By Omoniyi David

Decades after their establishment, most satellite towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) continue to lag behind Abuja’s master plan in terms of infrastructure and basic amenities.

Rapid population growth has outpaced the development of housing, roads, healthcare facilities, and schools, leaving many communities under-served.

Residents of Kaido-Tsoho in Gwagwalada Area Council recently decried the poor state of the only access road, saying it disrupts social and economic activities, especially during the rainy season.

Similar challenges affect access to medical care and schools across other satellite towns.

At the 2025 Town Planners Day, Town Planner Queen I. Phillips noted that while satellite towns were intended to complement the Federal Capital City, they still face inadequate infrastructure, poor service delivery, and weak governance.

Under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, some improvements have been recorded. Projects in Gwagwalada, including the 9km Paikon Kore-Ibwa road, school renovations, and planned Aguma Palace Road works, represent investments exceeding N50 billion, supported by federal funding.

Experts urge the FCT Administration to accelerate interventions, including upgrading roads, healthcare, schools, rail connectivity, and utilities, while encouraging private sector participation to ensure balanced and inclusive development across satellite towns.

By Omoniyi David

Security agencies in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been placed on red alert ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations, with Operation Sweep deployed to border communities to curb criminal activities.

Abuja Metro reports heightened patrols across Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils, where security personnel, including police, military, DSS, and NSCDC are conducting routine patrols and surveillance.

The initiative, established by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, covers four major sectors: Bwari, Gwagwalada, Wuse, and Garki.

The operation also involves monitoring motor parks and strategic locations to deter crime.

Mr Adamu Gwary, Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, said the measures aim to ensure residents’ safety during and beyond the festive period.

Additionally, the FCT and Kaduna State Police Commands have launched joint patrols along the Jere-Abuja-Kaduna highway.

FCT Commissioner of Police, Miller G. Dantawaye, described the exercise as a confidence-building effort to reassure commuters and strengthen border security.

Residents are urged to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities via emergency lines 08032003913 and 08061581938.

Patrick Idowu

Men of Operation Sweep, a special security task force of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, combed motor parks and other strategic locations in the FCT to flush out criminal elements.
Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, told journalists after the operation that the move was to ensure a safe and secure yuletide season.

Gwary, who was represented by Dr Peter Olumuji, Secretary, Command and Control Centre, said the ongoing operation would strengthen security throughout the festive season.

He explained that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, had given marching orders to security agencies under the Operation Sweep to rid the territory of every form of criminality.

He noted that the operation had been very successful, adding that it was being sustained through continued monitoring of motor parks.
The director also said that illegal motor parks being used by “one chance” criminal elements to abduct people were being dismantled.

He further said, “Also, any place harbouring criminal elements, including shanties, was being destroyed.

“We want to tell all miscreants and criminal elements in the FCT that the territory will be too hot for them to operate.

“We don’t have a safe haven for criminals in the FCT anymore, and they should take note of that.”

He added that a lot of arrests had been made, with a lot of shanties dismantled and criminal elements operating as taxi drivers dislodged.

He called on operators of motor parks and event centres to ensure that those without clear identity, especially motorists, did not operate among them.
Mr Adamu Abubakar, Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, commended the task force for helping to rid the city of “one chance” robbers.