’s responsibility to support traditional rulers by providing the necessary resources to help them carry out their duties effectively.
The Minister explained, “I can’t see how traditional rulers will be boarding taxis or entering public transport. That is unacceptable. President Bola Tinubu has directed that that should not be allowed to continue.”
He emphasized the need for traditional rulers to collaborate with the government, especially in matters of security, given their deep knowledge of their communities.
He said: “You know your community better than anybody; you know the people within their community, so you will be able to identify those who look like strangers.
“No agency will perform its function without the support of traditional rulers, and we believe that we must partner together to achieve the fight against insecurity.
“So today we are going to hand over 10 vehicles to you to please help in supporting the government to fight insecurity in your domain. Be sure that we are going to work together.
“If we don’t work together, we will not achieve results, because everybody is important in the fight against insecurity.”
Wike also disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the FCTA to enhance the allowances provided to traditional rulers by the area councils to improve their comfort. He emphasized the importance of working together to address the challenges faced by the FCT.
He said: “We will soon meet with the Area Councils’ chairmen and the traditional rulers so that we can work out strategies for the welfare package and what role you will play to assist the government to achieve its renewed agenda.
“The new agender is that things must work.
“The Mandate Secretaries have been appointed and sworn in. I don’t want to hear any excuses from any department.
“We are not here to give excuses; we know there are challenges before we came here. It is our duty to solve these challenges.”
In response, the chairman of the FCT council of traditional rulers, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, expressed gratitude for the support and pledged the cooperation of traditional rulers in advancing the FCT.