The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Friday reiterated its commitment to repositioning community development in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns as part of measures to eradicate poverty and develop rural infrastructure.
The Honourable Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, gave this assurance during the flag-off of the distribution of statutory contribution to communities for the completion of self-help projects in the six area councils at Angwan Hakimi, Orozo, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Hundreds of gas cookers, cements, sewing machines, gas cylinders, doors, zincs, ceiling boards and wheel barrows, among others, were distributed to communities in AMAC.
Akinjide said, “In line with this Administration’s transformation agenda, we are committed to repositioning Community Development in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns for rural infrastructure development and skills development towards self reliance and poverty eradication.
“Indeed, it is our intention to institutionalize a sustainable people-centered development and attaining efficient and effective service delivery.”
The minister noted that the efforts of the communities in augmenting government’s support through the provision of social amenities, empowerment and skills acquisition would go a long way in poverty alleviation at the grass root level.
She commended the initiatives of the communities establishing skill acquisition centres which, she noted, have great potential in fast-tracking development at the grassroots level.
She also praised members of the National Youth Service Corps for positively impacting on the lives of residents in the area councils and satellite towns through their community development service.
Earlier in his address, the Secretary of Area Council Services Secretariat (ACSS), Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, urged residents in the area councils to organise themselves into various community, cooperatives or religious based organisations to meet some basic community needs.
“Such organisations provide a good platform for the sustenance of communal spirit, bonding and effective dialogues to address some challenges in the various communities. It also offer a very useful platform for robust exchange of ideas, articulating community needs and instituting democratic values for effective sustainable community development,” the ACSS boss explained.