FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has flagged off the installation of streetlights and surveillance devices on Abuja roads and streets.
The minister, who expressed concerns over persistent darkness on Abuja roads at night, said the installation of solar solar-powered streetlighting system will not only provide illumination, but also improve security.
"So it has been a sense of concern for me and my team," Wike said on Thursday.
"But we felt that we must take up the challenge. When we came on board in August 2023, one thing anybody who visits Abuja or who resides in Abuja will identify is that totally almost 80% of the entire city is in darkness.
"Secondly, there was this issue of insecurity when we came on board. So we are trying to see how we can tackle this issue. If we continue to leave Abuja in darkness, obviously, insecurity will increase. So we decided to do what we could and what was available". He said.
While condemning the activities of FCTA officials who, in the past, connived with contractors maintaining Abuja streetlights to sabotage his administration's efforts to light up the capital city, he disclosed that the companies responsible for the installation will maintain the streetlights for five years, eliminating the need for frequent fraudulent maintenance.
He added that the streetlights will be equipped with surveillance features, enabling authorities to identify and apprehend anyone attempting to vandalise them.
"So, when you are driving at night, you will be calling to say, 'Have you passed this street? There's no light there'. They'll say, 'Yes, we are trying to start maintenance tomorrow. The next time I go out, you will see light by 7. By 11 o'clock, everything go off.
"I'll call and say, are you not the one that has done the light here. They'll say, Yes it's just this night that it happened. So, it became a problem for me, with headache, I'll just come back home tired. I said, I'm tired".
"But I thank God this time around, that they'll be nothing like maintenance because the two companies will maintain it for 4-5 years. And so, I will not see file for maintenance of so so thing. Everything has been built in and the companies will have to maintain it for four or five years. The company has to make sure there's security for it". The minister assured.
