The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Christians urged to seek peace

    A cleric, Rev. Fr. Innocent Oyibo has urged Christians to seek the face of God as it is Him that they would get lasting peace.

    Rev. Fr Oyibo gave the advice in his homily during a Mass to celebrate the beginning of the New Year at St John Mary Vianney Quasi Catholic Church Kubwa. He stated that peace was embedded in the face of God and would be unveiled only to those that seek his face.

    “Peace is hidden and embedded in the face of the Lord. One cannot have any peace until the face of God is uncovered in the hearts of those who seek Him.  If you want to know peace, search for the face of Jesus Christ which has been revealed to us by the virtue of His birth through His mother, Mary,’’ he said.

    He revealed that on January 1 every year has been dedicated by the Catholic Church in Nigeria to celebrate the Feast of Mary, the Queen of Peace in Nigeria, adding that it gives the Catholic faithful the opportunity of praying for peace in the country.

    “We all pray that peace will continue to reign in our hearts, in our families and our country. If there is no peace in our hearts, there won’t be peace in our families and our country in general,” he said.

    Rev. Fr Oyibo also urged Christians to present their New Year resolution to God who would aid them to fulfill them, even as he prayed that God should bless people’s good intentions.

    Earlier during the vigil Mass, the Parish Priest, Rev Fr. Sebastian Musa had urged Christians to always live a life of thanksgiving, adding  that despite various problems they had experienced during the past year, they should always thank God for the gift of life.

    “Even with the various problems we face, we should always thank God for keeping us alive from the beginning of the year to the end.  Some started the race with us and are dead but we are still alive. It is neither because of our might or righteousness, it is through the privilege we received from God,” he said.

  • Traders protest developer’s N5m demand

    The Association of Wuye Ultra-modern Market Allotttees have protested the demand of N5 million by a private developer All Purpose Shelters Limited.

    Members of the association took to the streets of Utako District of the Federal Capital Territory carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Wuye Market allottees say no to ejection,” “11 years after ejection, handover our shops,” “Rich Nigerians are terrorising our lives,” and “Mama CJN, save our souls, let justice prevail,” among others.

    According to the solicitor to the association, Barrister Sepribo Peters, the developer’s request for N5 million from the shop owners is no longer a compensation but exploitation.

    He alleged that despite the court order issued by Justice O.A. Musa asking the parties to maintain the status quo ante, the All Purpose Shelter Market has planned to re-open the market.

    The solicitor noted that the association embarked on the peaceful protest to urge government to prevail on the developer to put on hold any plan to re-open the market.

    He said alternatively government should prevail on All Purpose Shelters Limited to hand over the shops to the owners.

    His words: “These poor unfortunate market people that had their shops burnt are now requested to pay N5 million. How come that the compensation is now N5 million? It is no longer compensation but exploitation.

    “So, that is why we went to court and the court said everybody should maintain the status quo ante, meaning everybody should stay where he is, nobody should open the market.

    “But now All Purpose Shelters said they are going to re-open the market. If we don’t make this peaceful protest against the planned re-opening of the market, there will be trouble. So, to that extent, we are saying government should intervene for them to obey the court order or they should hand over the shops to us.”

    Speaking with journalists, one of the members, Mr. Obiefule Luke recalled that they were occupants of the burnt New Market in 2001. The minister promised to compensate the shop owners with shops in Garki, Mabuchi and Wuye.

    According to him, the shop owners paid N2, 000, N5, 000, and N8, 000 respectively for the three different categories of shops. Till date, he said, they are yet to get their shops.

    He noted that a private developer -All Purpose Shelters Limited-that was unknown to them came up with a request for N3 million, N3.5 million and N5 million for the same shops they had already paid for.

    But despite an order of Justice O.A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Apo Abuja asking the parties to maintain the status quo ante, the shop owners alleged that the developer has perfected plans to sell the shops to different owners this month.

    Meanwhile, the solicitor to the association noted that the demand of N5 million from the victims of the fire incident is no longer a compensation but exploitation.

     

  • Residents seek development of satellite towns

    Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to concentrate more on the development of satellite towns this year.

    Some of the residents who spoke with Abuja Review in Gwagwalada, Kwali, Zuba, Kuje and Kubwa said that the promise by the administration to decongest the city centre by developing of satellite towns were still unfulfilled.

    One of the residents, Abdullahi Zaki stated that good road network, stable potable water and electricity supply were still inadequate in satellite towns, adding that most contracts awarded in such areas have been abandoned and forgotten.

    “Some contracts awarded in the area council for a very long time are still not completed. Such areas are the Kuje-Gwagwalada Road, Gwagwalada Iziom-Dobi Road, Yebu Road in Kwali and many other roads. When a community is cut off from others because of bad road, it is always hard for development to get to that community,” he said.

    Another resident in Gwagwalada, George Ikwu, expressed worry that the idea of decongestion of the city centre would be a mirage if the administration did not put enough effort in the development of the satellite towns, adding that some of the agencies that had headquarters in Gwagwalada had relocated to the city centre.

    “I know of one agency, FCT Muslims Pilgrims Board. I don’t know what happened but I know its secretariat has returned to the city centre. If things continue like this, we will have problem in the near future.  If there are infrastructure in the satellite towns, people will come down and live there,” he said.

    Isa Abubakar Zuba stated that the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed has performed well in terms of restoring the Master Plan of the capital city and in the area of opening of more districts in the territory.

    “The minister has really worked because no leader is perfect. He can only work to the best of his knowledge and ability. But he needs to concentrate on projects and programme that are community and people-oriented. He should concentrate on projects that will benefit the common man on areas such as low-cost housing for the low-income earners.

    “Yes, some of the agencies and ministries should be taken to places like Gugu in Orozo Ward of the FCT, Karshi, Abaji so that traffic jam will reduce drastically,” he said.

    He also stated that residents could complement the efforts of government by ensuring environmental cleanliness, maintenance of sewer lines, avoiding indiscriminate pasting of posters, ensuring highway safety and the monitoring of development projects in the FCT.

  • Minister advises Nigerians on unity

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has congratulated Nigerians, especially those residing in the Federal Capital Territory as they mark the New Year.

    In his New Year message, the minister urged Nigerians to re-dedicate themselves to the building of a united Nigeria where generations yet unborn would be proud.

    According to him, this year is very special to the country because it marks the 100th year of the amalgamation of the Northern and the Southern Protectorates of Nigeria.

    Senator Mohammed called for patriotism where love for the country is most paramount, even as he urged them to shun any act that could bring about division.

    He said Nigerians should pray for their fatherland as well as its leadership, for God to continue to guide, protect and give President Goodluck Jonathan the strength and wisdom to steer the affairs of state, thereby implementing the transformation agenda of the Federal Government.

    He appreciated God for sparing our lives to witness this New Year celebration, in spite of the daunting security challenges facing some parts of the country.

    Senator Mohammed urged Nigerians, particularly residents of the FCT irrespective of their religious beliefs or political inclinations, to continue to live in peace and harmony with one another.

    Mohammed enjoined residents to remain steadfast, believe in the capability of Nigeria’s leadership and be their brothers’ keepers, in keeping with the customs and traditions of Africa.

    The minister expressed the commitment of his administration to provide a serene and clean environment in consonance with the Road Map of his administration and transformation agenda of President Jonathan.

    On security, the minister further assured that all security outfits in the Federal Capital Territory are working together and are more than ever prepared to remain on top of any unexpected security breach.

    He, however, charged the residents to always assist the security agents with useful information on any suspicious movement because, he said, security is everybody’s business.

  • Jonathan’s promises

    Jonathan’s promises

    It is no longer news that President Goodluck Jonathan made so many promises to Nigerians as part of his 2014 New Year’s message.

    Topmost of the promises, from one’s viewpoint, is the promise to ensure minimum of 18-hour daily electricity supply in the country this year.

    He also assured that the economy would receive a great boost this year, adding that many job opportunities would be created for the teeming unemployed youths.

    Cost of governance, he said, will be drastically reduced in the year while measures have been put in place to fight corruption in the system.

    After dropping my family at an eatery in the city on the New Year’s Day as a starting point for the celebration, I decided to quickly go round to feel the pulse of the city (not in my car).

    The commuter bus I boarded from Berger Roundabout was not filled up and the normal scenario where passengers stand and hang on buses did not play out as many people have traveled outside the city while some were at home celebrating the New Year.

    A businessman, who was discussing with his friend in Pidgin English as they entered the bus also from Berger Roundabout (they probably had met after long years of separation), was narrating how his business based in the Eastern part of the country has been plummeting.

    The two friends took the vacant seat meant for two persons directly in front of me. The businessman, who was also holding a copy of the day’s edition of The Nation Newspapers with the big caption ‘Jonathan plans 18-hour daily power supply as APC seeks change’, narrated to his friend that he came with his family to stay with his elder brother for the festive period in Mararaba (a Nasarawa State border town to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The discussion between the two friends then shifted to President Jonathan’s New Year’s message to Nigerians as captured by the newspaper. The businessman (who probably must have mentioned his line of business to his friend before they boarded the bus), was explaining to his friend how his business (which he didn’t mention in the bus) will really turn around and become profitable if the government could really provide minimum of 18-hour daily electricity supply for his business in a village in the East.

    He told his friend that he spends an average of N20,000 per day to run his electricity generating set in his factory. Apart from the expenses on fuel, he said his total cost of production in a month is also jerked up due to high cost of transportation of raw materials from source to his factory. This, he said, resulted from the bad condition of the roads and inflation.

    Surprisingly, the commuter who was on the same seat with me joined the discussion and narrated how his hair barbing salon business in Mararaba was experiencing the same hard times.

    Stressing that the area where he stays in Mararaba only has between one or two-hour electricity supply per day, adding that he rely mainly on his electricity generating set for his salon business.

    He said: “If Jona can do this for us, it’s carry-go for him in 2015.”

    Another passenger adjacent to the two friends in front of me had borrowed The Nation Newspaper from the businessman. After reading the newspaper, he also joined the discussion. He narrated how he has been surviving through menial jobs since he graduated from university since 2002.

    He was hopeful and prayed that God would answer his prayers this year by making him to get one of the jobs to be created this year.

    While Jonathan has insisted that Nigerians are now very close to stable power supply in the country, the three commuters’ recounting their awful business experiences may appear like dogs seriously salivating because they could see their masters approaching with their meals.

    I will really not blame them so much because of what they have gone through over the years.

    The slogans of ‘Housing for all by the Year 2000’, ‘Health for all by Year 2000′ were among the messages and loopholes the military regimes used to deceive and drain the national treasury before the current democratic dispensation which began in 1999.

    Fourteen years on after deluge of promises with year 2000 as target, majority of Nigerians still don’t have a room where they lay their heads, let alone owning their houses. Accessing primary healthcare is still a mirage for them. There are some Nigerians, not only lunatics, convert bus stops pavilions, under bridges and uncompleted buildings into their bedrooms at nights.

    So much money was also spent on power sector among others during ex-President Obasanjo’s two tenures between 1999 and 2007 with very little to show for it.

    This year will really make it possible for Nigerians to know where to place this administration and know if all they have been hearing are like the several white elephant projects of the past administrations through which so much money was spent on projects that didn’t impact positively on the lives of the people.

    We really hope that government gets it right this time round because Nigerians have really suffered exceedingly all these years in the midst of abundant God-given human and natural resources with which He blessed the country.

    So, there is no doubt that Nigerians are really waiting and holding the President by his promises. We also hope and pray that preparations towards next years’ general elections (though the President has not decided whether to run or not) will not deter the administration from fulfilling its promises for Nigerians this year.

  • Governors’ wives’ award coming

    The Most Valuable Governor’s Wives Award (MVGWA) ceremony has been scheduled to take place in Abuja on February 10, 2014.

    A statement made available to Abuja Review by the team leader Tom Obulu said the “MVGWA is designed to lead a new phenomenon in the assessment and recognition of the governors’ wives who are providing complementary help to the governors’ achievements.

    “The governors’ wives have become part of the democratic team that has been providing grassroots developments, hence, the institution of this award. The theme of the award is ‘Grassroots Transformation in Nigeria: The Roles of Governors’ Wives NGOs as Champion’.”

    He noted that the 36 governors’ wives were assessed based on their non-governmental organisations (NGO) project available in their domains and their impacts on the people were also considered.

    The statement added that 13 governors’ wives who were shortlisted came from votes cast by the people on the internet over a couple of months.

    Recounting the selection process, he said through the adoption of sustainability, empowerment, impact, change agent and corporate branding criteria, the MVGWA shortlisted six for the emerging recipients for the year 2012/2013.

    He reeled off the nominees in their alphabetical order of state: Mrs. Mercy Orji, wife of Abia State governor, Mrs. Ekaete Godswill Akpabio wife of Akwa Ibom State governor, Mrs. Yemisi Dosima, wife of Benue State governor and others.

    The statement further stated Abia State emerged from South-East zone with her family changing project entitled “Family Enhancement Initiative” and North Central Benue zone, wife of Benue State governor dazzled the region with her SEV- AV Foundation.

     

     

  • Fun-seekers troop to Jabi Park

    As the Yuletide festivities continued, Christians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been enjoined to renew their commitment to the virtues of Jesus Christ in order to ensure peace in the Territory.

    Many people trooped out after the Christmas church service to various recreation centres across the FCT to enjoy the festive season, although many beautifully dressed children remained at the centre of attraction.

    At Jabi Lake Park in Utako District, hundreds of children, young and old including some non-Christians were seen enjoying themselves as they engaged in different recreational activities.

    When Abuja Review visited the park, it was filled with fun-seekers from various parts of the Territory.

    Some fun-seekers said the Christmas holidays had provided them the opportunity to relax and catch some fun.

    A middle-aged woman Joy Eyo, who was spotted relaxing at the Park said the Christmas holiday was always an occasion when people forget their worries and pressure and relish themselves.

    She and her friends, she said, were at the park to relax and have some fun.

    “I rarely have time to have fun due to the nature of my job. So, I take advantage of holidays like this to relax and catch fun with friends and families,” she said.

    Another fun seeker, Gbenga Toluwaloju, who was seen relaxing on a rented mat with his four children and wife, said they were at the park to enjoy the Christmas holidays in spite of the harsh economic realities in the country.

    “Because of paucity of funds, I was not able to take my family down to the hinterland for Christmas holidays. Therefore, I deemed it proper to bring them here to celebrate with others here,” he said.

    “I always enjoyed relaxing at parks during Christmas period because it is one of my best periods. This is so because it afforded me the opportunity to join others in appreciating God for the gift of Jesus Christ whose birth the whole Christendom is celebrating.

    “That’s why I have come to relax and have fun with others. It is a boundless relief and I am enjoying every bit of it,” so said a female student, Stella Yusuf.

    On his part, a holiday maker at the park, Alhassan Umaru said although he is a Muslim, the occasion was an avenue for him to make huge sales.

    He said: “The influx of people into the park to engage in recreational activities serves as an opportunity for us to make brisk business. We are making huge sales during this period.

    “This year, unlike the previous one, the crowd is much and this is very good business for us selling things or rendering services in the park.”

    It is the hope of everyone that the 2014 Christmas celebration will be more eventful than that of 2013.

  • Presidency and its letter battles

    What appeared as rumour a few months back has now blown into the open. The feud between President Goodluck Jonathan and the former President Olusegun Obasanjo is no longer the stuff of hearsay.

    When it started a few months back with media reports indicating disagreements between them, either to deceive or mislead Nigerians, you would hear the following day of the former President either attending church service at the Aso Villa Chapel or having breakfast or in closed-door meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa.

    But that is now history as the reality of their disagreement is now in the public domain in black and white and Nigerians now know better. The former President wrote an 18-page open letter which also necessitated an open response by the incumbent in black and white.

    In the 18- page letter dated December 2, 2013, which was released to the media about two weeks later, Obasanjo had levelled some weighty allegations against Jonathan.

    Among the accusations was that Jonathan was training snipers and has put over 1,000 perceived opponents on watch list ahead of the 2015 elections. He was also accused of not fighting corruption well and poorly handling the war against terrorism in the country.

    Stressing that Jonathan committed himself to a single term in office when seeking his party’s nomination, Obasanjo maintained that Jonathan would be “fatally flawed” if he contest in 2015 Presidential election.

    After Obasanjo’s letter was made public some Nigerians were divided as to whether Jonathan should reply such a letter.

    While some believed that it was best to keep silent over the allegations, other Nigerians felt that Jonathan not replying the letter will give the impression that Obasanjo’s allegations were true.

    Obasanjo’s rushing to Jonathan’s hotel in Nairobi to have breakfast with him during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebration of Kenya, a day after the 18-page letter was released to the media, however did not stop Jonathan from replying the letter, also in black and white.

    Three days to Christmas, Jonathan hit back by first ensuring his letter was received by the former President before releasing it to media houses.

    Giving ten reasons why he had to openly reply Obasanjo’s letter, Jonathan denied the allegations levelled against him and his administration and also challenged Obasanjo to provide concrete evidence to back up his claims.

    Maintaining that Obasanjo’s letter amount to threat to National security, Jonathan also accused Obasanjo of granting questionable signature bonuses waivers and poorly handling the Odi, Bayelsa invasion under his tenure as President, among other counter-accusations.

    But Obasanjo said that he would keep his fingers crossed and continue to watch developments as they unfold and that he will not respond to Jonathan’s reply.

    To prove to the whole world that Obasanjo’s allegations were false, Jonathan has also directed security agencies and requested the National Human Rights Commission to carry out thorough investigations of the criminal allegations in Obasanjo’s letter and publish their findings.

    Not relenting, Jonathan on Christmas day at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in LifeCamp, Abuja also pointed out that no politician or group of politicians own Nigeria and that it belongs to all Nigerians.

    He said: “For us at this time especially we the politicians that we think we own this country begin to think about next election and doing what we ought not to do, making statement we ought not to make, writing letters we suppose not to write.”

    “I call on clergymen and statesmen who really own this country because this country belongs to our statesmen, traditional rulers, religious leaders, our men, our women, our youth. Nigeria does not belong to any politician or group of politicians. So we continue to urge you to pray for this country.” He added

    Jonathan, at the church service, also asserted that the position of President he is occupying was given to him by God and not any man.

    “I also thank the religious leaders of this country, they have been praying and I believe God has been hearing our prayers. We will do our best within the period that God has asked us to occupy the positions we are occupying.” He said

    To end the feud between Jonathan and Obasanjo, it was gathered that some eminent leaders in the country including ex-Head of State General Yakubu Gowon, ex-President Shehu Shagari, former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan are making moves to reconcile them.

    When two elephants fight, surely the grass suffers and in this case, Nigerians. It is hoped that these issues will be urgently tackled in the interest of the nation and Nigerians because Nigeria must surely move forward.

     

  • Jahi residents bemoan water scarcity

    Residents of Jahi community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are now groaning over lack of potable water, saying they have been relying on expensive water vendors.

    The Village Head of the community, Alhaji Saliu Adamu, stated that over 400,000 residents of the community depended largely on a river as source for drinking water.

    The situation has given rise to water vendors who are making brisk business in the community as a four-litre Jerry can of water is sold for between N20 and N25.

    A student of Gateway Polytechnic and a resident of Jahi, Jonathan Iyah, lamented the neglect by the appropriate quarters, noting that the community often went through untold hardships to get water.

    He said many of the residents who cannot afford water from the vendors have to trek long distances to fetch it from the river.

    When Abuja Review visited the river, the environment was well kept, but the road leading to it was full of refuse which could impact negatively on the health of the inhabitants of the community.

    Adamu said that the situation had become pitiable for the residents as effort to draw the attention of FCT administration to address the issue proved abortive.

    He also called on other well-meaning Nigerians to assist the community.

    The community, however, heaved a sigh of relief from its myriad of problems when the Joseph Amuta Adeyi Foundation (JAAF) provided a free medical service to the residents.

    The service covered consultation, diagnosis and treatment of malaria and typhoid, among others.

    Residents of the community came out en-mass to access the gesture and lauded the foundation for its magnanimity.

     

  • A roof over the needy

    A roof over the needy

    As part of its commitment to alleviating the suffering of the less-privileged, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has offered some low-cost housing units to the physically-challenged, widows, people living with HIV/AIDS and others whose houses were demolished in Idu-Karmo in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The low-cost houses are located at Pegi in Kuje Area Council.

    Out of the planned 1,000 housing units, 579 have been completed and allocated to the beneficiaries in two phases.

    The phase one of the project was the completion and allocation of 527 units in 2011 and 48 recently. The houses consisted of 20 two-bedroom housing units and 28 one-bedroom units.

    The Minister of State for the FCT Olajumoke Akinjide who gave out the keys to the beneficiaries of Abuja @ 30 Social Housing Scheme said: “The idea was for a sustainable low-income housing programme that would provide decent but affordable accommodation for the less-privileged with the initial phase funded from donations received from FCT contributions.

    “To ensure continuity of the scheme, I have initiated a public-private partnership (PPP) programme where property developers will develop houses in partnership with the FCT Administration. The rest of the land available will be used to build low-income houses that will benefit junior staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).”

    The houses were given out at 50 per cent of the construction cost. This indicates that one-bedroom unit costs N1, 328,366 and two-bedroom unit will cost N1, 607,711 under rent-to-own scheme payable within 11years; with an initial payment of 25 per cent of the discounted price to be paid at once.

    The Abuja @30 Village Project which was conceived in 2006 during the 30th anniversary of Abuja, included facilities like school, clinic, police station, informal market, bank, administrative office and accommodation for staff of the school, clinic, among others.

    Other facilities available are seven boreholes and community water taps located at strategic locations.

    The minister promised that access roads including extension to Buzun Kure village and areas where landlords were given plots of land will be constructed.

    One of the beneficiaries of the project Mrs. Okon thanked the FCT Administration for making her dream of owning a house come true