The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • FCTA attracts N1.8trn to Abuja

    THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has attracted N1.8 trillion ($11 billion) worth of private capital investments to the FCT since April, 2010, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has said.

    He spoke while hosting a cross section of the FCT residents to a luncheon at his Life Camp official resident after paying Sallah homage to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro Abuja.

    The areas of investment inflow, he said, include infrastructure provision through land swap, city centre, railway, housing development, commerce, hotel and tourism.

    He said his administration has been able to expand the frontiers of development in the FCT, especially through speedy provision of infrastructure.

    Senator Mohammed cited the ultra-modern Abuja International Airport Express Road and the Zuba-Kubwa-City super highway constructed by his administration as examples of his efforts to open up the nation’s capital and its satellite towns.

    According to him, the new super highways rank among the best on the continent.

    The minister emphasised that the FCTA has been able to open up the capital territory in an unprecedented manner, especially through collaboration with the private sector operators.

    He added that through the land swap initiative which he introduced two years ago, the administration is opening up about 11 districts within the next four years through injection of private capital by 15 ranking investors totaling over N700 billion.

    Also the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) which he re-invented in 2012, has accelerated infrastructure development in the hitherto neglected area councils and satellite towns within the FCT in a manner that would help decongest the city centre.

    Another area of outstanding achievement by his administration, he said, was the reform of public transportation through restriction of mini-buses and provision of more modern mass transit high capacity buses.

    On security, the minister said: “Security remains a major challenge for the FCTA, stressing that the administration was developing a security protocol.

    “If you are running a business, you must provide some minimum security requirements to safeguard lives and property. These include devices like hand-held bomb detectors, closed circuit televisions and other devices which must be provided in business places of large public gathering,” he said.

    Senator Mohammed had, after prayers at the Eid Ground; Airport Road led large contingent of FCT residents to pay Sallah homage to the President at the Presidential Villa.

    Speaking at the Villa on behalf of the residents, he said he had always enjoyed the humane disposition of President Jonathan, stressing that informed residents’ crave to pay him homage during all major Christian and Muslim festivals.

    He further appreciated the President for the deep sense of responsibility and trust on him, promising to continue to extend his allegiance and gratitude to him. He maintained that no minister had held the FCT portfolio as long as he has under a democratic dispensation.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi commended the minister for his achievements and for promoting unity of the diverse residents of the FCT.

  • Miss FCT unveils programmes

    Miss FCT unveils programmes

    The winner of the 2014 Miss Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, Queen Bertha Eke has said she has concluded arrangements to launch N600 million empowerment programmes for youths and the under-privileged in Nigeria.

    Nigerians from the six geo-political zones of the country, she said, are expected to benefit from the programmes.

    Queen Eke dropped the hint during a courtesy visit to The Nation Newspaper in Abuja.

    She said already her non-governmental organisation (NGO) known as “Empower to Empower” has undertaken a tour of the FCT and Benue State and has touched the lives of the under-privileged people.

    According to her, 12 prison inmates were set free at the Medium Security Prison in Benue State, while about 2,000 children participated in a sport programme sponsored by the NGO at the National Stadium Abuja.

    She explained that each geo-political zone would benefit to the tune of N100 million once the programme fully comes on stream, adding that for now, the NGO is into advocacy programme on HIV and AIDS, Ebola Virus Disease, female genital mutilation and Viscous Virginal Fistula (VVF).

    She said: “Our advocacy is all about empowerment. We have some radio programmes on empowerments that are actually fashioned towards lifting the less-privileged and also catering for the welfare of the elderly in Nigeria.

    “We advocate the right for the child to have access to basic education; we also strive for the enlightenment of the youth on the harms and hazards of some harmful traditional practices like the female genital mutilation. We try to fight against the Viscous Virginal Fistula (VVF) and against early girls’ marriage. Early girls’ marriage is one of the major causes of VVF in Nigeria today.

    “So, we try to tackle VVF by fighting against the cause. Apart from that, we also try to protect the youth against HIV and AIDS infection by creating more awareness on the scourge. We carry out sensitisation and awareness campaigns.

    “During one of our outreach at Government Day Secondary School in Abuja, we did a little demonstration on HIV and AIDS. We had some students dressed in red ribbons. We came together united with hoes and cutlasses fighting against it. That is a demonstration against HIV and AIDS.

    “We also try to equip the youth with basic vocational skills through empowerment workshops. The workshops have the hair dressing centre, soap making and tailoring departments”

    Queen Eke expressed the hope of partnering with government and NGOs that are already creating awareness on some of the harmful traditional practices that inhibit the growth of the society, stressing that her NGO would not be deterred from visiting the northern states because of the present security challenges there.

    She added that she had already established links with some NGOs in the North for the success of the programme. She said she deemed it necessary to visit The Nation Newspaper for support and understanding of the media.

    Queen Eke, who was accompanied by her manager, Mrs. Grace Ogba, further stated that without the support of the media, nothing much would be achieved as the media remain the most viable instrument for social change and development.

  • Dutse Market: Traders lament demolition

    Dutse Market: Traders lament demolition

    Dutse Market has always been famous, not just because of its proximity to the Kubwa Expressway, or that  it is the largest market in Dutse. It is famous mostly because of the human and vehicular traffic.

    Most residents of Gwarimpa, Galadima, Kubwa, Dei Dei, Zuba, Suleja and their environs will testify to the level of traffic which, most times, can spill as far as the expressway. Despite the inconveniences which residents experience because of the market, it is of much importance to them.

    After the demolition exercise that took place in some parts of Dutse last year, during which some illegal structures were demolished, the rumour had been making the rounds about an imminent demolition of the market. People, especially traders, hoped that it would remain just a rumour.

    However, that rumour became a reality. According to the traders, they woke up one day a few weeks back to the reality that their shops were being demolished by bulldozers.

    Some traders claimed that they never had any hint about the demolition.Some claimed they heard about it but thought it would not happen.

    The area council insisted that the traders were notified through every means possible, adding that series of meetings were held by all stakeholders. The council added that it would have demolished the market since last year but it continued to give the traders some grace periods.

    Even though the administration had provided a temporary space for the traders beside the demolished market to continue their trade, most of them have refused to make use of the temporary place provided. Rather, they turned the newly constructed fence into stands for their numerous wares.

    Some insisted that the new site was not convenient for them as their customers will find it difficult locating them.

    Michael Obi, a clothe merchant told our correspondent that he had to make alternative arrangement through which he would take care of his family since he no longer has a shop.

    He said: “See, one thing with buying and selling is the ability of a customer to reach you and buy it from you.

    “How can I agree to go to a corner where my customers will not be able to locate me? The important thing is to make sales and hiding in the temporary site that they gave to us will not do the job. I have a family to take care of and I will not be alive and watch my children starve.”

    Madam Stella, who sells plantain by the road side said: “I am not affected by the demolition because it’s not as if I had a shop before the demolition. The only problem now is that all those people that used to have shops are now dragging the space with us outside here. They are now bringing their goods and displaying them where people like us used to stay.

    In a chat with our correspondent, the Chairman, Shop Owners’ Association Dutse Market, David Okuawo said: “The area council sold an empty land to us. We built structures on it. That is the right we have to be shop owners. They gave us allocation letters and we have been paying levies and dues to the area council.

    “For some of us, there was an agreement where ownership was to expire after 15/25 years respectively, while some of the certificates have life durations and have not expired. We have all these information.”

    Continuing, he said: “We are the landlords and should be the ones that the area council should address directly. But they had series of meetings with the traders who are our tenants about the proposed demolition. When we realised what was going on, we took the matter to court and they were restrained from demolishing the market until we had come to a suitable agreement. But they simply went ahead and demolished the market.”

    Reacting to the allegation, Chairman Bwari Area Council, Hon. Peter Yohanna Ushafa insisted that his administration did not disobey any court injunction restraining them from demolishing the market, saying they had been meeting with all the stakeholders for several months before the demolition was carried out.

    Ushafa said: “Nobody is above the law. There is no way that the court will restrain me from doing anything and I go ahead and do it because I know that I must obey the rule of law. But the reality is that, if they say they were not aware of the demolition then they are not fair to themselves.

    “We have had series of meetings with the Dutse Alhaji Market Traders’ Association, Shop Owners’ Association and others. In our meetings, we agreed that the market should be demolished in September last year. But we considered the fact that Christmas was approaching and would be the peak of business; we decided not to bring the market down.

    “We invited them to my house recently and they were even asking that it should be done phase by phase. But I told them that it was not going to be possible because paying for the excavation of the market in phases will be more expensive. So, to avoid the cost, I told them that it will have to be done at ones. I told them to move to the alternative place beside the market. Even if I continued to meet with them on the issue for the next 10 years, they will still complain.

    “We have told them that if you have a shop in the market that is being pulled down, when the building is completed; you will come over and pick a form. Although the form is N10,000, you will take it for free. All you need is to present the former allocation paper and we will tell you what you are going to pay.

    “The traffic situation around the market will now end when the market is completed. This is because the market will be fenced and people will not come out of it to sell.

    Continuing, he said: “When the shop owners were given lands to build, they were given papers which include the number of years of tenancy. Have they not exhausted the number of years agreed on? I know that in the letter it was indicated 15 years and that market is more than 15years old; so the time agreed on had elapsed.

    “We are still looking at them like partners because the market has brought a lot of progress to Bwari. So, we feel like we are one. We want to ensure that Bwari develops and meets with the standards of the satellite towns so that those living within Bwari will be happy, even as more people can come and live in Bwari.”

    So far, work had begun on the new Dutse Alhaji Market. Hopefully, it will meet international standard.

  • ‘We must fence our schools’

    ‘We must fence our schools’

    The Executive Secretary of Local Education Authority (LEA) of the Bwari Area Council, Mr. Solomon Ayuba, has called on the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) and the six area councils in the FCT to give priority attention to fencing of schools in the area so as to protect the students and property in them.

    Mr. Ayuba, who spoke on the security challenges in the country, added that fencing the schools would checkmate the movement of people to and from the school compounds.

    “Fencing schools, as a matter of urgency, is necessary. We need fences in our schools in order to safeguard lives and property. We also need gates with security guards. Before anybody walks into the school, he or she would be checked. But if there are no fences, we can’t check what is happening. With the fences, our children will be safeguarded. Vehicles and persons will be checked before they will be allowed in,” he said.

    He also urged the government to pay more attention to the financing of educational sector, adding that the local education authority needed more vehicles that will help it carry out supervision of schools to ensure their smooth running.

    “We need to be adequately financed. Government should pay more attention on financing the educational sector; we need more vehicles for supervision, motorcycles and vans. The van could be used for inspections and motorcycles should be used by individual school inspectors,” he said.

    Ayuba campaigned for more structures in schools in order to accommodate the number of students.

    “There should be more structures to accommodate students because of the inflow of people into Abuja, especially in urban areas. There are hardly enough spaces to accommodate students which makes learning uncomfortable. If there are no spaces for expansion, the idea of building storey buildings should be introduced,” he said.

  • Nigeria,US and trial drug for Ebola

    The use of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) trial drugs, Zmapp in the United States of America (USA) gave many Nigerians a ray of hope against the deadly disease which  the late Liberian-American, Patrick Sawyer brought into Nigeria in July.

    Currently, there is no vaccine against the disease that has claimed the lives of over 1,300 persons in the West African sub-region.The World Health Organisation (WHO) has approved untested drugs to be administered as research work continues towards finding a cure to the disease.

    Two United States aid workers, Nancy Writebol and Dr Kent Brantly, who were infected with the virus while in Liberia, had responded positively to Zmapp in Atlanta.

    While Writebol was discharged on Tuesday, Dr Brantly was discharged few hours later.

    Dr. Brantly, who was brought to the US along with his colleagues for treatment four weeks ago, thanked supporters for their prayers at a news conference in Atlanta last week.

    Even though the Zmapp trial drug that worked wonders in the two Americans had never been tested on humans, it was not the same story for a Spanish Priest who was given the same drug but died from the disease.

    Three Liberian health workers, also given the drugs, are said to be responding to treatment, as the Liberian Ministry of Health declared last week that they have shown “very positive signs of recovery”.

    To stop those infected in Nigeria from death, the Nigerian government did not waste time to request for Zmapp as some Nigerians who had primary and secondary contact with the late Sawyer were falling ill.

    The request for the trial drugs had not been met even though five persons, including Sawyer, as at last Wednesday, have died from the disease in Nigeria.

    During a visit to the Nigerian Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu on Monday last week, the US Ambassador to Nigeria, James Entwistle, said his country was not yet in a position to make Zmapp available to Nigeria as the drug was not available in sufficient quantity to go round all the countries requesting for it.

    While some Nigerians were not happy that the drug, rather than coming to Nigeria, was given for the treatment of some health workers in Liberia, some other Nigerians believed that the US should not be blamed if it is still more attached to its former colony.

    Speaking during the US Ambassador’s visit, Prof. Chukwu revealed that the Nigerian Government was withholding its approval for an anti-Ebola drug Nano-Silver produced by a Nigerian because it did not meet the requirements of the National Health Research Ethics Code.

    Briefing State House correspondents early this month on bitter cola as a cure for the disease, Prof. Chukwu said: “As the Minister of Health of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I say that right now, there is no scientific proof to suggest that if you just eat bitter kola you will prevent the disease or where you have it, it will help to cure it.

    “However, we are aware that in 1999, Prof. Maurice Iwu worked along with an administration in United States of America and conducted research which at the level of the laboratory …

    “This shows that some extract they had obtained from the bitter cola which is common in West Africa and in Nigeria …. tend to have some activities against the virus. But that research was not concluded and therefore, as at today, there is no evidence to link that as a cure or preventive measure against Ebola Virus Disease.”

    But some Nigerians have continued to wonder why Nigeria has not pushed forward the Iwu’s research work further since 1999 as it won’t be a curse if Nigeria is involved with the international community to develop a drug and come to the aid of other West African countries that are suffering from the disease.

    To tackle Ebola, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Prof. Karniyus S. Gamaniel has called for urgent upgrade of its laboratory towards researching and producing necessary drugs to cope with the threat of the virus.

    He said: “Our laboratories need a little upgrading with facilities like the P4 bio-safety cabinet which will make the laboratory very competent and very useful, and we insist that the situation is an emergency given the position of Abuja as a centrally-placed city.

    “Ebola is a deadly pathogen and the facilities we have needed to be upgraded. We don’t have the P4 facility but we have a structured laboratory suitable for handling the virus and the various studies that are relevant.”

    No doubt, Nigeria has been commended for properly tracing and containing the disease since the virus found its way to Nigeria through Mr. Sawyer, but more needs to be done towards finding a cure in Nigeria.

    Bitter cola, which is abundantly available in Nigeria and has been said to be very active in killing the virus, may be the major ingredient needed to find a cure for the disease in human beings.

    Nigeria should get its act together now and give those concerned with finding a cure in Nigeria, especially NIPRD and other researchers, genuine supports in all ramifications.

    The era must be brought to an end where Nigeria richly blessed with fruits, food crops and other resources like oranges, mango, potatoes, palm trees, oil and petroleum resources continue to import processed fruit juice, palm oil, vegetable oil, potato chips and refined petroleum products.

    Even though some of the items are on the prohibition list of the Nigeria Customs Service, they still find their way into the country.

    The reversal of the trend should be the case now not only for the economic and financial benefit to Nigeria as a country but also to provide the needed jobs for the large unemployed youths in the country.

  • Group advocates clean, safe environment

    The National President, Association of Table Water Producers of Nigeria (ATWAP), Ubina Ubi, has advised residents of the Federal Capital Territory to protect the environment. This, he said, they could do by not throwing away polythene bags, cans and other disused materials that are hazardous to the environment indiscriminately.

    Littering the environment with waste materials, he said, could lead to flooding due to blocking the drainage with them.

    Ubi, who spoke at a briefing in Abuja, said polythene bags when not properly discarded leads to environmental degradation.

    “Empty sachet water polythene bags do not have to end up in the streets or refuse dump or the neighbourhood. We can recycle them to generate jobs for our youths. Let our youths engage in the recycling of these bags as it obtains in other countries.

    “Government should enforce environmental laws on the use of polythene.  Most of our streets are littered with polythene bags and water cans. They can cause environmental degradation,” he said.

    He called on the media to help in mobilising and sensitising Nigerians on the need to imbibe the virtue of environmental friendliness.

  • State House braces against Ebola

    The reality of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria is now overwhelming members of staff of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The possibility of its outbreak at the Presidential Villa was conveyed in an Internal Circular last week to all State House personnel by the Chief Physician to the President, Dr. Fortune Fiberesima.

    To avert an outbreak of the disease in the Villa, he said the numerous bats and monkeys in the Aso Rock are part of the animals that have been discovered to be hosts to the disease and have the capacity to spread the deadly disease.

    While monkeys freely move around the Presidential Villa from the thick forest surrounding the Seat of Power, bats sling on almost every tree at the Presidential Villa.

    Faeces of monkeys and bats are common sights on anything or object placed within the State House, including cars parked at the various parking lots.

    Dr. Fiberesima, in the Internal Circular, warned State House personnel against contact with these animals, either dead or alive.

    He also warned them against using hands to clear faeces of the animals on their cars.

    Stressing that hand gloves are available for members of staff on request at the State House Medical Centre (SHMC), he warned car owners in the Villa to water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without faeces of animal droppings on them) properly before washing them.

    The circular entitled “Precautionary Measures, Re: Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease in Nigeria”, reads: “In view of the recent outbreak of the Ebola Virus Disease and that certain animals (bats and monkeys) have been linked with the virus, the following precautionary measures are deemed necessary: “Avoid physical contact with bats and monkeys, whether dead or alive.

    “Do not pick dead bats and monkeys. Please, immediately notify the Public Health Unit of the State House Medical Centre for proper disposal.

    “Avoid using hands to clear animal droppings (animal faeces) on parked cars.

    “Hand gloves are available at the SHMC on request.

    “Water-hose vehicles parked under trees (with or without animal droppings on them) properly before washing.

    “Sanitise hands or wash your hands with soap and water as often as possible.

    “The aforementioned measures are purely precautionary, in view of the large number of bats and monkeys in the Villa.”

    Apart from photocopies of the circular placed on notice boards at strategic points, copies were also given to many members of staff at the Presidential Villa in order to create enough awareness.

    Among the top government officials listed as the recipients of the internal circular are the Chief of Staff to the President, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Vice-President, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, All Senior Special Assistants/ Special Assistants to the President and Vice-President, Permanent Secretary of State House, SCOP, ADC, Chief Security Officer, CPSO, Commander of Guards Brigade and the Office of the First Lady.

    Besides the circular, sanitisers are often spread on the palms of members of staff and visitors to the Presidential Villa at some entry points.

    Last Wednesday and Thursday when many people were at the Villa for the Federal Executive Council and the National Economic Council meetings respectively, some members of staff were positioned with sanitisers to ensure that palms of visitor are purified after handling the door handles.

    To further prevent any outbreak of the disease at the Villa, the management of the State House has also ensured that hygienic hand washing liquid soaps are placed in most toilets in the Villa.

    On Wednesday last week, President Goodluck Jonathan also demonstrated with hygienic hand washing machine against the spread of the disease during a Special Presidential meeting on Ebola Virus at the State House.

    The meeting was attended by state governors, commissioners of health from various states of the federation, Federal Government officials and World Health Organisation Representative in Nigeria.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, spoke against secrecy and non-disclosure of infected person or persons who show symptoms of the disease.

    He said: “This is not the time to make fast Naira. Next week will be defining for us, to know whether cases have multiplied. This is not something you keep in religious house to pray. Infected persons are not patients you can move by taxis. If they need prayers now, it can be done electronically.

    “We are now 99 per cent following the cases. We need to have a 100 per cent because if we have one infected person, it is a global risk not just Nigeria.

    “We have to drop our traditional behaviours like shaking of hands and nobody should be offended. You have to stop defecating and urinating in public, particularly at this time of our challenges.”

    The Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime said: “From the reports of the meeting, it is clear Nigeria has the capacity to fight Ebola virus, but there is need for standardised practice in combating it.”

    We hope that the ongoing efforts at various levels towards tackling the Ebola scourge will not only keep the disease away from the Presidential Villa and all the areas yet to be infected, but will also kick out the disease from the states that are battling with it.

  • Ebola: ‘We may abandon our ancestral homes’

    Ebola: ‘We may abandon our ancestral homes’

    Residents of Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have cried out over the decision of the FCT Administration to site the isolation ward for possible Ebola cases in the FCT in their area.

    Wondering why the administration should take “such a decision that may endanger their lives”, most residents say they would relocate to a different area should there be any case of the virus referred to the isolation ward.

    A resident of Kuje who identified himself as Danjuma said: “I don’t know why the government simply thinks it’s reasonable to force ideas on people. People of Kuje are really afraid and I can assure you that there will be mass relocation from Kuje if a case of Ebola is referred to the area.

    “Some people have vowed not to get close to the General Hospital as soon as they hear the news of an Ebola case.  For me, I will take my family away from there as soon as it happens. I don’t care about anything that the minister has said about safety.”

    The decision to site the isolation ward at Kuje, the authorities say, was part of the proactive measures by the administration to contain the Ebola virus when it crops up, as it does not want to be taken unawares.

    Federal and state governments are working assiduously to ensure that the Ebola virus does not become an epidemic. However, some state governments that have not recorded any case of the virus are also taking necessary measures to contain it should they witness any. This they do by designating part of a tertiary health institution as isolation centres.

    This is the situation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which has created an isolation ward at the Kuje General Hospital.

    At an interactive session on the matter, the FCT Administration noted that after deliberations, it decided that Kuje General Hospital in Kuje Area Council was a suitable location for its isolation ward.

    Unfortunately, the action has petrified residents who see the move as a means of “bringing the disease closer to them.”

    Protesting the decision, the residents noted that the FCT Administration only remembers that they exist when negative issues which no other part of the FCT wants to host crop up. They added that if it is something beneficial, it is taken elsewhere. Citing the Kuje Prisons as one of the projects that are not beneficial to the community, the residents said they pray unceasingly that dangerous criminals in the popular prison do not escape and take them hostage, even as they lamented that they have to contend with the Ebola virus isolation ward in the hospital.

    When the rumour began making the rounds that the ward maybe cited in Kuje, the youth staged a protest to the palace of the Gomo of Kuje, Alhaji Haruna Tanko to register their anger over the purported decision, which they insisted was dangerous to the well-being of the community.

    When the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed confirmed what was once regarded as rumour, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Shaban Tete cried out to the Minister at the FCT stakeholder’s interactive forum on the threat of the Ebola disease in the FCT.

    He informed the minister that the residents were scared, even as he suggested that the isolation ward should be sited elsewhere and not Kuje.

    He lamented that the hospital was in the middle of Kuje and any form of an outbreak of the virus will affect everyone in the area council.

    Tete opined that such a ward should not be cited in a General Hospital but in a specialist hospital far away from Kuje.

    His words: “It seems to us in Kuje that we have now become the FCT centre for Ebola virus and both I and the Gomo are afraid. The healthcare centre is in the middle of Kuje and if there is an outbreak there, everyone in Kuje will be affected. “I believe that there are specialist hospitals everywhere. Why locate it in Kuje?”

    After listening to the council boss, the minister said Tete was ignorant, even as he warned him against inciting the youth of the FCT against the administration based on groundless fear.

    Senator Mohammed informed him that all necessary measures will be put in place to ensure that patients who make use of the hospital are safe by not coming in contact with any Ebola patient, if any.

    The minister further informed Tete that the isolation wards will be located behind the hospital with all the safety measures required, adding that patients will not notice the difference.

    He said: “I believe you spoke out of ignorance. You should not have expressed such fears after professionals had explained to you that the virus can only be contracted through physical contact. That hospital in Kuje belongs to the FCT Administration and not your area council.

    “I can assure you that we do not wish to put your people in harm’s way. Even if it means building a place behind and away from the main building, we will do it to ensure your safety. Please, be assured that this is not meant to harm the people of Kuje.

    “Since you said that you don’t want it site in Kuje, where do you want us to take it to? You want us to take it to another place?

    “I don’t like your attitude. You do not like the people of Kuje more than I do and I will do everything to protect them. I learnt that you are trying to insight your youths against the administration and the idea of the isolation ward. We have security measures in place who have informed us of that. I can assure you that no harm will come to you and we will ensure that all safety measures are put in place to avoid any form of outbreak.”

    Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Development Secretariat, Dr Demola Onakomaiya explained that various steps have been taken by the administration to ensure safety of the people, even though no case of the virus has been recorded or confirmed in the FCT.

    His words: “Earlier before now, we had prepositioned personal protective equipment (PPE) in 16 health facilities (both public and private) and one agency in the FCT.

    “Clinical sensitisation with emphasis on heightening their index of suspicion, case management, infection prevention and control are ongoing in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards.

    “Social mobilisation and health education, promotion and empowerment are ongoing in the media and all communities in the FCT.

    “An active surveillance has been ongoing through the Department of Public Health and it has been responding promptly to calls whenever cases are suspected.

    “An interactive session with the FCT Guild of Medical directors was held on July 9, this year.

    “A place to be used as isolation ward has been identified in Kuje General Hospital awaiting modifications and prepositioning of relevant materials according to guidelines.

    “A rapid response team (RRT) with specific responsibilities has been set up with five sub-groups namely case management and infection control, surveillance, contact tracing and cross-border activities, social mobilisation, logistic, port of entry and letters are being sent to all relevant sectors and the inaugural meeting will hold shortly.”

    Despite these explanations, residents of Kuje are still afraid and wish that the centre is not located in their community.

    In a related development, theChairman of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Shaban Tete, has rescinded his decision to resist any attempt by the FCT Administration to site an isolation centre for Ebola infected persons in the area, even as he appealed to residents of the area to accept government’s decision.

    Tete overturned his hard stance against the FCTA decision after a meeting with the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed and other stakeholders in Abuja on the decision to use Kuje General Hospital as an isolation centre for Ebola victims.

    According to Tete, the appeal became necessary as a result of the wide rejection of the centre by residents of the area who expressed their fears that the virus kills any person infected with it days after infection.

    “We had a meeting with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed and he made it clear to me that Kuje General Hospital has been designated as an isolation centre. They also explained clearly to me that the disease can only be contracted through body fluid when you come in contact with an infected person.

    “I was assured that that all necessary facilities would be put in place before any infected person would be brought to Kuje. The FCT is currently free from the Ebola virus and we pray that the situation remains like this. I want to encourage residents of Kuje to remain calm and always main high level of personal hygiene.

    “In the meeting, it was concluded that there will be gadgets to monitor people coming in and out of Abuja for safety purposes. When somebody is too scared, he or she can even die before time. I therefore urge Kuje people to go about their normal businesses,” he said.

    He called on all stakeholders to join hands with the government to fight the virus and save lives.

    He urged residents to adhere strictly to government’s healthcare advice, adding that it would help in preventing the spread of the virus.

  • ALGON boss advises residents

    The chairman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Micah Jiba has called on residents not to panic over the reported outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus.

    He rather advised them to keep their environments clean and adhere to sensitisation programmes on how to avoid contracting the virus.

    Jiba, who gave this advice while speaking with reporters on the plans made by chairmen of the area councils’ to curb the spread of the virus in the FCT, said appropriate health authorities have been undergoing through various training and sensitisation programmes in order to tackle the virus. This, he said, include proper washing of hands with soap and water before eating and avoid coming in contact with fluids of any sick person.

    Jiba, who is also the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), warned residents who eat bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas to desist from such act because these animals are said to be hosts of the virus, adding that they should avoid meat from such bush animals in order not to get infected by the virus.

    “Also, our health workers should have a high index of suspicion and ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when attending to suspected infected corpses. Safe burial protocols should be followed by relatives of dead people, because health workers and people that touch dead bodies of relatives with their bare hands are more vulnerable to this virus,” he said.

    He further said chairmen of the six area councils in the FCT have met with health workers to ensure that adequate measures are put in place to ensure that the virus does not spread to any of the communities in their respective area councils.

    The meeting with the health workers, he revealed, will be on a frequent basis, advising residents to report any suspected case of Ebola virus to the nearest health- care centre.

    “As government, we will do our best to protect our people. What we need most currently are prayers. We should continue to pray for our country and ensure that professional medical advice that will serve as preventive measures are followed religiously. I sincerely believe that this deadly virus will not get out of hand. It will be contained soonest,” he said.

  • Security gadgets for FCT schools

    Mindful of the abduction of over 200 girls of Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents on April 15, the bomb blast at EMAB Plaza, Abuja and threats by the Boko Haram sect to attack major places in Abuja, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed has held a schools’ security conference to avoid a reoccurrence.

    He said schools in the FCT would be equipped with modern security gadgets before they resume for next session in September. He said the move was aimed at protecting the lives of children and to avert the Chibok experience.

    The new security measures to be introduced in schools will include provision of perimeter fencing, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm system and deployment of communication equipment. This, he said, is in order to take pre-emptive measures to prevent the insurgents from cashing in on any security lapses to attack any school.

    Emphasis, he added, will also be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.

    The minister said the battle against Boko Haram which has declared war on the country’s educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and soul of the country.

    Senator Mohammed, who was represented by the Secretary, FCT Education

    Secretariat, Mallam Kabir Usman, said: “The FCT Administration considers this conference as part of its ongoing concerns to evolve a foolproof security framework for schools in the territory and the FCT as a whole.

    “The need to pay special attention to protection of lives of our school children gave rise to the launch of the ‘Safe Schools Initiative’ at the recently-concluded World Economic Forum held in Abuja.

    “The measures include provision of perimeter fences, housing for teachers, community policing, school guards, alarm systems and deployment of communication equipment. Even though, the target of this undertaking is the safeguard of school children in states under emergency rule, we in the FCT consider it necessary to take pre-emptive measures to avoid tempting the insurgents by any vulnerability.

    “It is noteworthy that our commitments to school safety and overall emergency preparedness have proved effective in dealing with emergencies. A recent hijack of a school bus in Nyanya was quickly dealt with within a couple of hours. This, for us, was cheery news, even as it sent signals about the effectiveness of the machinery FCT Administration has put in place to ensure the security of lives and property in the territory.

    “It could be recalled that one of the earliest initiatives of this administration at its inception was the procurement of 114 security vehicles fitted with communication and security gadgets to holistically confront criminals and threats of insurgency in the FCT. These vehicles were donated to all the security agencies, including the Nigerian Police Force (NPF), Department of State Security (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Military in the FCT, among others.

    “It is lamentable that education, which is the bedrock of national development, has been singled out by insurgents for constant attacks and raids, often leaving arson, deaths and destruction on their tracks. Our hearts are with the parents and relatives of the Chibok school girls, as our security operatives work round the clock to salvage them and bring them home alive.

    “Without any iota of doubt therefore, the battle against those who have declared war on our educational system is a battle of the heart, the mind and the soul of our country. It is consequently a fight that we cannot afford to lose and the Federal Government has all the means to win it.

    “In your deliberations today, I recommend that emphasis should be laid on school alert and early warning systems, attitudinal change, awareness of basic security tips, safety and evacuation drills, as well as the erection of both institutional and physical firewalls that obstruct unwelcome guests.”

    On its part, the National Association of Private School Proprietors (NAPSP) has

    pledged its support to government in carrying out what it described as important and urgent step to avert crisis.

    The group said: “Since the issue of schools being the target of Boko Haram and especially the abduction of the Chibok girls, children, adult, parents and teachers are now living in fear. It is unfortunate that we have come to this point in our life where our hearts are bleeding profusely.

    “We want to thank this administration for always being sensitive to issues. We support the sensitisation of individuals on security matters. For us in private schools, it is an ongoing thing and it has to be with the support of government, security agencies, parents and the general public.

    “We promise that we will continue to do our best to work with the administration to ensure that things do not go wrong. For the schools that were closed down, we have looked at the list and most of them are not our members. We promise that we will continue to let our members know the necessity of doing the right thing for these children.

    “There is madness and insecurity everywhere. Our children are being used not only to perpetrate crime but also to kill themselves and destroy their souls.

    “Ebola has set in amid all these. We want to plead that this administration should also work on the health issue, especially on sensitisation of schools on Ebola virus. We also promise to work with government to achieve the desired aim. Peace has deserted us and this is a time for reflection, repentance, co-operation, gathering of resources and time for concrete action.

    We must seek peace with ourselves and most especially with God. This is the time for us all to fight the tragedy that has bedeviled us.”

    Royal fathers also joined the call for more security measures.

    The Nyee of Gariki, His Royal Majesty Alhaji Usman Ngakupe advised parents to look after their wards, even as he urged teachers to take their job seriously.