By Ben Adoga, Abuja

Nyesom Wike officially resumed office yesterday as Minister of the FCT in grand style after his inauguration by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Wike, who was followed by a mammoth crowd from the Presidency into his office in Area 11, started with a press briefing.

The former Rivers State governor, who is already known for developmental projects, warranting his nickname Mr. Project had assured that he is in the FCT for projects.

Promising to replicate what he did in Rivers State in the FCT, he promised that within six months he would fix security, sanitation, street lights, and Abuja master plan restoration, while in one year, he will deal with real infrastructural development, restoration of green areas, removal of shanties, blocking of revenue leakages, ground rents payment, among other deliverables.

Wike, in his maiden media chat, assured that he was ready to step on toes to get the job done as he has the mandate of Mr President to perform.

Responding to questions from journalists, Wike said he was not in the FCT to fly party flags but to provide infrastructural development and dividends of democracy and return the territory to its glory days.

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“Why should anyone be bothered about what party flag I will be flying? Okay, bring the PDP flag, I will fly it, bring Labour Party flag, I will fly it. The FCT is currently in this state and you think the people are bothered about the party flag I fly? I will fly the Nigerian flag and ensure the FCT returns to the dreams of the founding fathers,” he said.

Adding, “We will bring FCT back to where it ought to be. So many people have complained that this is not the FCT of our founding fathers. We must tackle the issue of security. FCT should be where people come for holidays.”

He warned that the administration under his leadership will not take excuses from security agencies as they will be provided with the required tools to work as the issue of security is germane.

The minister also disclosed that he will sanitise the city and end the rise of slums and shanties across the city.

“Abuja has turned into a slum city. Sanitation is bad, with refuse everywhere. We cannot allow that. We will look at issues of waste disposal.

“If you know you have built where you are not supposed to build, it will go down. Our green areas and parks must come back. Land racketeering days are over. Those who refused to develop, turning to land speculators will lose their lands.

“All these are our short-term deliverables to bring back people’s confidence in government.”

According to him, all sectors in the Federal Capital Territory must work, and there won’t be room for complaints.

In addition, he said he is ready to tackle issues like unapproved motor parks and the building of infrastructure will be key areas of his interest.

The minister noted that it will be wrong for the Federal Capital Territory to be taken over by illegal activities that breach the peace and pave the way for insecurity.

“It is not going to be business as usual in FCT, so many people have complained that the territory has lost focus, some say this is not the FCT they know.

“It is not the FCT we thought will compete with the cities of the world, this is the time that we must show that the FCT can compete with other cities of the world. The security agencies should identify the black spots in the city so that we will flush out the criminals.”