The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • ‘Staff must shun corruption’

    Few Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye has warned heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to shun corruption and keep their hands from funds meant for the development of the Federal Capital Territory.

    Dr Ajakaiye called for a holistic change of altitude by the civil servants by thinking outside the box and being innovative in their approach to government business and considering it a service to humanity.

    The warning was contained in a statement released by Deputy Director cum Chief Press Secretary, FCT, Muhammad Sule.

    Dr. Ajakaiye warned Heads and Directors of some Secretariats, Departments and Agencies in Abuja of the danger in compromising their positions and denying the people their due.

    Sule said, “Dr. Ajakaiye lamented that a leakage may seem small in some cases but cumulatively pose great danger to the entire system with devastating effects on the residents as well as the visitors to the Territory.

    “The Permanent Secretary reiterated these leakages if contained would go a long way in improving the infrastructure and services in the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

    “The country desires change and the change is already here: In the words of President Muhammadu Buhari, we should not fear him but fear the consequences of our actions. He called for holistic change of altitude by thinking outside the box and being innovative in our approach to government businesses by considering it a service to humanity.

    “Dr. Ajakaiye further charged the Heads of the Mandate Secretariats and Directors to genuinely devise means of doing things proactively now that the country’s economy is dwindling.

    “We should all put our thinking caps to be solution providers and think outside the box to spawn buoyant Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to sustain its operations, because funds are really not there again as it used to be”.

    “He therefore enjoined the Senior Officials in the FCTA not to be possessive in terms of property or monetary accumulation because these might not make meaning to their children but rather on legacies that are capable of enduring positive effects on the society.”

     

  • A community in dire need

    A community in dire need

    Its roads are in disrepair, water is scarce, drainage dreadful. Health facilities in Lugbe, a satellite town, are also a big concern, reports OLUGBENGA ADANIKIN

    The civil servants, private business owners, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and others who live in Lugbe, a large settlement in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are familiar with the lack narrative. Their roads are poor and drinking water is a huge challenge. When it rains, the community is flooded not as much by the volume of the downpour as of the dreadful drainage. They have also health care challenges.

    In places around the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) where some businessmen live, life seems a big better. There are eateries, banks, huge pharmacies and other health facilities, but on the other side, residents seem to gnash their teeth more. The population of over 10,000 clearly cannot afford the FHA rent, and have to cope with whatever comes their way.

    There is indeed a health facility strategically located close to the market there but it cannot cope with the residents’ needs.

    There have been several calls for the authority to expand the facility to include other structures and departments considering the population, unfortunately little or nothing was done. In terms of personnel, there are few permanent health workers and more of support nurses numbering over 10.

    A visit to the hospital revealed some of the equipment are archaic; the beds have become flat while sitting furniture was unavailable. There are insufficient beds and staff to attend to patients. The situation is as worrisome as these few health workers struggle to attend to expectant mothers who visited for medical checks.

    A nurse who pleaded anonymity said, “Only six workers are full staff nurse here and there are about 10 non-permanent staff. We are not enough considering the population of people living here in Lugbe. The permanent staff don’t come for night shifts except for one. Other five come only in the morning. In fact, we supposed to have a general hospital.”

    Speaking further on remunerations, the female nurse stressed, “For about five years now, we have been working but they refused to regularise our work as permanent nurses. We do more of the job because we do night shifts a lot unlike the permanent nurses. So we are hoping that by the time they appoint a new minister, things will change.

    “Whichever employment they want to carry out, they should please consider we that have been working here for so long without been paid.”

    Perhaps, outstanding performances and commitments of the staff despite all odds earned the health centre AMAC Health Department Certificate of Excellence in 2013. The staffs were rewarded for their contribution to developing primary health care services for the year.

    Shortly after, the facility was also renovated by the Nigeria Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI). The Non Governmental Organisation NGO also donated relief and medical materials.

    According to NURHI during the visit recently, “the influx of women coming to the health centre here is alarming, especially for delivery and medicare. We have about 60 women in a month that come here for family planning. When you look at the total influx of women coming here for delivery, I can tell you they are more than 500 in a month.

    “I am not being specific but they are more than 500 in a month that comes here for delivery.”

    While conducting survey on this facility, it was gathered that the primary health care centre was built by a former AMAC Chairman, Dr. Zaphaniah Jisalo in 2008 and commissioned on Tuesday 8th December, 2009 by the then Minister of State for FCT, Chief Chuka Odom.

    A resident, Mr. David Dumelo tasked the authority to consider expanding the hospital or establishing a general hospital in the locality.

    “I’m sure government knows what is right to do. We don’t need to beg them if they have our interest at heart. First, look at the road leading to the health centre, so bad in a deplorable condition. Do you know during emergencies, we mostly rush our people to Wuse General

    Hospital in town?

    “That’s the situation we have found ourselves. Unfortunately there is little we can do.”

  • Kuje FRSC cautions motorists on rules

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kuje Unit command, has urged motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid reckless driving.

    Mr Charles Umoh, the unit commander cautioned the drivers during a safety road show tagged “Driving Safely Into 2016” organised by the Kuje command.

    Umoh said the exercise was aimed at sensitising motorists on the need to strictly adhere to traffic rules and the dangers of reckless driving during the Yuletide.

    He said road crashes are not mere occurrences but negligence by some motorists which can be reduced by building good road-user attitude and adherence to traffic rules.

    According to him, record shows that arrogance on the part of drivers in terms of speeding, expired tires, drink-driving and over-loaded vehicles are the major causes of road accidents.

    “Accidents do not just happen; they are caused by road users as a result of negligence and disobedience of traffic rules and regulations.

    “Road traffic crashes are not mere occurrences but largely human, which can be reduced through conscious effort by driving carefully and strict adherence to traffic rules.

    “All we need to do on our highways is to examine our driving attitude to stay clear of any unhealthy practices and to be promoters of road safety advocacy,” he said.

    The Unit Commander also called for partnership with the Kuje Transport Union and FRSC Kuje command to work in synergy to reduce road accidents to the barest.

    He assured that there would be zero crash during and after the yuletide period as the Road Marshals would be vigilant during the festival.

    The FRSC FCT Sector Commander, represented by the Deputy Corps Commander, Mr Udeme Eshiet, urged Motorist in the area to obey traffic rules and drive safely into 2016.  According to him, unsafe conditions were factors responsible for road accidents and could be averted by strict adherence to traffic rules and regulations’

    Eshiet urged the taxi drivers and motorcycle riders in the area to obey road traffic rules during and after the Christmas period to ensure that innocent lives are not lost.

    He said that, “The road users need to be conscious of safety while on the road, and the need to change their attitude from negative to positive.

    “When you have respect for other road users, you will know that there is need to drive safely to avoid road accident.

    “There is always an increase in vehicular movement during the Christmas period, because people want to achieve something they have planned for the year.

    “But one thing is for sure, it is only the living that can achieve his/her goals, so I urge all the road users to drive safely into 2016 because there is another Christmas to celebrate.

    The Chairman of Kuje Tipper Garage Transport Union, Alhaji Saleh Haruna, thanked the Kuje FRSC for the sensitisation campaign and promised to cooperate with the command at all times.

    He called on FRSC and other stakeholders to ensure the mounting of more road signs at identified flash-points to caution drivers in the area.

    The sensitisation campaign featured drama presentation by the FRSC Club of the Nation Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and Road Show

    The FRSC team visited Wowo Park along Kuje-Gwgagwalada road and Tipper Garage to sensitise members of the public on fake driver’s license and safety measures.

  • Shocker!

    All the permanent secretaries in the Federal Civil Service of the Federation as at last Tuesday morning were definitely looking forward to continue to be accounting officers and performing their duties as Ministers were scheduled to be sworn in the following day.

    It was never part of their dreams and plans not to be part of the new dispensation.

    The dreams and aspirations of about 17 of the permanent secretaries were shattered last Tuesday afternoon.

    The permanent secretaries who arrived for a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday along with the Acting Head of Federal Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, probably thought the meeting was to prepare them for the coming ministers.

    But before the new ministers were sworn in last Wednesday, the permanent secretaries were retired from service barely 24 hours to the ministers’ coming on board.

    The retired permanent secretaries left the seat of power shocked as some of them were gloomy when they filed out of the President’s office and passed by journalists on their way out.

    The journalists had rushed out to the corridor to get a glimpse of the permanent secretaries when news filtered to them on the latest development.

    Some of the permanent secretaries were seen discussing on their telephone sets as they walked past journalists, probably dishing out instructions to their aides in the office to clear their tables and belongings to make room for the next occupants.

    Although no reason was given for their immediate retirement from service in the statement announcing their replacement, which was issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

    But stories from the grapevine in the Presidency had it that the permanent secretaries were shown the way out as they were senior in the service to the newly appointed Oyo-Ita.

    Oyo-Ita, who resumed office on the 21st of last month, was also rumoured to have wept at the meeting for her seniors who were affected by the new development.

    The 18 newly appointed permanent secretaries replacing those going on compulsory retirement include Mrs. Ayotunde Adesugba, Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, Mr. Taiwo Abidogun, Dr. Bukar Hassan, Mrs. Wakama Belema Asifieka, Mr. Jalal Ahmad Arabi, Mr. Sabiu Zakari.

    Others are Mrs. Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi, Mr. Aminu Nabegu, Mr. Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele, Mr. Alo Williams Nwankwo, Dr. Shehu Ahmed, Mr. Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu, Mrs. Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa, Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, Mr. Bassey Apkanyung, Mr. Louis Edozien and Dr. Ugo Roy

    The President did not stop at appointing the new replacements, but went ahead to reshuffle the beats for the present 36 permanent secretaries a day to swearing in of Ministers.

    The aims of the new moves are believed to be focusing on repositioning and strengthening the civil service for the task ahead.

    • A bird in hand

    Not a few Nigerians would have wondered why a person who has a prospect of becoming a state governor at the end of legal litigation  would go ahead now to take a ministerial job.

    This actually happened in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Wednesday.

    Senator Aisha Alhassan, popularly referred to as ‘Mama Taraba’ was declared the winner of the 2015 Taraba State Governorship election a fortnight ago by Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja.

    The Tribunal had annulled the election of Darius Ishaku as the Executive governor of Taraba State.

    Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Danladi, relying on the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared that Ishaku was not properly nominated as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party since no primary election was conducted in the state by the party.

    Ishaku has threatened to appeal the verdict of the election tribunal at the Court of Appeal within the stipulated period.

    While all Tarabans and Nigerians are still waiting the final outcome of the litigation, Mama Taraba decided to embrace the popular saying ‘A bird in hand is worth two in the bush’ by grabbing the ministerial slot at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) allocated to her state.

    She disappointed those who thought that she would turn down the ministerial job in the hope of occupying the Taraba State Government House in line with the verdict of the election tribunal.

    Mama Taraba did not only physically appear for the swearing in of ministers, but actually took the oath of office and got the portfolio as the Minister of Women Affairs.

    During the ceremony, she was frequently referred to as ‘Mama Taraba’ by the master of ceremony, which drew applaud from those in the Chamber. Those who supported the decision of Alhassan to take the ministerial job pending the determination of the governorship litigation, also believed that the action will help to build her profile.

    In her profile, if she eventually gets the governorship seat, she would be referred to a as a former senator and ex-Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    • Speedy development

    President Buhari has again impressed on the new Ministers the need to urgently move fast towards delivering the desired change to Nigerians.

    Besides organising a two-day retreat for them, he insisted during their swearing in ceremony on Wednesday that no time must be wasted and they should hit the ground running on their new assignment.

    Believing that the new cabinet will not let him down, the President declared that he has put round pegs in round holes, square pegs in square holes and taken cognizance of Nigeria’s diversity and positions of various stakeholder groups.

    With the portfolios given to the 37 ministers, including himself, President Buhari also believed that the mistakes of the past administrations, which allocated wrong portfolios to individuals, have been adequately corrected.

    He said: “Today we have reached another milestone in the evolution of our new government which Nigerians overwhelmingly voted into office in the March 28th, 2015 general elections.

    “Since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, the Vice President and I have been mindful of the need to constitute a cabinet that will best deliver our expectations of a better country than we inherited.

    “And we are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today is a step in the right direction, a timely move towards realizing our positive goals for our country.

    “Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their utmost to justify the confidence we have placed in them not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions,” he stated

     

  • Youths appeal for jobs

    The Federal government has been urged to create jobs for unemployed youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and indeed the entire country.

    The call was made by Mr. Chikezie Erege, the National President, Youth Mountain of Hope.

    Erege staged a one-man peace protest march in Abuja to express his grievances to the government over the unemployment profile in the FCT and other parts of the country.

    The one-man protester  marched round the major streets in the FCT and the entrance of the National Assembly dressed in green-white-green  carrying a placard with the inscription, ‘Pls restore the Nigerian lost glory,  Mr. President,  VP,  National and State Legislators.

    He explained that he has been on a 40-day hunger strike to make known his grievances.

    Erege said that he decided to stage a one-man protest because he felt the pains of the unemployed youths in the FCT and entire Nigeria, and that since Nigeria is recognised as the giant of Africa,  there is the need for the present government to restore the lost glory of the country.

    “Today, Nigeria is called the giant of Africa,  but because of corruption and unemployment in the country,  our youths are now the easiest people to use as slaves by most corrupt people. Nobody cares about the rate of unemployment in the country.

    “That is why I am calling on the attention of the government at all levels through this one man protest,  which is the easiest protest to control,  for the government to restore the Nigerian lost glory,  so that the youth of this country will rejoice once more,” he said.

    According to Erege,  the government needs to kill corruption from the grassroots to the top,  mostly within the Police and the educational sector,  saying that there is corruption everywhere in Nigeria,  where the people are been denied their rights,  in order for them to remain poor forever.

    “Today,  makes it 1000 days since I have been protesting over this issue and I am appealing to the government to give hope to the youth in th country. I decided to go on hunger strike for 40 days, just to draw  the attention of the government to the plight of the suffering people,” he said.

  • A boost for water supply

    A boost for water supply

    If water supply improves appreciably in the nation’s capital, the credit must go to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has donated several tools to the local water board. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Sourcing clean water has been a huge challenge in the federal capital city, but, thankfully, help has come. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has given the FCT Administration Ultrasonic water flow meters, leak detectors, pipe detectors, test meters and data loggers, among others.

    The Japanese agency also donated two 4WD vehicles to the FCTA.

    •The vehicles donated to FCTA
    •The vehicles donated to FCTA

    That should make a difference in water supply as well as the quality of the precious liquid and even the operations of personnel.

    The challenegs in water supply are sometimes blamed on  the overwhelming influx of people into the FCT.

    At the presentation of the equipment, JICA Chief Representative, Mr. Hirotaka Nakamura said in the FCT findings indicated a conservative non-water revenue or NRW of about 42.1% and a bill collection efficiency of 35.2%. Such figures represent substantial losses of potential revenues that are needed for future investments on improved service delivery.

    Nakamura said the project is a holistic coupling of the technical, social and institutional components in order to establish a functional model for managing NRW, adding that this can be replicated by other water utilities across Nigeria based on expected successful result.

    He said, “In simple terms, Non – Revenue Water (NRW) is the most common challenge for the efficiency of a water company. It is defined as “the difference between the quantity of water supplied to a network and the metered, billed and paid for water by the customer”. It has two components namely; physical losses due to leakage from pipes; and administrative losses due to illegal connections and under registration of water meters.

    “JICA is aware that the Water Board currently operates in 16 water service areas in Abuja and has its plans to further expand and serve Abuja residents much better. In order to assist such plans, JICA decided to provide Ultrasonic water flow meters, Leak detectors, Pipe detectors, Test meters, Data Loggers, etc, including two 4WD vehicles worth approximately US$421, 000.

    “The project had identified and selected Pilot Metering Areas (PMAs) from each of the Abuja Districts, where currently has no functional or reliable system in place for measuring water losses. The water flow meters will be installed to each PMA to measure in/outflows regularly to analyse accurate data of NRW.

    “The project has advanced step by step, and we have been able to commence on a series of activities. They include; 1) the construction of meter chambers, 2) Installation of bulk meters and capacity building through local training workshop and; 3) Sector -focused trainings in Japan for FCT Water Board personnel, and today, delivery of these equipment and vehicles etc.

    “I have noted a worthwhile partnership among stakeholders of the project, and now implore FCT Water Board and relevant departments to take good care of the equipment. Reduced water losses converted to cash can be the solution. JICA solicits even greater leadership and commitment from the FCT government since JICA experts will never be with you forever and ever.”

    FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu said that the water board officials will take the project seriously and ensure that it is executed and implemented with the highest degree of responsibility.

    He said the project has come on stream at a most convenient time when emphasis is on prudent conduct of government business.

    Chukwu who was represented by the Director FCT Water Board, Malam Hudu Bello said, “We will therefore like to express our profound appreciation to the government of Japan through JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA is not only providing support to the water board but to the Federal Capital Territory Administration. And government of Nigeria in terms of funding but as it is being witnessed today.

    “This collaboration will also impact on the development of the skills of the water board officials as the capacity development component is also implemented. We call on the residents of FCT to lend their support to the success of this project by desisting from every form of illegal water connection and regular payment of water bills.”

     

  • Portfolio palaver

    It is no longer news that all the 36 ministerial nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation scaled through.

    But what is on the front burner now is the confusion whether all the ministers-designate will get portfolio, and if not, who will get portfolio and who will not?

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, for the first time since taking office, rose to the occasion in defending the interest of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the screening and confirmation of the nominees.

    He stood his ground against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators who staged a walk-out during the exercise.

    Saraki, no doubt, did exactly what his predecessor, Senator David Mark, would have done for his party, the PDP, in similar circumstances.

    The Senate President, who personally brought the letter conveying the list totaling 36 confirmed nominees to President Muhammadu Buhari, believed that the exercise was carried out within record time because of the high quality of nominees sent to Senate.

    But prior to the time of submitting the list, there have been misunderstanding surrounding whether all the confirmed ministers will get portfolios.

    President Buhari in an interview in New Delhi, India where he participated in the third summit of the India-Africa Forum a fortnight ago had warned that not all the 36 ministers designate will act in substantive capacity as some of them will only sit in the cabinet to fulfill constitutional requirements.

    Stressing that not all the ministers designate will get portfolio, he also declared that Nigeria is broke and couldn’t pay salaries of large cabinet like under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But some Nigerians immediately faulted the president’s remarks and accused him of demarketing Nigeria.

    Others also seemed confused concerning Buhari’s remarks on the portfolios and his declaration that not all the 36 Ministers designate will be substantive ministers.

    The confusion was compounded by a contrary report in a newspaper last week, which quoted a presidential aide, claiming that there will be portfolio for all the 36 ministers designate.

    But President Buhari reiterated his earlier position within one week while receiving the list of confirmed ministerial nominees from Saraki last Tuesday.

    He said: “If I can remember, there must be a member from each of the 36 states. That was why I limited the number of my nominees to that number, 36.

    “I think there is some enthusiasm in some parts of the Presidency today that said portfolios are to be given to the 36.

    “The constitution certainly said there must be one member of the cabinet from all the states but the constitution did not say I must have 36 ministries.” He said

    He went on: “I will explain that details. Because of the economic imperative, to have a lot of ministers, substantive ministers, let me put it that way, whatever somebody speculated in some of today’s newspapers, I think that the economy as I have seen it now since my sitting here for the last four months, that we are so much battered. Although some people are saying I am giving bad publicity and scaring away investors.

    “But I am confirming to them that we are truthful, that we need them to come and help us help ourselves by getting in industries, manufacturing and services.

    “They know our needs. The economy of human resources, I believe will make them eventually come and help us.

    “I assure you that we will follow the constitution and all the 36 will be sitting in the cabinet as the constitution stipulates.” He added

    Now that the President has cleared the air and maintained that he did not mince words on the issue of portfolio, definitely, no minister designate will still be in doubt concerning the matter.

    The president’s statement might also have increased underground lobbying by some of the ministers designate in order to emerge substantive ministers at the end of the day.

    But such move may not achieve much as the President already knows who he will make a substantive minister and who among them will only sit in the cabinet.

    Buhari has been fully grounded on each of the ministries and parastatals before the ministers designate came on board and knows where to place each minister.

     

    Orientation for ministers

     

    President Buhari last Thursday and Friday took a step further towards bringing the desired change of his administration to the people.

    He organized retreat for the Ministers designate and impressed on them the need to purge themselves of anything that will stand on their way and key into the change agenda of the administration.

    Before last week, Buhari had not only taken time to receive briefs from permanent secretaries in the various ministries and head of agencies, he also gave them an insight into the direction the government was taking during the briefings.

    He has consistently insisted that it was not going to be business as usual in the conduct of government’s business and activities.

    Declaring the retreat open, Buhari said: “We must count ourselves privileged to have been chosen among millions of our compatriots at this historic time to be the instruments that will deliver the change we have promised.

    “The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.

    “I have invited you to join me in this urgent mission for our country. I am convinced that in accepting this invitation you are also equally determined to take part in this patriotic undertaking.

    “It is important that you are fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of this Government so that we can all move together as a team.

    “Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty.

    “It is expected that we make the running of Government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change.

    “I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us,” he said.

    Besides urging them to observe the rule of law and avoid impunity, the President also advised them not to fail to share information among themselves.

    So, it’s now left for the ministers to embrace the change agenda and join the moving train to give Nigerians the much awaited change.

     

  • Relief for the displaced

    Relief for the displaced

    Internally displaced persons or IDPs at the Karshi and Kuje camps have had cause to smile, a rare development. Camp life is tough, but thanks to workers of Skye Bank, good-natured gesture of kindness  changed the camp mood.

    The IDPs said it was a special Sunday when workers of the bank paid them a visit that left a lasting impression on the victims of natural disaster and insurgency.

    The visitors’ first port of call was New Karshi’s trafitional ruler’s palace. Though the monarch was away, the distribution of the materials went on without any hitches. For about four hours, the bank staff distributed food and household materials to the IDPs.

    No one was left behind, the old, the young and the elderly all went back with something to cherish and were grateful. The fears anticipated by the IDPs that the materials brought might not go round was soon dispelled when it was discovered that each IDP might even get double share of the materials.

    Prior to that time, the IDPs were on the brink of breaking protocols with the surging crowded overwhelm the security operatives until they were assured that everyone would go home with enough.

    Musa Abdulahi, Chairman IDPs, New Karshi, Karu Local Government summed up the feelings of his colleagues in the camp with prayers for the bank workers.”May almighty God bless them with their families as they give us supports with the best understanding of how we have been suffering in this place. We pray for them and their families too, including the bank where they are working. God will bless them all”.

    Abdulahi said the prayers were necessary because of the kind of life and living the IDP were suddenly exposed after being displaced from their homes. According to him, it is difficult surviving as a displaced person who is now exposed to a new environment, culture and at an advanced age.

    “I go for hard labour before I could take care of my family. Some-time, they give me a portion of land, so I farm because it’s over 12 months I got to karshi. Since I left my area on 5th August, 2014, in Gwoza, Borno State. They pay me after the labour before I now help my family.” Abdulahi said that was the typical daily routine of an IDPs in new Karshi where all the IDPs were housed by indigenes of the village rather than being housed in a camp.

    The train moved to Abuja at 30 Village, Pegi, Kuje where most of the IDPs were of Chibok origin. It was the same complaints that it was more of abandonment by the government. They were equally grateful to the bankers for creating time to be with them.

    The bank workers also expressed fulfilment at the gesture they were able to extend to the victims of insurgency. According to the leader of the team, Idris Yakubu, Executive Director Abuja and Northern Directorate of Skye Bank, the initiative to give back to the society was entirely hatched and executed by the workers – from the Chief Executive to the last worker. A pointer to the fact was seeing Yakubu physically involved in off – loading and sharing of the materials. He said the bank workers were not forced into donating to the cause, as it was voluntary, “There is joy in giving. Even the workers of the bank are very happy in doing this. This is not the first time we are doing this. So our workers are not tasked, it’s a voluntary contribution. You give what you can give. We don’t force anybody to give but we only encourage them. Our staff wants to identify with the environment and the people, they were very happy even to contribute the funds we have given all together. Next year, with the success of this, we will do lot more and our shareholders will be very happy that we are identifying with the IDPs at this point in time. On why the bank workers identified IDPs for the gesture, Yakubu added, “This year, because of the situation we founded ourselves in the country; we decided to identify with our brothers and families in the northeast who are displaced. So our desire was to identify with the IDPs who are living in these areas and come to their needs and minimize the impact of the suffering they are undertaking currently. We partnered with two of our partners NGOs who had done this before, so what we are doing is a painstaking exercise because we wanted to be sure that whatever we do as bank workers reach the communities that deserve them. So we are doing both Karshi in Nasarawa State and Kuje camp in Abuja”.

     

     

  • ‘I’ll protect indigenes’ interest’ 

    All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the 2016 Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) representing Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Mohammed Jabi has vowed to improve the well-being of Abuja natives and other dwellers if elected in the forthcoming election.

    Jabi made the promise during an interview with Abuja Review.

    He was optimistic that the capital city will be transformed in the shortest time possible.

    Jabi said security will be his utmost priority if voted into office, adding that Boko Haram insurgence will be tackle with fear or favour.

    He said, “I have 16 years experience as a party man since 1999 and for the position that I am going for chairmanship of AMAC, this is my third attempt towards realising my political ambition to govern the council. I come from Niger which was part of the states cut out to create the FCT but this is FCT, this is no man’s land, I am a citizen, I am qualified to contest election here that is what the constitution stipulates and I am resident in AMAC

    “Overtime we have had issues of chairmen that have passed through the same position without delivering key issues that has to do with residents of FCT, the issue of land acquisition is a problem, there should be mechanisms put into place to liberalise the policy so that so that everyone can have a sense of belonging as guaranteed by the constitution, secondly, you will realise that most of the satellite areas have not been covered over time, apart from the influence of FCDA particularly in the area council I am contesting, I have not seen where the chairman has gone out of his way to look at the interiors, where their are challenges of roads, water, sanitation, agricultural inputs that boost food production that has not been able to have adequate attention to are things that I will be channeling my energy to if elected.

    “I lost the other times because I had come from a weaker party whose structures where not solid but now, I am coming from a more solid party which is the APC, if I have the opportunity, I will be able to deliver, bearing in mind that I have all the necessary credentials to govern effectively. I am adequately connected with the people in the grass roots, under the zero party, I was a counsellor under the Jabi and they know that I am a man of the people, whatever I promise to do, that is what I will do without fear or favour, I am fearless, independent when it comes to policy issues.

    “The interest of the natives have to be protected vis a vis other nationalities resident here but we know from the record of the law that the FCT does not exercise anything called indigene ship, if you look at the arrangement in the constitution, it is like a no man’s land by acquisition if we talk of the indigenes, they are only dominate in few areas if I mention Wuse city centre, Jabi, Gwarimpa how many Gwari natives are here? It is the elites that are there, so invariably, the only place they can exercise their franchise is in Karshi, Orozo, Karu, Nyanya where they still have resemblance of population that can equate themselves with other population

    ”We will open up the rural areas, let their produce come to the market, empower them to have value for their produce and change their lives.”

    On what to expect from the incoming Minister of the FCT, he said: “the issue of the land swap scheme should be discontinued, the most dangerous thing happening all over the country right now is land grabbing, the issue of developer syndrome with unaffordable houses needs to be addressed, we can’t continue to leave buildings in the urban areas that is unoccupied to become a criminal den, we will give them a lot of taxation that will make them lease it out or allow people come in, a lot of policy issues needs to be addressed to make life more comfortable for everyone, we also need to look into the issues of ministries doing the same functions, for instance the aspect of the environmental protection board and their atrocities need to be redressed urgently, you can’t continue to use touts and tugs to keep of harassing peasant farmers and traders trying to make a living.

    ”In the aspect of security, I will establish neighbourhood watch properly trained and equipped, to work in line with security agencies and I will pay them good money, everybody must know his neighbour and they must police the community because if you do not do it from the community point of view, you cannot get it at the level of conventional policing.”

     

  • Meat sellers bemoan poor abattoir, roads

    Meat sellers operating in Kuje Area Council have lamented the deplorable state of abattoir and bad road to pose a threat to meat business in the area.

    The Chairman of Kuje Butchers Association, Alh. Isa Musa, in an interview with the News men over the described difficulty faced by abattoir operators to be alarming.

    Musa said, “The abattoir is in a terrible condition and it discourages customers from patronizing our meat even with Christmas just by the corner; They rather find alternative.

    “The price of beef has dropped as people don’t buy from us because of the terrible state of the abattoir and bad road.

    “They prefer buying chickens and cat fish from the poultry farms located along Kuje-Gwagwalada road.

    He said the abattoir was built by previous regime of Kuje Area Council under Mr. Jibrin Wowos’ administration and since then has been abandoned.

    He therefore appealed to the Area Council authority to fix the road and equip the abattoir with the necessary facilities.

    Mallam Aminu Garba, a butcher at the abattoir, described the slaughter room and the medium for transporting meat to Kuje market to be terrible and unhygienic to the public.

    He identified lack of water at the abattoir, electricity, bad road from the abattoir to the market to hinder the conveyance of clean meat and farm produce to the market for sells.

    Garba Said, “The abattoir had been in existence for a long time and has not been renovated all these while; we don’t get water to wash the meat properly and the slaughter room is bad.

    “The road we convey the meat to Kuje market is in a bad shape and very dusty; The meats are covered with dust before we get to the market.

    “People prefer to buy chickens at the poultry farms because the meats are not clean.

    The butcher also urged the Area Council to build a befitting abattoir and provide basic amenities, to promote the growth of meat business and standard of living in the area.