Featured

FCT, Nasarawa Pledges Commitment To Partnership For More Development

Published

6 years ago

October 12, 2019

Joel Ajayi

Plans are underway for more collaborations between the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Nasarawa State Government for increased development in both areas.

This came to light when the Nasarawa state governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule led a delegation from his state on courtesy and technical visit to the FCT Administration.

Receiving his guests, FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello stressed the need for a joint development commission to harmonize all plans for the overall development of both Nasarawa State and the FCT. He said if necessary, such plans should include joint funding of projects.

The Minister cited areas of collaborations to include security, road linkages between Nasarawa and FCT, rail transport, road expansion to make for the free flow of traffic and consequently, more investment opportunities for both parties.

Malam Bello also called on the Nasarawa State Government to partner with the FCT Administration in the on-going move to decongest traffic along the Abuja/Keffi road, explaining that the task team mandated to carry out the exercise needed the support of the Nasarawa State Government to extend the work to the state.

He stressed the need for both parties to put an end to illegal car parks and trading by the roadside. This, according to Malam Bello, would bring down travel time between the FCT and Nasarawa state, increase productivity in workers traversing both areas to get to work as well as bring about economic development.

The Nasarawa state government had earlier stressed that partnership between the FCT and his state was a necessity and will be beneficial to both areas and the peoples. He solicited collaboration with the FCT for a mega terminal to house all the 22 motor parks in his state. When it takes off, Engr Sule said the terminal would ease off the traffic gridlock along the Abuja/Keffi road, bring down the crime rate and reduce man hour wasted on the road.

The governor who lamented that amenities are overstretched in his state as a result of the increasing number of FCT workers who reside in Nasarawa state, urged the Minister to Partner with the state for the construction of the Apo/Uke road as well as other link roads between the state and the FCT as part of efforts to ease gridlock on the expressway.

He also called for the support of the FCTA in removing traders on the road into the international market. The governor explained that although it is a gradual process, it was a matter of urgency to move the traders from the road, into the market and ensure that they do not return to the roadside.

Highlight of the visit was presentations by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA); on the major link roads between Abuja and Nasarawa, level of completion and possible area of collaboration, the Satellite Town Development Agency (STDA); on the level of completion of the Karshi/Ara/Apo access road and the Ministerial Task Team on Traffic decongestion in the FCT.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

Share on Facebook