Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed the immediate redesign and upgrade of the abandoned Life Camp Recreation Park into a modern leisure and sporting facility, saying the project will be treated as an emergency to improve the quality of life for residents.

The minister announced the decision on Monday after inspecting the neglected recreational garden at the Life Camp Roundabout, just hours after receiving a Certificate of Commendation from First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge.

Wike said the recognition, which followed the successful transformation of the Abuja City Gate into a recreational and environmental landmark, had inspired the FCT Administration to invest in more green and public spaces across the nation’s capital.

“Today, by the grace of God, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, gave the Federal Capital Territory Administration an award and commendation over our contribution to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Green Nigeria Challenge and how we have been able to turn around the City Gate into recreation centres and make the environment greener,” he said.

According to the minister, the revamped Abuja City Gate has quickly become one of the city’s most popular attractions.

“It was the initiative of the First Lady to make sure that the City Gate looks like what city gates look like all over the world. Since it was commissioned, it has become an attraction centre where people visit day and night. This award will spur us and motivate us to continue implementing the ideals of the Renewed Hope Initiative,” Wike said.

Turning to the abandoned Life Camp park, the minister described its neglect over the years as regrettable, saying previous administrations failed to harness its enormous recreational potential.

“It is unfortunate that governments have come and gone without thinking about this place. I must commend the First Lady for reminding us of the need to preserve areas where people can leave their homes and communities to relax,” he said.

He explained that the administration plans to restore the park with world-class facilities that will serve residents seeking recreation, exercise and relaxation.

“What we intend to do here is to bring it back and provide modern facilities so that people living within this area can come here for their daily sporting activities, recreation, relaxation, take photographs and enjoy themselves, just as it is done in advanced countries,” he said.

Wike disclosed that he had instructed the Federal Capital Development Administration (FCDA) to begin work immediately on a redesign of the facility, insisting that the project would bypass lengthy bureaucratic procedures.

“I have directed the relevant officials of the FCDA to move very quickly and present us with what is most befitting for a city like Abuja. We are going to treat this as an emergency. It cannot go through the normal bureaucratic process because our people deserve better,” he said. (The Sun)

•PHOTO: L–R: Wife of the Vice President and National Vice Chairman of Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), Hajia Nana Shettima; First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike and Minister of State for the FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, after the First Lady’s presentation of Certificate of Commendation to the FCT minister at the State House, Abuja, yesterday.

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