The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced a strategic partnership with the State of Israel aimed at bolstering security measures and fostering youth empowerment and job creation within the FCT.
According to Director of Press Office of the Honourable Minister Anthony Ogunleye, the revelation came during a courtesy visit to Abuja by the Israeli Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Michael Freeman, where the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, made the announcement.
In his address, Minister Wike highlighted the FCT’s favorable climate for agriculture and revealed plans to establish large farms that will engage Nigerian youths in agriculture, providing them with gainful employment opportunities. He emphasized the FCTA’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for investors to conduct legitimate businesses within the territory.
Regarding security, Barrister Wike acknowledged that like other major cities worldwide, the FCT had experienced security challenges. However, he expressed the FCTA’s willingness to collaborate with Israel to improve the security situation. Minister Wike said, “Yes, we have had one or two setbacks in terms of security threats, but like you know, security issues are everywhere, and we are working very hard to ensure we address any issues promptly.”
He further elaborated, “You know all over the world, nobody can guarantee one hundred percent security; it’s not possible. But we will try as much as we can, anywhere we can collaborate and work together to help us reduce some level of insecurity in the city. Be assured that we are willing to work together.”
Minister Wike also touched upon a recent newspaper publication listing some Embassies, High Commissions, and government organizations in default of ground rent payments. He clarified that these actions were not targeted at any specific entity but were intended to enhance internally generated revenue in the FCT. He called on the affected institutions to comply with the existing FCT regulations to avoid any adverse consequences.
He stated, “We believe that you don’t need to be embarrassed, but let’s work together. Every mission must obey the laws of where they are. We are also trying to enhance our internally generated revenue to cater to the developmental needs of our people. So, it is not meant to embarrass any Embassy or Commission, but rather to draw attention to non-compliance.”
In response, the Israeli envoy assured the Minister of the Embassy’s commitment to adhere to extant rules and regulations in the FCT.
The Ambassador also shared information about an ongoing capacity-building project targeting young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country. He invited the Minister to participate in further discussions, emphasizing that the program is designed to attract and support young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators in Abuja, providing them with training and mentorship from Israel to help them establish companies and create jobs.
“We have a six-month program where we take young Nigerian entrepreneurs and innovators from across the country to Abuja because we believe this is the capital to help train them and provide mentorship from Israel and local Nigerians. Our goal is to assist them in building their companies, creating jobs, and providing opportunities for funding and finance to facilitate their growth,” the Ambassador explained.
The event was attended by key officials, including the Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, and the Secretary of Economic Planning, Revenue Generation, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), alongside other senior FCTA representatives.
