Emma Ugboaja
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It was indeed a busy day for the FCT Ombudsman .
Rising from a 3 hour Investigation Case Review, he dived into a media parley.
As part of his drive for publicity for his activities as FCT Ombudsman, Hon Musa Dikko, Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission FCT today played host to the editorial team of Aso Mirror Newspaper and Mandate News Magazine.

Both mainstream media handles took turns to interact with the FCT Ombudsman on wide range of issues as Hon. Dikko also gave meaningful insights on the nature of complaints received so far, the agitation for compensation and adequate resettlement by indigenous communities and residents of the FCT and, the commitment of his FCT led PCC to exterminate all form of social ills pervading the political, economic and social landscape of the Federal Capital Territory.

Dikko, himself an indegene of the Federal Capital Territory, else while Civil Servant, former Executive Chairman, Bwari Area Council and later Special Adviser to FCT Minister was before his appointment as FCT Ombudsman well already equipped with vast public service knowledge for the task trusted on him by the National Assembly.

While interacting and fielding questions from a team of seasoned journalists and Editors from Aso Mirror Newspaper amongst whom are Dayo Lawal; Editor in chief, Abdul Jelil Managing Editor and
James Dickson Editor , FCT Ombudsman emphasised that argitations and complaints recieved in FCT are increasing due to the increased infrastructural development of the Federal Capital.
” Wike’s (referring to Nyeso Wike, Federal Capital Territory Minister) developmental strides are going into hinterland, the complaints arising from his activities are basic and genuine and at various community level, developer are not helping matters” he said.

The FCT Ombudsman stressed therefore that ” once the residents aren’t adequately compensated and resettled, you don’t force residents out of especially when such land is inherited” and agreed that ” public interest: (reason why such lands are acquired in the first place) over rides personal interest” but wondered if the interest of FCT indigenous people and residents who are constantly being moved from their ancestral homes are not part of public interest.

While drawing inference that Kukuaba, Katempe, Maitama and other communities in present day Kubwa wasn’t resettled well enough to cater for increasing number of families, Hon. Dikko expressed joy that as an indegene of the affected communities, the mantle now fall on him to take these complaints and find ways of involving the government to address them.

The crux of Hon. Dikko’s interactive session with Wale Ademokoya of Mandate News Magazine wasn’t’ different from that of the Aso Mirror Newspaper, the common theme in both meetings was how best to shore up the publicity for the activities of the Dikko led Public Complaints Commission FCT Office.

The good thing is that the media houses are interested and, are taking the lead, asking for collaborative measures even in the midst of dearth of resources for the Commission in FCT to publicize it’s activities.

The coming days (especially when the results of collaborative talks begin to bear fruits) therefore, promises to put the FCT Ombudsman in the news for positive values of self in addressing complaints in the Federal Capital Territory.
Tuesday 21st January, 2025