The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has formally submitted a request to solicit the support of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to access funds from the Natural Resources Development Fund (NRDF) for infrastructural development.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom, wrote to the Commission to solicit its backing to access the Fund, to enable the FCT execute projects some key development projects.
The projects include the construction, rehabilitation, and desilting of dams across the FCT to enable year-round crop production, including Lower Usuma Dam, Pedan Dam, Jabi Lake Dam, and Kilankwa Dam; installation of solar-powered irrigation systems to support dry season farming and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and establishment of six mechanization service centers and procurement of tractors, harvesters, and other equipment to support smallholder farmers to boost agricultural output
Other projects include the provision of crop-specific harvesting and on-farm storage technologies to reduce post-harvest losses and extend market access; modernization of grains and cattle markets and improvement of animal breeding and veterinary services, and the development of the FCT’s tourism sector and exploration of its solid mineral potential.
A delegation from the Federal Capital Territory which visited the RMAFC in Abuja on Friday made a presentation to the Fiscal and Efficiency and Budget Committee on the need to access the NRDF.
The delegation which was led by the Acting Chairman of the FCT Internal Revenue Service (IR), Mr. Michael Ango, said they represented the FCT.
He said the presentation was a follow-up to the letter earlier written by the Minister to solicit the backing of the Commission to access the NRDF.
Receiving the delegation, the Chairman of the Fiscal Efficiency and Budget Committee and Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State on the Commission, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, praised the developmental strides of the FCT Minister since his assumption of office.
Akawor, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, said the Commission welcomed the Minister’s innovative approaches towards the development of some of the natural resources of the FCT through Agriculture, Solid Minerals and Tourism sectors in order to accelerate the socio-economic development of the area and Nigeria.
“These are in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of economic diversification drive under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.
Akawor informed the delegation that the 1.68 percent Development of Natural Resources Fund was one of the items under Special Fund established by the Revenue Allocation (Federation Account, etc) Act CAP A15 LFN, 2004.
The Fund which is received as a direct allocation from the Federation Account on a monthly basis, he said, was in addition to the share of the Federal Government allocation kept in trust for the three tiers of government for economic diversification purposes through agriculture, solid minerals, and tourism development.
To access the Fund, he explained that the Commission established a procedure where the requesting entity from the three tiers of government are required to make a formal presentation to the Commission through the Fiscal Efficiency and Budget Committee.
Besides, Ambassador Akawor said the Committee, on the receipt of the formal request, would thereafter carry out a physical assessment visit to the requesting entity to certify the viability of the issues raised during the presentation.
He said the certification exercise would be followed by a report and recommendations on what was appropriate to be given to the requesting entity, before a letter containing the recommendations would be sent to the President for approval.
He assured the delegation that the Committee would ensure fairness and equity on making favourable recommendations to the request by the FCT, guided by the objectives for the establishment of the Fund.
During the interactive session, members of the Committee engaged the FCT team with questions aimed at clarifying the objectives, implementation strategy, and expected outcomes of the proposed projects.
In his response, Mr. Ango assured the Commission that the Funds would be judiciously utilized if the request to access it was granted.
The Federal Commissioner representing the FCT, Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako, commended the FCT-IRS for its forward-looking vision in improving the internally generated revenue of the area.
He applauded the agency’s strategic approach to economic development and emphasized that such initiatives were key to sustaining national growth.
Ambassador Ngbako also reiterated the unwavering commitment of RMAFC to ensuring fiscal responsibility, accountability, and due diligence in evaluating the request for funding from the Development of Natural Resources Fund.
