The Senate President, David Mark has assured that the Senate would expedite action on the Bills for the establishment of the FCT Board of Internal Revenue and for FCT Property Tax.
The Senate President gave this assurance on Thursday while launching 180 brand new vehicles for the second batch of the FCT Administration’s Subsidy Re-Investment Programme Taxi Scheme at the Eagle Square, Abuja.
Represented at the occasion by the Senate Deputy Leader and Chairman of Senate Committee on SURE-P, Abdul Ningi, he reiterated that the expedited attention would enable FCT leverage its revenue base with a view of funding its key infrastructure and public service programmes.
He commended the FCT Administration under the leadership of Bala Mohammed for making good its pledge to alleviate the pains associated with the ban on rickety buses from the roads of the Federal Capital City.
His words: “Yours is indeed, an Administration that identifies with the plight of the people. I commend you for listening to the citizenry. The foundation of every successful democracy is dialogue and giving ear to the voice of the people”.
In his address, the FCT Minister, Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, remarked that today’s launching of 180 Taxis is the second phase of the scheme to prove a point that the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan is indeed working in FCT.
Mohammed revealed that this is yet another important milestone in the fulfillment of the pledge made to the people; adding that “ with this, we have succeeded in introducing 340 taxis into the system”.
The Minister further remarked that the ban on the operation of mini buses on Abuja city roads had been necessitated by the need to sanitize the public transportation system in the city with a view to bringing it at par with global best practice.
According to him, “we have recorded significant reduction in crimes, roads accidents, pollution and other socio-economic consequences that hindered the development of the city”.
Mohammed emphasized that the FCT Transportation sector has received significant investments under the SURE-P intervention programme.
His word: “My Administration has so far released N1 billion to the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited for the rehabilitation of its buses as well as the purchase of new ones”.
He disclosed that earlier the sum of N1 billion was also released to the Abuja Investment Company Limited for the floating of the FCT SURE-P Taxi Scheme, in addition to the injection of 300 high capacity buses by the Federal Government in 2012.
The Minister further disclosed that discussion between the FCT Administration and a number of banks have reached advanced stage for the funding of additional 500 – 700 taxis to flood all the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory.
He commended the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company and his crop of professionals, for effectively playing their role in anchoring private sector participation in the transformation of the FCT.
Mohammed stated, “We have engaged nearly 4,000 participants, mainly women and youths, into various departments and agencies including the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Parks & Recreation as well as the six Area Councils of the FCT”.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Group Managing Director, Abuja Investment Company Limited, Dr. Musa Ahmed Musa, said that the implementation of the FCT SURE-P/AICL Taxi Scheme on behalf of the FCT Administration commenced in May 2013 with the release of N500 million by the FCT SURE-P.
Musa revealed that the first batch of the scheme comprising of 160 vehicles were procured at the total unit cost of N2.7 million covering the cost of vehicle; one year Comprehensive Insurance; GPS Tracking System; Registration/Number Plate as well as Painting and Branding.
According to him, each of the vehicles was given out to the beneficiaries based on 3-year lease period with 10% subsidy on the total cost of the vehicle.
