Recently, there has been this relentless war of calumny against the FCT Minister that his administration proposed N5 billion for the rehabilitation of prostitutes and destitute and N4 billion for the office of a private NGO.

Basically, the vile plot contrived by his political detractors is singularly designed to blackmail and bring Senator Bala Mohammed to disrepute.

It is only right for Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed to disapprove those disparate to the inclusion of the building of the African First Ladies Peace Mission in the 2013 appropriation of the FCT Administration; with regards to this, his administration should be appraised for working to uplift the image of Nigeria internationally. The Minister made this assertion on Wednesday in his office at Area 11, Garki I District, in Abuja while receiving thousands of Nigerians comprising 13 Non-Governmental Organizations made mainly of women, who protested in support of the FCT administration to build the edifice this financial year.

The NGOs comprised National Council for Women Society, the Market Women Association, United Women Traders Association of Nigeria, Friends of Abuja, Zenzelen Organization, Youth of Social Network, Women in Business, Kasuwa da Kasuwa Mobilisation Team, The Widows Organization, Youth Mobilization Movement of Nigeria; Farmers Association of Nigeria, Hairdressers and Barbers Association of Nigeria, the Disabled Organization of Nigeria. This gesture of the Minister is as a result of the fact that the current administration is working for the people.

Senator Mohammed reiterated that development is not about poverty alleviation alone; explaining that what is being done is to make sure whatever projects and programmes that are coming into FCT have bottom top approach to things; and essentially ensuring that women and children are highly prioritized.

The Minister emphasized that the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan has done so much for Nigerian women and children; noting that AFLPM building will be an Embassy for the African Union in Nigeria; she inherited it from her predecessor and the FCT Administration has a responsibility to build public buildings for all the MDAs as well as international organizations dwelling in Abuja.

Senator Mohammed reiterated that Decree No. 6 of 1976 which created Abuja also simultaneously created the Federal Capital Development Authority with duty and responsibilities to plan, design, provide the infrastructure and construct public buildings as well as services to the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory.

Ibrahim Sarkin Yaki, Good Governance and Equity Initiative, 14th Avenue, Gwarinpa Estate, Abuja.