The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barr. Nyesom Wike, has pledged to engage in discussions with cattle breeders before implementing the prohibition of cattle rearing within the city center of Abuja.
Additionally, Wike has outlined intentions to offer alternative transportation options before enforcing the ban on commercial motorcycle operators in the city centre.
These statements were made by the Minister during a press briefing on Saturday, 30th September 2023, following his inspection of various ongoing road projects in the nation’s capital.
We did not take a firm decision because we have not been able to provide the buses that will be the alternative for the people.
It is within the government’s responsibility to provide the alternative and then ask the motorcycle operators to leave the city centre.”
Barr. Nyesom Wike – FCT Minister
This is so that you don’t ask them to leave, and people will be suffering.
On the problem of open grazing in Abuja, the minister said that the issue would be addressed after due consultation with the headsmen.
Before we take any decision, we will do proper consultation so that nobody will say you never alerted them, you never interacted with them before you took that decision.
“We are going to call the cattle people to sit with them. We cannot allow things to go on like this. We didn’t say that there would be no cattle in Abuja but within the city.
Like I said, we will take it one after the other.
You know Nigerians are used to nothing will happen. Just like when we talk about land revocation and payment of ground rent, people say it will not happen, but it has happened.
Even you, journalists, disseminating the information, you must disseminate the information in such a way that you are not trying to cause crises between the government and members of the public.”
Barr. Nyesom Wike – FCT Minister
He said that cows would be allowed to graze in the suburbs but not in the city centre.
He assured that his administration is dedicated to constructing a capital city that all Nigerians can take pride in.
Story: Christy Dung