Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been urged to prioritise the welfare of Abuja residents and the delivery of essential services over political exchanges with opponents.

The call was made by an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and founder of the Arewa Mandate Alliance (AMA), Yakubu Sani, who advised Wike to focus more on governance and improving living conditions in the nation’s capital.

He added that greater attention to governance and public welfare would enable the FCT Administration to demonstrate more clearly the impact of the Tinubu administration on residents of the nation’s capital.

Expressing concern that political exchanges during public functions could distract attention from infrastructure projects being executed under the Tinubu administration, he advised Wike to allow the projects delivered under his supervision to speak for his performance, while devoting greater attention to other pressing needs of Abuja residents.

Sani specifically called for greater attention to water supply, sanitation, traffic management and the welfare of workers providing essential public services in the capital.

“While Wike is building roads and bridges, he should also be asking what is happening to the welfare of teachers, healthcare workers and civil servants in the FCT,” he said.

He also raised concerns over inadequate water supply, indiscriminate parking and refuse disposal in some parts of Abuja, saying the problems affect residents and motorists.

“Many FCT residents don’t have water, while motorists compete with refuse dumps for space on major roads in the city. This leads to obstruction as vehicles are parked indiscriminately on motorways,” he said.

Sani maintained that infrastructure development should be complemented by functional public institutions and motivated personnel, stressing that education, healthcare and other public services were equally important to residents.

“You cannot build beautiful roads and bridges and ignore the people who teach our children, treat our sick and run the machinery of government. Their welfare should also be a priority,” he said.

He urged Wike to devote greater attention to the administration of the FCT and reduce political confrontations with other government officials.

“President Tinubu gave Wike a job to do in Abuja. He should concentrate on that job. Let the quality of his work speak for him,” Sani said.

According to him, the minister’s primary responsibility is to implement the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu and address the challenges confronting residents of the FCT.

“Every road and bridge commissioned in Abuja should be an opportunity to talk about development, not an occasion to denigrate perceived political opponents,” Sani said.