The lawmaker representing the Federal Capital Territory senatorial district, Ireti Kingibe, on Friday, expressed concerns about the living conditions of people in the nation’s capital.
Kingibe lamented the struggles FCT residents were facing, attributing much of their hardship to President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms.
Speaking at the 8th Voice of Women Conference and Award organised by the VOW Foundation, Kingibe painted a grim picture of life in Abuja.
She said, “Life in this environment is tough. Everyone is hungry; everyone is asking for money or food. But if I tried to give everyone what they wanted, I would be called the biggest thief in Abuja.
“Instead, I focus on advocating for your rights—like pushing for rent reforms so tenants can pay quarterly or yearly, instead of being forced to pay two years upfront.
The senator explained that her responsibilities present unique challenges, particularly in the area of lobbying for projects in ministries and federal parastatals.
She said, “Being a female senator is tough. I have to lobby for every project. I move from ministry to ministry, ensuring that essential items are included in the budget. For now, I’m engaging with big companies like Google and Microsoft to empower female entrepreneurs.
“As a leader, it’s not possible to meet every single person who voted for me in the FCT. But if your life improves, that’s what matters. For instance, in Karu, I helped to build a road, and the residents were happy, even though I didn’t know all of them personally.
“They can see the impact. Another example is Karu Market Road, which I am working on. I have been alerted to issues with the overhead pedestrian bridge there. I am addressing that too because we learnt that a woman tragically lost her life there after being hit by a vehicle.”
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