FCTA to Partner Niger State Government on Suleja Smart City Project

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Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

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The minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has offered the support of the FCTA for the Niger State Government’s Smart city project at bother town, Suleja.

This was disclosed in a statement by Anthony Ogunleye, Chief Press Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in Abuja.

According to the statement, Malam Bello made the pledge at a meeting with a delegation from Niger State led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane, who expressed delight at the call for a partnership between the FCTA and Niger State.

The Minister, while conceding that the jurisdiction for such a laudable project in a historical city as Suleja, rests with the Niger State Government, however, observed that many of its beneficiaries would come from the FCT, hence the resolve to give maximum support and cooperation to the project.

He said, “We feel highly honoured and delighted that the government of Niger wants to partner with FCT in this project and that is why the entire management team, as well as the political leadership of the Area Council where this is going to take place, are here in today’s meeting.”

The Minister added that the FCTA will give all the needed support to make sure that the project comes to reality, more so because it is in line with President Buhari Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda to bring development to communities, create employment and bring about economic growth based on ICT, in line with global practice.

Applauding the rationale behind the smart city, he described it as a legacy project that will attract engineers of great repute, Malam Bello urged that it should be conceptualized to run on renewable clean energy.

On the issue of Committees to drive the project, the Minister assured that the FCTA was prepared to deploy necessary manpower to ensure its success.

Malam Bello said, “We are working towards a Special Joint Planning Committee between Nasarawa State and the FCT, towards the development of the border communities of Karu and also a road network that is going to link Nasarawa to the FCT, through Guruku, Panda up to Mpape area. So, what you are now requesting for Niger State is something that is not new to us.

“We are working towards a Special Joint Planning Committee between Nasarawa State and the FCT, towards the development of the border communities of Karu and also a road network that is going to link Nasarawa to the FCT, through Guruku, Panda up to Mpape area. So what you are now requesting for Niger State is something that is not new to us,”

In his submission, the Secretary to the Government of Niger State solicited the partnership of the FCTA in the development of a Smart City situated on 11,000 hectares of land in Suleja as well as the establishment of a Suleja Smart Company to develop and manage the Smart City.

He went on to clarify that the land falls within the Abuja-Bwari Planning District as contained in the FCTA Master Plan and the State has already secured a grant from the South Korean Government and the services of an International Consultant to carry out Feasibility Study and to prepare for the Smart city.

On the scope of the project, the SSG said it would include smart buildings and associated infrastructure, an assembly plant for renewable energy systems and components, a training institute for the youth to learn how to assemble, repair and market renewable energy systems and components.

Others, he said, are, IT infrastructure for electric and autonomous vehicle as well as green house and hydroponic farms to produce fresh fruits and vegetable for the residents and for sale to Abuja and beyond.