The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Minister seeks support on land reform

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has urged residents to support the ongoing land reforms in the Federal Capital Territory. Bello said the reforms are meant to curb irregularities and ensure fairness and equity in land allocations.

    This position was made known by the Head, Public Enlightenment Team, Mrs Josie Mudasiru during a courtesy visit to the Etsu of Kwali, HRH, Alhaji Dr. Shaban Audu Nizazo.

    Mudasiru lauded the efforts of the FCT Minister in mobilising contractors back to site to complete previously abandoned projects in the FCT, his intervention in the educational sector, which has resulted in the takeoff of five new senior secondary schools in the next academic session and the completion of the Abuja University of Science And Technology.

    Mudasiru said the duo of the Minister, and his Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye runs an inclusive government, hence the need to reach out to the people at the grassroots.

    She urged the audience comprising of the representative of the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Hon. Christopher Galadinma, The Market Women leader, Mrs Florence Ogidan, CAN chairman in Kwali, the Chief Imam of Kwali, District Heads, and Heads of Tribal Communities, to cooperate with the current reinvigorated immunisation campaign in the FCT  so as to stamp out Polio in FCT and Nigeria.

    She said, “We cannot achieve any meaningful development or progress without peace”.

    Responding, the Etsu Kwali commended the effort of the Minister concerning peace and security, while urging him to do more.

    The royal father said Nigerians need each other and any tribe asking another tribe to vacate their land is pure nonsense.

    According to him, anyone who witnessed the civil war in Nigeria will not wish for a repeat of devastation. “People do not know the implications of hate speeches as no part of the country will have it good in the event of another civil war”.

    He urged everyone, especially the youths to be their brother’s keeper, and thanked the administration for operating an open door policy.

    The team which had earlier been received at Kwali Area Council by the Head of Administration, went on a walk round the Market and shopping area to have a one on one interaction with the masses.

  • A spiritual push for peace

    With prayers, biblical texts and good old common sense, a Christian group makes a case for harmonious living, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Since June 6 when a band of Arewa youths shook up the country with a quit order on Igbo in the North, many have been trying to calm frayed nerves. State governors have unanimously condemned the call. The authorities in Kaduna State where the pronouncement was made ordered that the youths be arrested. Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has been touring the country, rallying regional leaders and stakeholders to ensure peace in their domains.

    A Christian group has added its voice to the peace push. The group under the auspices of Christian Rural and Urban Development Association of Nigeria, (CRUDAN), gathered in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Abuja to brainstorm the way forward.

    A retired Director of Information at the Villa, Mr. Musa Aduwak who delivered a paper titled: “Peaceful Coexistence: an imperative for national development urged Nigerians to appreciate the efforts of Acting President Yemi Osinbajo in resolving the issue of agitation from various quarters.

    Aduwak said government needs to bring everybody together and continue to preach peace adding that it should be done under the law.

    Development, Aduwak said, does not happen in isolation or in a vacuum. “Whether physical, relational, economic, social, spiritual, or educational, development is only possible in an environment where there is fairness, accountability, interdependence, transparency, peace, freedom of thought and action within the ambit of the law, respect for individual and group rights, etcetera. All these, or most of these can only occur in democracies, such as we claim to be practicing now. The reality, of course, is that we are still a long way from a democracy that meets these standards.

    “It is normal for every nation to have agitations. What may be a challenge is how to resolve agitations. People have different understanding of how they want to achieve their aim or demand. The critical thing must be for government to know how to harness and bring together these various agitations in a manner that will fulfill the laws of the land.

    “Government is not failing to curb or normalise these agitations. The way government operates is not to come out and start talking. If you recollect the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has been speaking about this issues more recently and that must be after checking up all the issues as they affect the people. Silence sometimes can be golden because if government has spoken too early it may not go well. Remembers he has been holding consultations with various groups all over the country.

    “As Nigerians we are generally always in a hurry.  The level of our patience is limited especially when it has to do with life. Government needs to bring everyone together. There is no war that has been fought and they did not resolve the matter on the table. We are not yet at war, we still have avenue for discussion and government to take advantage of that.

    “I want to believe that the steps of the Acting President is also in that direction. He has a sense of how the feeling of people are and I am sure he would go forward to resolve the issue. The content of agitations is not too good for us. People are afraid of losing something, but the rest ruction will benefit all of us. Because we are better as one country. Generally government is doing its best to secure this country.

    “I was born in Southern Kaduna. My family tree, up to five generations before me for which there are any records, tells me that that is the land God gave me to live in, cultivate and tend. I grew up with various groups around me, the Fulani being one such group. I recall a particular Fulani lady who used to bring fresh cow milk every morning, nono, cow butter (man shanu) to our house for sale. I also recall that my father would send me, or any of my brothers, to take a live chicken, which my mother was going to cook, to our Muslim neighbour to slaughter. It was not because my father, or any of us for that matter, could not slaughter a chicken. It was because we shared our food with our Muslim neighbours, but they would not eat any meat slaughtered by us, so they slaughtered our livestock and we dressed them for the pot. Alternatively, he would invite the neighbour to come and slaughter the chicken in our house.

    “My father’s compound had several rooms unoccupied by members of our immediate family and so he rented them out to those who had need. I recall one Mal. Sule, a veterinary attendant; Mal. Sa’idu, a driver with one of the government departments; and a Kanuri man whose name I have forgotten who worked with the health department eradicating tse-tse flies. All of them, Muslims, lived in my father’s house at different times, and we lived in what may be described as “blissful peace”.

    “Fifty years later, it is a different story. That peace has more or less “evaporated”. There has been no war between us, in the sense of war like we saw in 1967-1970, or in Liberia or Sierra Leone. Yes, there have been disagreements and clashes, several bloody, with many lives lost and property destroyed. But where don’t you have these disagreements? Once Adam got the choice whether to obey God’s command about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or not, disagreements were bound to arise.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Minister hails developers on lease-to-own plan

    Some developers have got the thumbs up for their plan which involves tenants graduating from leasers to owners of their accommodations.

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Bello lauded developers of Court Estate for building structures that encourages FCT residents to rent and eventually own structures 15 years after occupying the building.

    Bello during the unveiling of the estate in Durumi said the population of FCT had been growing at a rate of 20 per cent annually, stressing that the project was in line with the mandate of the administration to provide housing for residents especially at an affordable rate.

    He lamented situations where estates are developed but remained unoccupied as a result of the high cost.

    He said, “Let me say that the FCT Administration sees this project as a gesture of good will and a demonstration of confidence in the present administration which is working round the clock to not only address the housing deficit in the country but also attract foreign direct investment into the sector.

    “I am particularly happy to see that the whole estate was conceived with the lower income earners in mind, with an innovative programme called Lease-To-Own, which I was told would allow your clients to own a house by leasing or renting the property over a 15 year period. This is a good idea which I must say is highly commendable and it is also in tune with the vision of the FCT Administration.”

    “When the accelerated mass housing development was initiated by previous Administrations in the FCT, it was intended to accommodate all strater of the society; low, medium and high income earners. Along the line however, a lot of things happened which derailed that vision and if you move round the estates in the city today, you will discover that most of them are empty because many of us cannot afford the very high cost being charged by the developers,” the minister added.

    Bello, who was represented by Engr. Umar Gambo noted that efforts are ongoing to ensure that such infractions do not occur in the future by ensuring strict adherence to laid down guidelines.

    In his remark, the Chief Executive, Crown Realties Plc, Mr. Darl Uzu described the estate as a place to live a good life.

    He said aside from the modern facilities and technology driven security system, the estate is built with a golf court and runs on 24-hour power system.

    According to him, the estate is reasonably affordable with flexible payment system terms which he also described as lease-to-own programme.

    “The estate is the first golf estate in Abuja, borrowing from my chairman, that I know, with a club house, garden, gym, wellness place and mini-mart for purchase of everyday items by residents. It has a programme that allows residents to pay rent and live up to 15 years and it becomes their own thereafter.”

  • Osinbajo and tax jokes

    Those who thought that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was always too engaged with official duties to have any time for light-hearted banter were shocked last Thursday.

    They were swept off balance as he made jokes that caused laughter among audience, who filled one of the biggest halls in the Presidential Villa, the old Banquet Hall of the State House.

    The occasion was the launch of the Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS) meant to prevail on tax defaulters in the country to change their ways before 31st of March 2018.

    Before his remarks, Osinbajo had watched documentaries supporting the new scheme and listened to some members of the VAIDS team, all youths, who gave testimonies on the goodness of taxes payment.

    Their accounts of how the training they received has changed their orientation about tax payment drew applause from the audience.

    As soon as Osinbajo was invited to the podium to deliver his speech, he did not spare the audience of ribs-cracking jokes.

    After observing protocol, Osinbajo started by joking about the body language of the audience which showed him that they have resolved to start paying more taxes to the government.

    He said: “I looked all over the room and I see that there are several people here who have promised to pay more tax…

    The audience cut him short with laughter that resonated throughout the space of the hall.

    Not done with the joke, Osinbajo continued: “…..and as I sat there I was making my notes very diligently and when we leave here we will be asking some questions about how much taxes people have been paying.”

    That also drew applause from the audience.

    Recalling an American who said that the two things that are considered certain in any society are death and taxes, Osinbajo jokingly pointed out that a Nigerian added to the American’s words of wisdom by saying “Yes, taxes and death are certain, but at least death is only once, tax is several times. “

    The audience again burst into laughter.

    He went further to joke about why the South Eastern part of the country have been coming last in the list of taxes paid by the various geo-political zones in the country.

    He started by saying: “In Nigeria, historically, every one of the old regions recognised that and it’s interesting that practically every region was basically paying for us all its programmes with tax money.

    “The first region to recognize formal tax was the Northern region and thereafter the South and last was the South East.

    “When I mention this to an every good governor friend of mine, who is from the South East, that how come the South East came last on the taxes list, he said ‘we are the smartest.’

    The hall again erupted in laughter.

     

    Sending phone charger on exile

     

    For years, a mobile telephone charger had remained a shining star in Wuna village under the Gwagalada Local Government Area Council of Abuja. The village was not connected to the National grid

    With the entrepreneur’s generating set, he became the rallying point for all the villagers that wanted to power their mobile telephone sets.

    As a monopolistic business in the village, the entrepreneur’s revenue increased over the years.

    But recent development has changed the settings in the village.

    Business was no longer as usual forcing the entrepreneur to leave the village for another backward village to operate.

    The only reason that propmted the entrepreneur to close shop in Wuna village was the introduction of renewable energy.

    The Acting President Yemi Osinbajo recounted how it happened during the Nigerian Renewable Energy Roundatable organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in conjunction with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said: “Many of us may never have heard of Wuna. I hadn’t either until about two years ago. A village in the Gwagalada Local Government Council of Abuja, lying between Abuja and Nasarawa State. It is an agrarian community. It is not on the national grid, and had no other source of light.

    “To charge their phones, an entrepreneur with a small generator runs a service. You take your phone to his shop once a day or so, you pay a small fee for charging. Life in Wuna shuts down at about 7pm until daylight.

    “We decided working with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to provide a sustainable renewal energy solution solar.

    “I was in Wuna to see it for myself. For the first time in their existence, the village now has running water, solar powered. The school has power and the school hall is now used as a community hall in the evenings. Each home has 4 points of light.

    “Children can now stay up and do some studying at night. Many of Wuna’s women can now process their  millet and yams at night. New jobs have been created, solar installers, maintenance, payment systems and so on.

    “One guy has lost his business in Wuna. The phone charger. Every household can now charge their phones.  But he now charges phones of residents of other villages.” he added

    The Acting President, however, was certain that the entrepreneur and others in similar business nearby areas, will soon have no option but to change their line of business as renewable energy will be extended to more villages not connected to the National grid.

  • ‘Give widows 5% social investment funds’

    As the world celebrates International Widows Day (IWD), a non-governmental organisation, Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja has advocated 5 percent of the federal government Social Investment Programme funds to be dedicated to widows to address the poverty and injustice they and their children face.

    The group observed that the four social investments programmes of the federal government did not capture the interest of widows in the society, just as the group called on government at all levels to dedicate special funds for establishment of small scale business for widows.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja as part of activities to mark this year’s International Widows Day, President of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Mrs. Jumai Ahmadu stressed that there are over 245 million widows worldwide, nearly half of which live in extreme poverty and are subject to cruel violence.

    Speaking on the 2017 theme: “Given as Never Alone”, Mrs. Ahmadu affirmed that 5 percent of the Social Investment Funds if dedicated to widows will go a long way of solving problems like social intolerance and financial adversity faced by widows especially in the rural communities, while commending the federal government on the National Homegrown School Feeding Programme.

    “We want to use this occasion to commend the federal government Social Investment Programme aimed at creating jobs for unemployed graduates and address other social issues. However, Helpline Foundation for the Needy is also using this occasion to call on the federal government to set aside 5 percent of the funds to tackle the numerous problems faced by widows and their children in Nigeria.

    “This clarion call to set aside 5 percent of the social investment funds to widows is in line with our core objective to support and encourage the vulnerable widows in our midst through economic empowerment and skill acquisition and scholarship scheme for their children.

    “The plight of widows around the world, estimates that there are 245 million widows worldwide, 115 million of whom live in poverty and suffer from social stigmatization and economic deprivation purely because they have lost their husbands. Regrettably, a higher percentage of widows in Nigeria live in extreme poverty and are subject to cruel violent. The main reason to celebrate this International Widows Day is to spread the awareness among the people on the troubles of the widowed women and Helpline is at the forefront of this campaign”, Mrs. Ahmad stated.

    June 23 has been set aside to mark the International Widows Day globally create awareness on the plight of widows and their children who become victims of social injustice, literacy, HIV/AIDS, and conflict.

    On the 22nd December 2010 at the 65th UN General Assembly, the United Nations recognized 23rd June as International Widows Day. The day was launched by the Loomba Foundation at the House of Lords in London in 2005. The date, 23rd June, was chosen because on this day, Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba, Lord Loomba’s mother became a widow.

  • Operation Clean-up-Abuja!

    Operation Clean-up-Abuja!

    Unauthorised posters on the capital city walls, as well as unpermitted billboards will soon be removed in a drive to keep the city clean, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCDA) will soon start removing political posters, illegal billboards in Abuja, it has been learnt.

    This development was revealed by the Director, Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), Alhaji Ibrahim Yusuf at a briefing as part of activities marking two years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The last bye-law, Yusuf said, has given the agency the right to prosecute anybody found illegally pasting posters on Abuja streets and roads no matter the personality.

    He disclosed that about N331,330,543.75 was  generated as income in 2015 and N475, 329, 317.84 in 2016.

    The primary function of the department, the DOAS boss said, is to reposition and strengthen the FCT Outdoor Advertisement and Signage System, to re-organise, standardise and regulate the business and practice of outdoor advertisement in Abuja by curbing the proliferation of illegal and substandard advertisement structure as a vehicle for environmental beautification.

    He said, “The latest bye-law has given us the right to prosecute defaulters on the issue of posting posters. It is also an environmental issue and we are trying to see how we can resolve the issue. Even in Lagos there are serious penalties and this should be applicable in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We need manpower, adequate staff and funding.

    “The issue is that when we enforce and remove the posters they past them again. There is a taskforce doing this job of monitoring those who are used to pasting the posters.

    “The political posters will be removed and we trying as much as possible to remove the posters but they are overwhelming because we have only one removal machine. We will try and remove all the posters and prosecutor anybody found pasting them. “The billboards, posters along pedestrian bridges are going to be removed. This poses danger. We also encountered some challenges which include inadequate staffing, inadequate working equipment and tools, scarcity of funds to provide appropriate/relevant technical/management training for officers of the department.

    “Consequently, the DOAS project believes with the right support and motivation (technically and financially) can strengthen her resolve to ensure a cleaner signage environment, improved city aesthetics, enhanced revenue generation and instill a more effective outdoor advertisement and signage regulation for the Federal Capital City.

    “I want to assure you of the present FCT Administration’s determination to ensure that, in line with the Federal Government’s change agenda, residents of the FCT feel the positive impact of governance.”

     

  • In the spirit of Ramadan

    In the spirit of Ramadan

    Displaced victims of Boko Haram in Abuja savour eid-el fitr philanthropy, reports OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN

    Attacked by Boko Haram and forced to flee their homes in the Northeast, internally displaced persons or IDPs camped in Durumi, Abuja understand what horror means. They are lucky to be alive, but life in the camp is usually bitter. They are short of life’s essential requirements. But sometimes philanthropists stop by to cheer them up with daily supplies. This Ramadan offered them another opportunity to be remembered.

    Spotting the branded vehicles of the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges Foundation (NTICF), an arm of the Nigerian Tulip International Colleges (NTIC), there was excitement in the community. The disadvantaged persons, especially children, jumped around to welcome officials of the foundation. Staple food items were distributed to the needy and other welfare materials. The daytrip, according to the Director of the foundation, Mr. Behlül Fatih Baºaran, was a rare privilege to care for those who cannot really feed themselves, after the usual daily Ramadan fast, not to mention participating in the Salah celebration. He said the event was part of their commitments to making impact in rural communities through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

    “The month of Ramadan is usually referred to as the Sultan of the month because that’s when we commence our fasting according to Islam. And we at NTICF felt it would be ideal to extend the milk of human kindness to people that cannot feed during this month,” said Baºaran, adding that, “NTICF has been doing this for six years running and God helping us, we shall continue for a very long time.”

    The NTICF has been involved in projects that feed the poor under its food relief initiative, especially in the holy month of Ramadan. A 2016 report identified the NTICF as one of the organisations that have consistently provided meals for the needy at the National Mosque and other mosques in the federal capital territory and other states in the nation.

    “The foundation has constructed hundreds of boreholes in rural communities in the FCT and its environs. The yearly target for the construction of boreholes in rural communities is 50. The NTICF has constructed 226 boreholes in nine states since 2014. We have a target to reach the 10000 mark in the future God helping us,” he added.

    Though, the NTIC came into the country in 1998, it has remained committed to the needy. Consequently, in 2013, it incorporated the NTICF to carry out social intervention programs to give back to the society. Baºaran identified NTICF four major critical areas of interventions to include health, education, water and food relief. He said the programmes were product of careful thoughts tailored to put smiles on faces of the indigent people in the society.

    “Of course, the NTIC Foundation is not new to charitable activities. It has overtime carried out series of CSR initiatives. For example, in 2014, the foundation distributed 500 lockers, bunk beds, desks and stationery packs consisting mathematical sets, textbooks, sharpeners, pencils, erasers, crayons and drawing books in public schools in some states and the FCT.

    “We also carry out collaborations with Nizamiye hospital which is one of our sister organisations,” Basaran explained. “This year, we collaborated with Nizamiye hospital to conduct a medical outreach programme in Yobe state where about 1700 patients were treated at the General Sani Abacha Specialist hospital in Damaturu, and those with complicated cases were referred to the Nizamiye hospital for treatment free of charge. This included a six-month-old baby with cataract in both eyes, aside from free 263 cataract surgeries we have successfully carried out since inception.”

    “For us at the NTIC, we are concerned about the community we operate in hence the determination to provide basic services to people and communities in dire need of these services,” said Mr. Hassan Abdullahi, a senior official of the foundation added.

    The director of the NTICF further explained that Nizamiye Hospital and Nile University were also actively involved in the charitable enterprise aimed at providing for the poor.

    “Nizamiye hospital also distributes relief packages to the communities’ surrounding the hospital, likewise the university too. An aid package is usually branded and bagged to contain 2kg of rice, 2kg of beans, 1 litre of oil, 2kg of corn, 2kg of millet and 1 kg of salt. We have been able to distribute between 4500 to 5000 relief packages in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Zamfara and Maiduguri Yobe and Abuja this year alone”.

    “We distribute iftar meals simultaneously in four states in Nigeria and the FCT. In Abuja, we designated five mosques including the National Mosque as centres,” Basaran said.

    He was also quick to add that the intervention of the NTICF is not for the Muslim faithful alone, but for everybody in need irrespective of religious, ethnic or tribal affiliations. “We do not take language, colour, religion, or race as reference in carrying out our activities.”

     

  • Rooting for one united Nigeria

    For over a week, several groups continued to pay solidarity visits to the seat of federal power, expressing their support for one peaceful, united Nigeria. All these happened at the series of consultative meetings convened by Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, with leaders of thought, traditional and relugious leaders from the North and Southeast.

    The meetings were propmted by the increasing ethnic tension in the country. Of recent, some Arewa youths gave an ultimatum to Igbos living in the North to leave the region on or before October 1st, 2017. They claimedHYPERLINK “tel:%28+234%29%208060757170” that they were reacting to the sit-at-home order issued to Igbos by IPOB on May 30th. To douse the tension further and to resolve the issues, Osinbajo also convened the last consultative meeting with all the governors of the 36 states of the Federation last Wednesday. All the governors threw their weights behind the Federal Government in support of one peaceful and united Nigeria.

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode said: “What we came out with in that meeting was to say all state governors would support the unity of this country and ensure that in our own individual state we see that we douse this tension of this tribal remarks that seems to be taking place and I think forging ahead, we will succeed.

    “We have said that this is an indivisible country. The total number of Yorubas up North, the total number of Igbos up North, actually contribute to the political economy of Northern States and likewise the same thing in the South.

    “The bottom line is that I am for a united Nigeria that actually brings all of us together and we grow and become more prosperous as Nigerians. That is a deeper vision than just trying go through the angle of being divisive.” he said

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State also said: “It has been unanimous that the unity of this country is sacrosanct, is non-negotiable and we have all agreed to work together to educate people.

    “Nigerians are by nature a united people, nobody cares whether you are from the north, south or the east.

    “The unity must be there and we cannot play with the unity of this country. The consensus has been that there must be unity.

    “The message is for Nigerians to work more together and collaborate. We have more to gain when we are united. We cannot afford to break, and anybody who is thinking of that is wasting his time and we will not allow it, not in this country. All of us are unanimous about that.” he added

    Before the governors’ meeting with the Acting President, other groups during such consultative meetings have also spoke for one united Nigéria.

    Speaking last week Monday night while hosting traditional rulers from the North to Iftar dinner at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo said that no group during the consultative meetings has kicked against one peaceful, united Nigeria.

    He said: “The way that we see things developing around our nation today (obviously as you said, even within families, you have disputes, you have controversies) is worrisome.

    “All of us have however agreed that our nation must remain one.

    “When we spoke yesterday with traditional rulers from the South-East; despite the issues that were raised here and there. I think that there is clarity as to that one thing, that our country ought to remain, must remain a united country.

    “Just as I said to them yesterday, a lot of blood has been shed on account of the unity of our country and our faithfulness even to the lives of those who have made the supreme sacrifice to this country, demands that we do everything on our part to keep this country together.

    “And in any event, the greatest nations in the world are those nations who have the size as well as the human resources in particular to make the best of that size, and I think our nation has that and the mere fact that we have such a large nation and so well-endowed, in terms of human resources.

    “I think that we are in the best position not only to be truly great but to ensure that all of our people benefit from the greatness of our country.” he stated

    While it is good news to hear that none of the groups spoke against one united and peaceful Nigeria during the consultatives meetings, it is very important that everyone of them take the same solidarity message back to their communities and regions.

    Because it will not be right for any of the leaders of thoughts, traditional and relugious leaders, after the consultative meetings in Abuja, to sit on the fence.

    They must henceforth speak up against divisive and hate speeches uttered by anybody in their communities and states.

    Not doing this, will mean that they could be seen as the unseen hands backing and urging the agitators to carry on.

    This will also mean that they have come to the centre only to deceive and mislead the Federal Government.

    So, the time to really speak up against hate and divisive speeches is now.

  • Relief for Abuja IDPs

    Relief for Abuja IDPs

    Senate President Bukola Saraki donates food items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kuchigoro, near the Games Village, Abuja, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports  

    In Kuchigoro near the Games Village is an unflattering community of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who relocated from the Northeast due to the activities of Boko Haram. Life has been quite tough there, so when the Senate President Bukola Saraki came with his team, the residents were expectant. They were not disappointed, for Saraki came with food items.

    The Senate president took the opportunity of the holy month of Ramadan to express their love for the less privileged in the society.

    The delegation was received by the evangelist of the camp, Mr. Jude Kaghala and other leaders of the camp.

    The Senate President donated food items including rice and toiletries for distribution to inhabitants of the camp and said while the executive was working in collaboration with the legislature to rehabilitate and resettle the IDPs in their original communities; it will ensure that their life is made better on a daily basis.

    Saraki said: “We have not forgotten you and we will not forget you. We will continue to work to ensure that you return to your individual villages and towns. But while you are here, we will ensure that your life is made better every day.

    “This is why we decided to come and identify with you, to know how you are coping and to comfort you. We share your pains and we are doing what needs to be done to make your towns and villages habitable once again. We will make sure you live a better life.”

    Senators who accompanied Saraki on the visit to the Kuchigoro IDPs camp included Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, Philip Aduda, Abubakar Kyari, Mohammed Hassan and Baba Kaka Garbai.

    The Evangelist of the Camp, Mr. Khagala thanked the Senate President and his team for the visit and the food items and toiletries he donated for use by the IDPs.

    He promised that the rice, soaps, deodorants and body spray he donated will be evenly distributed among the IDPs, especially the pregnant women and children. He said the food could not have come at a better time than this Ramadan period.

    While praying for the Senate President and his delegation for the august visit and donation of items to alleviate their plight, he called on other well-meaning individuals in society to emulate the Senate President’s kind and fatherly gesture.

    “We are honored to receive you in our midst today. We want to thank Mr. Senate President and all the distinguished Senators for this visit. We also thank the Senate President for the rice and all the other items he has donated to us.

    “We will distribute them to our people here to help them as they partake in the Ramadan fast. We cannot thank him and the Senate enough. We also thank you for the work the Senate has done in passing a bill to create the North East Development Commission. We pray the Almighty Allah to reward you,” Kaghala said.

    At the end of the visit, it was as if the senators should not leave them as the children told Abuja Review that they have never felt happy like this since in the camp with the presence of the lawmakers, urging them to keep visiting with season till they relocate back to their respective states.

  • Area Councils get N13b in two years

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has given out over N13 billion to six Area Council in the nation’s capital between January 2015 and April 2017. The disbursement was carried out through the Joint Area Council Allocation Committee, (JAAC).

    Acting Director, Area Councils Services Secretariat and it allied agencies, Mr. Joshua Kaura disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the activities and achievements of the secretariat to mark the two- year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari. The councils are Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abuja Municipal.

    Kaura said: “We provide secretariat services to Joint Area Council Allocation Committee, (JAAC), meetings and other activities with its Sub-Committees through which the sum of N13, 828, 010, 037. 06 (Thirteen Billion, Eight Hundred and Twenty Eight Million, Ten Thousand, Thirty Seven Naira and six kobo.) was disbursed to the six FCT Area Councils from January, 2015 to April, 2017 as well as coordinate issues relating to the Internally Generated Revenue, (IGR) in the Area Councils.”

    The secretariat, he said facilitated the intervention of the release of: “N1, 900, 000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred Million Naira.) Only as bailout to the six Area Councils to settle staff salaries for January, February and March, 2015 that led to the suspension of industrial action embarked upon by the Area Council workers.”

    He said, “Furthermore on the activities of the secretariat, we have mobilized 43 co-operate Societies for the participation on CBN 220 Billion Naira Micro Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fund.”