By Ruth Oketunde
Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says the council has cleared 60 per cent of the debts his predecessor owed contractors in the last one year.
Maikalangu said this while briefing newsmen on his administrations’ achievements since he assumed office, on Wednesday in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman, along side the five other area council chairmen in the FCT, were sworn into office on June 14, 2022.
Maikalangu, who was represented by the Supervisory Councillor for Special Duties, Mr Emmanuel Inyang, said that on assumption of office, he was faced with the reality of an empty treasury and inheriting a debt profile of about N2.5 billion.
He added that the accumulated debts made some of councils’ contractors to abandon ongoing projects and impeded his administrations’ vision to kick-start new projects.
He added that though faced with various hurdles, ranging from different court cases, his administration had been able to achieve remarkable milestone in developmental projects.
“We have been able to provide potable drinking water by constructing solar community borehole in various communities, such as Dagma village, Anguwan Gade in Jikwoyi, Karu ward, Anguwan Gbagyi in Karshi ward and at Area C, Nyanya.
“We have provided rural electrification by supplying and installing transformers at Toge Community, Tatajiya and Hulumi communities.
“On construction of rural roads, aside from grading and rehabilitating several feeder roads, we have constructed and laid asphalt on Wumba Township road, Iddo-Sarki access road, Mondic road, Gwagwa road among other communities,” he said.
On educational development, Maikalangu said his administration had inaugurated a scholarship committee to review application from all indigents students from the twelve wards of the council.
“By the third week of June, about 200 applicants of various categories are expected to receive their scholarship awards,” he added.
The chairman added that to put a stop to high incidences of fake and illegitimate revenue collectors, his administration introduced the cashless revenue payment policy.
“This policy guarantees direct payment into council designated accounts and the reduction of corruption and imposters in the revenue administration and collection in AMAC.
“Another creative revenue policy was the inauguation and introduction of AMAC taskforce on revenue monitoring, inspection and enforcement to fish out thieves and upped the payment compliance level,” he said.
The chairman however, called on the residents of the area council to be patient with his administration, as he was committed to delivering more dividends of democracy to the people.
“I wish to reassure that the partnership resulting from your show of love for me shall be sustained and reciprocated by way of qualitative, selfless and result-oriented service, programmes and projects,” he added.
(NAN)
