The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday took a significant step towards bolstering emergency healthcare services with the official commissioning and handover of 12 new ambulances to public hospitals across the territory.
The event, held at the FCTA Secretariat, was presided over by the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, and attended by senior health officials, permanent secretaries, and representatives of health workers’ unions.
Wike framed the ambulance provision as part of a broader, strategic governance approach, while also issuing a stern warning to civil servants and unions he accused of sabotaging government efforts.
The minister mounted a robust defence of his administration’s prioritisation of infrastructure, pushing back against critics who questioned the focus on roads and education.
“So many people were saying, why are we concentrating on road infrastructure? But people forget that these ambulances may break down when there are no good roads, then the whole sense of the emergency vehicles becomes useless. So first things first,” he said.
He revealed that the administration was already in the process of rehabilitating and furnishing 14 health centres, asserting that his government was systematically addressing every sector.
The minister took credit for resolving inherited liabilities in the health sector, stating, “Nobody went to strike. Even though those debts were being owed, we were able to pay off all these debts.”
He criticised what he called ingratitude from some quarters, particularly highlighting the creation of a permanent secretary cadre and a Head of Service for the FCTA, structures he said were non-existent before his tenure.
“Before this administration came. They were retired as directors. Nobody has been a permanent secretary since the inception of Federal Capital Territory Administration. Today, the staff are the ones enjoying it. Nobody has said, ‘oh, this government, you have done well’,” he said.
Wike provided a stark breakdown of the FCT’s financial constraints, noting that it receives only 1 per cent of the federal allocation.
“If federal government gets 1 trillion, what FCT will get is 1 per cent, What is the salaries today? Not less than 12 billion.
“When I came, this FCT IGR was N9 billion a month. Today, by the grace of God, we have not less than N30 billion every month,” he said.
This increase, he explained, was what allowed for salary augmentation, infrastructure projects, and initiatives like the new ambulances.
He accused some management staff of sabotaging government efforts and politicising issues that should be resolved through dialogue.
“If you make a request or a demand of five items, and the government says ‘okay, we can take up these three items now’. If you are really sincere, there is no way you will not accept. But when you leave it and begin to join us as politicians, we will first treat you as politicians.
“Let me advise you. It depends on whom you are dealing with. By the time we go for contempt, then you will see the difference. We are still open for dialogue. But nobody should threaten the existence of anybody.
“The future of this country is on all of us. I appeal to all of you, to have a reconsideration and allow peace to arrive at the development of our city,” he said.
Earlier, the mandate secretary for Health and Environmental Services, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, set the tone, describing the commissioning as “a significant milestone in strengthening emergency healthcare delivery in this city.”
“This initiative goes beyond the provision of just ambulances. It reflects our commitment to people-centered governance, emergency preparedness, and improved health outcomes for all who reside in the FCT,” she said.
She highlighted the administration’s holistic view of health systems, noting investments in infrastructure, human resources, and timely payment of outstanding allowances.
“I can confidently say that FCT is the only state that has paid all these allowances up to date,” she declared, citing the clearance of 13 months of hazard allowance, wage awards, and the medical residency training fund, some of which dated back to 2021.
Fasawe also drew a direct link between the Minister’s flagship road projects and healthcare efficacy.
“In areas like Abaji, Kwali, Gwagwalada… a journey that used to be one and a half hours, is now about 30 minutes. These ambulances need good roads to be effective,” she said.
The event culminated in the symbolic handover of the ambulance keys to representatives of the benefiting hospitals, marking a tangible upgrade to the FCT’s emergency medical response capacity.
The 12 ambulances are expected to be deployed immediately to enhance service delivery and reduce emergency response times across the territory.
