By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

In light of planned hunger protests across Nigeria, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike at the weekend held an interactive town hall meeting with residents as part of the peace-building process in Abuja.Addressing the residents during the Town Hall, the FCT Minister said the meeting was organized to provide an avenue for dialogue with various stakeholders in the Territory and to allow them to air their grievances, rather than taking to the streets to protest against the government.

The Minister argued protests would not solve any problem but would rather create an opportunity for hooligans to take advantage of the situation to foment trouble.He warned that the FCT Administration will not allow any protest that is geared towards destruction or to overthrow the government and cautioned residents against aligning with those he described as faceless protesters.The Minister acknowledged that FCT residents have the constitutional right to protest, but cautioned that such protests must be done within the ambit of the lawReacting to the purported written requests for permission to protest at the Eagle Square in the FCT, the Minister said he only heard about the request on social media and television.He said any request to protest in the FCT must be addressed to his office, adding that certain conditions must also be fulfilled before the requests are granted.Noting that peace was necessary for the development of any society, the Minister said everything possible would be done to see that peace is maintained in the FCT.He therefore appreciated the stakeholders in the FCT including the traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organizations and representatives of youth groups, as well as women leaders for their support to the FCT Administration and for committing to peace building in the FCT and assured of continued dialogue with residents.Reacting to the requests for inclusion of women and youths in governance in the FCT, the Minister stated that the youth and women have been adequately represented in his cabinet with appointments as Mandate Secretaries and other key positions and assured that they would not be abandoned in subsequent appointments.The Minister also stated that following the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission and the subsequent reforms of the Service, four out of the ten staff appointed as Permanent Secretaries are women. On the request for the creation of a Youth Secretariat in the FCT Administration, the Minister assured that he would forward the request to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu adding that the Secretariat would be established upon approval by the President.The Minister who also noted that the FCT, for the first time, has their son as a Minister in the Federal cabinet, said the appointment of a non-indigene to represent the FCT in the Public Complaints Commission will be brought to the attention of the President for correction.The FCT Minister further disclosed that the FCT Administration would soon commence the construction of police stations in the various Area Councils in the FCT as has been requested and assured of the continued provision of infrastructure in the Abuja city and the satellite towns.In her address, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud thanked FCT residents for their support and willingness to collaborate with the FCT Administration, assuring that the FCTA will continue to work with them to foster peace and development.

Mahmoud while also thanking the FCT Minister for his developmental strides in the FCT reiterated that the FCT Administration will not allow faceless people to disrupt the peace and development in the nation’s capital.Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Christopher Maikalangu thanked the Minister for organizing the town hall meeting and for giving FCT residents the opportunity to air their grievances.The AMAC Chairman said the cumulative grievances in the country could only be solved by constructive engagements and urged FCT residents to shelve the planned protest, adding that the government was committed to addressing the challenges in the country.In his remark, the Ona of Abaji, Dr Adamu Yunusa, who spoke on behalf of the 17 Graded Chiefs of the FCT also thanked the FCT Minister for organizing the town hall meeting and for providing an opportunity for interaction with residents of the FCT.The Ona who was represented by the HRH Ismaila Mohammed MFR the Sarkin Karshi, said the indigenous population in the FCT have been sensitized on the need to shun the protests adding that they have also been warned of the implications. The Onah said that the traditional rulers were working with the security agencies to ensure peace and security in their various domains.Also, the Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, Yahaya Ayo, stressed the importance of peace in the development and economic growth of the FCT and assured that the worship centres in the FCT will not be part of the planned protests, even as he pledged to continue to pray for the peace and progress of the country.Representative of CAN President, FCT Chapter, Pastor JB Michael, from the Christian angle, also thanked the FCT Minister for his transformative efforts in the FCT and called for meaningful engagement of the youths to rightly channel their energy into productive activities.Chairman National Youth Council of Nigeria (FCT branch), Suleiman Ango also thanked the FCT Minister for organizing the town hall engagement and revealed that Nigerian youths, following several meetings, have unanimously agreed that there would be no protest in the FCT.Ango, however, called for the empowerment of the youths in FCT and also appealed for the creation of a Secretariat for youth affairs.President, National Council for Women Societies, NCWS, Hajia Hadiza, said FCT women were against the planned protests which she said would cause more harm than good.She acknowledged the transformative efforts of the Minister in the FCT and called for further interactions with the Minister.