FCT MINISTER PLEDGES COMPLETION OF ABANDONED GWAGWALADA MINI-STADIUM, ORDERS IMMEDIATE RELOCATION OF ABATTOIR

FCTA PRESS RELEASE

FCT MINISTER PLEDGES COMPLETION OF ABANDONED GWAGWALADA MINI-STADIUM, ORDERS IMMEDIATE RELOCATION OF ABATTOIR

…As he tackles ‘greedy’ politicians opposed to the Rainbow Coalition …Rallies Gwagwalada stakeholders for President Tinubu and APC candidates ahead of 2027 elections.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of Gwagwalada Area Council that the FCT Administration will work towards the completion of the long-abandoned Gwagwalada Mini-Stadium to empower local youths through sports.

In a similar vein, the Minister has also issued an ultimatum to the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCTA to immediately coordinate with the Gwagwalada Area Council Chairman, Kassim Mohammed for the prompt relocation of the local abattoir as requested by community stakeholders.

The FCT Minister gave these commitments during an interactive town hall meeting with Rainbow Coalition stakeholders at the newly constructed Gwagwalada Civic Centre. The town hall meeting forms part of the Minister’s ongoing mobilization across the six Area Councils of the FCT to rally support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election and the endorsement of all APC Rainbow Coalition candidates in the FCT.

Highlighting the importance of grassroots sports infrastructure in discovering talent, Wike noted that the youth’s request for playing facilities is modest yet vital for national development. “The youths have said here, that they are not asking much”, Wike stated, “Where they can play sports morning, evening, weekend, play football. You never can tell, one day we will have somebody like Lionel Messi, we are talking about Mbappé. We may have him here. Give them the opportunity. You are not asking for money. You are not asking for too much. Let me assure you, that project (Gwagwalada mini-stadium) that was abandoned, we will make sure we come back and complete it”.

Turning to environmental and public health concerns raised by community stakeholders, the Minister issued a direct instruction regarding the immediate relocation of the Gwagwalada abattoir. Addressing the Mandate Secretary for Agriculture, Ango Abdullahi, the Minister warned, “Liaise with the Chairman and the abattoir should be moved immediately. If you don’t do it, your job is at stake”.

The Minister who also commissioned the recently completed Gwagwalada Civil Centre, commended the Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council for completing and naming the facility after him, as well as for the massive turnout of residents.

Reflecting on infrastructure milestones in the area, Wike reminded the audience of the administration’s track record of fulfilling promises, noting that the key road leading to Zuba requested during his initial visit was due for completion this December. He also cited the numerous road networks constructed across Gwagwalada.

The Minister emphasized that the primary purpose of governance was making citizens happy through tangible progress and called on all residents and stakeholders to come out en masse on January 16, 2027, to cast their votes for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Philip Aduda for Senate, Hon. Danladi Chiya for the House of Representatives, and all other Rainbow Coalition candidates of the APC in the FCT.

“On the day of the election, it will not be a day for market or fishing. It is the day all of us have decided to come together and demonstrate our strength through our votes. Go to the polling units, Districts and communities and mobilize the people to vote for Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the Minister stated.

Contrasting current representation with past leadership, the Minister urged residents not to repeat the electoral mistakes of 2023 when representatives failed to identify with the electorate. He declared that voters in the FCT have resolved to correct their mistake by voting for accessible leaders who understand community needs.

“You made a mistake in 2023 by electing somebody who has never sat with you one day to discuss. Therefore today, we have decided to tell Senator Ireti Kingibe bye-bye”, Minister Wike said. “You want somebody you can call their name easily because you know him. Aduda identifies with the youths, the students, and traditional rulers”.

Reaffirming the stability brought by the Rainbow Coalition strategy, the FCT Minister praised the APC and PDP chairmen in the FCT for unifying the political landscape and establishing an unprecedented peaceful atmosphere close to an election. He strongly criticized opposition politicians who reject the inclusive coalition model, describing them as self-serving figures who lack the capacity to unite their people.

“Some greedy and selfish politicians do not understand what we call unity. They have no capacity to hold their space, they have no capacity to even hold their families and they have no capacity to hold their communities. So, they can open their mouth and say no Rainbow Coalition. All of us in the Rainbow Coalition have agreed to work together”.

Responding to student requests for direct engagement, the Minister disclosed that following his scheduled session with FCT youths on November 10, the Chief of Staff will announce a specific date for a formal interactive town hall with students.

Welcoming the Minister and delegates to the event, the Executive Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Kassim Mohammed, reaffirmed his unalloyed commitment to the ruling party and the Rainbow Coalition framework, declaring total support for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC National Assembly candidates.

Hon. Mohammed highlighted the massive infrastructural transformation unfolding across Gwagwalada under the present administration as the cornerstone of the party’s campaign push. He emphasized that the tangible developmental achievements delivered by the FCT Administration remain the strongest argument for continuity, assuring the Minister that President Tinubu, Senator Philip Aduda, and Hon. Danladi Chiya (Bomboy) will secure a decisive victory in Gwagwalada in 2027.

Hon. Hajara Abdullahi who spoke on behalf of women in Gwagwalada area council, appreciated the FCT Minister for the laudable development he has brought to the rural FCT, adding that the women of Gwagwalada do not take it for granted while promising to reciprocate, come 2027, by voting for President Tinubu and all candidates of the Rainbow Coalition in the FCT.

Representing the youths in Gwagwalada, Comrade Inuwa Gusau thanked the Minister for giving the council Chairman the necessary support, which has led to the much he (the Chairman) has done in the short time since he assumed office, vowing that the youth of Gwagwalada under the Rainbow Coalition will vote for President Tinubu and the APC candidates vying for seats in the National Assembly.

In their separate submissions, both the APC and PDP chairmen in the FCT, Tanko Yamawo and Mohammed Dogara praised the FCT Minister for bringing peaceful electioneering to the FCT – uniting different party members under the Rainbow Coalition, saying that before the coming of Nyesom Wike, elections in the FCT were characterised by violence and chaos, especially in Gwagwalada area council.

Speaking for the traditional rulers in the council, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Alhaji Muhammadu Magaji, said the FCT had never had it so good in terms of government presence and the spread of infrastructure development across the entire territory.

He urged candidates not to allow the good work of the Minister to go to waste, calling on them to embrace everyone, irrespective of party affiliation, during and after the elections.

Present at the well-attended event were former chairmen of Gwagwalada area council, Adamu Mustapha Danze and Zakari Angulu Dobi, current Chairmen of the Area councils, former chairman of the APC in the FCT and other stakeholders in the Rainbow Coalition in the FCT

RABI MUSA UMAR

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PRESS

(OFFICE OF THE HON. MINISTER)

FCTA/ODP/PR/920

2/11/2026