The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Another cold anniversary

    Another cold anniversary

    The only people who made something out of the 55th independence anniversary were performers on empty streets and, perhaps, a few couples who took their families outdoors. Otherwise, it was just as drab as the recent editions, reports GRACE OBIKE

    Again, there were no blinking lights or colourful banners on the streets of the nation’s capital.  And no huge crowd and ear-splitting sounds which once characterised Eagle Square on a typical Independence Day anniversary. The Square itself was sealed off, and two local football teams could have played all day on the streets.

    It was Nigeria’s 55th Independence Day, but there were no celebrations resembling the sort you were used to. All the ceremonies took place in Aso Villa away from popular view.

    In the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan, insecurity was to blame for the subdued celebrations. Now, President Muhammadu Buhari’s fiscal discipline, pruning the anniversary budget to a mere N70m, a far cry from the billions usually provided for the ceremonies, has taken fanfare away from the event.

    Such performers as skaters grumbled about the low-key edition of the national holiday, especially about the fact that they did not have the opportunity to show their talents on the skate boards before President Muhammadu Buhari and other dignitaries. Some families seized the opportunity to unwind outdoors. Otherwise, it was another unflattering independence anniversary, like the one before it and the one before that.

    Some couples took their children to the Millennium Park and other amusement facilities scattered around Abuja, while some went to the numerous children’s parties in town. Some others spent the day in school celebrations or religious gatherings.

    While the event went on inside the Villa, a lone man danced around with a hoe, a show he probably hoped would have impressed the President if the event had taken place at the Square and if he were allowed in.

    •Other performers
    •Other performers

    A group of skaters under the umbrella of the Coalition of Abuja Skaters expressed their disappointment at the fact the Square was locked up. The group claimed that they were in contact with the organisers of the event and hoped for an opportunity to perform before the President and other dignitaries. They had been practising for weeks. Nothing would have thrilled them more than entertain the president and prove to everyone that skating was good enough to be ranked among other sports in the country.

    The coalition is made of such small units as Vision Skaters from Karshi, United Skaters Association, Skate Love, House of Legend Skaters, all of them saying that Nigeria is a country which they love and appreciate and that they are ready to show that they are not an inconsequential bunch of street kids on skates.

    Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the club Sylvester Fadion said, “We have existed for over 10 years; this is a coalition of different clubs coming together to celebrate Nigeria, we are out here displaying our joy for the country. We had written to the people in charge of the celebration and they promised that they may include our name to the program if the Eagle square will be used but now that they are not using the square, we know that we may not be able to get access into the Villa, we are a bit disappointed that no one will watch us because we deal with stunts, skills, choreographic moves and a lot more techniques but now no one to watch us since no one is at the Eagle square, we have a lot of force men amongst us, men of Nigerian Civil Defence, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Police a lot more.”

    They proceeded to run around Maitama, Wuse, Garki, Asokoro to display their skills.

    In satellite like Kubwa for instance, apart from residents going about their business as if nothing important was going, members of the Christ Embassy tried their best to celebrate with their usual 1st of October celebration that usually takes place each year, they took to the streets in green and white, with loud music which a lot of the members danced to following behind a member riding a horse dressed in green an while and a vehicle carrying musical instruments that blared different songs as they distributed the Rhapsody of Reality.

    Member of the church, James expressed his excitement at the independence day celebration.

    “Our church always celebrates this day because it is important, we also use it as an opportunity to remind Nigerians of God’s love and goodness in our lives which is the reason why we share free copies of the Rhapsody, we wanted to do something nice and different which informed the reason for the horse because we all believe that Nigeria has come a long way in 55 years.”

    A taxi driver who could not be bothered to state his name said that as long as he is concerned, he has no reason to celebrate unless, the government will be sharing money to Nigerian.

    “I’m out here working because I need the money more than anything right now; who cares about  Independence Day celebrations? Are they going to share money? With the hardship in the country right now, I will only go to a place that will give me money.”

     

  • Residents appeal for better roads

    Residents of Jiwa community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the incoming FCT administration to rehabilitate the main road linking the community to Dei-dei and Gwagwa-Karmo communities.

    Mr. Hassan Musa, who spoke with Abuja Review, said that the poor road has presented serious challenges to the people, with motorists often trapped for hours in traffic gridlock when it rains.

    According to Musa, the residents of the communities have written many letters to the FCTA and even to media organisations just to attract the FCT administration to the roads and the plight of the residents, but nothing has been done to alleviate their suffering.

    He appealed to the incoming FCT Minister to include the rehabilitation of the road in the FCT budget when the new administration takes effect, saying that if the road is rehabilitated, it will reduce the suffering of the people and also improve on the economic development of the council.

    Another resident of the community, Mr. Alhassan Mohammed, also said that the dilapidated state of the road is affecting the businesses in the communities, as Dei-Dei, Gwagwa and Karmo communities are the most flourishing business areas in the FCT.

    “The internally generated revenue gotten from these communities are more than any community in the FCT,  the largest timber and building materials markets are in this communities,  but the road that leads to this markets are dilapidated and gradually becoming inaccessible.

    “That is why we are appealing to the incoming administration to consider the rehabilitation of this road, so that things will go well for everybody within and outside these communities. We have been going through hell as a result of the bad road, mostly when it rains, the government should come to our rescue so that we can have peace,” he said.

     

  • Council chief to Nigerians: be patient with Buhari

    Council chief to Nigerians: be patient with Buhari

    The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Micah Jiba has urged Nigerians to be patient with President Muhammadu Buhari in his bid to reshape the nation.

    Jiba, who also serves as the National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), congratulated Nigerians on the 55th Independence Day anniversary, saying that only unity and love have kept the country together.

    The ALGON boss further commended President Buhari for the bold steps he has taken to tackle insecurity, saying that with the prayers and support of the people, the administration will put an end to insurgency.

    Jiba said 55 years of any nation is not a joke, adding that Nigerians should have sober reflection and also pray for President Buhari.

    He also appealed to the President to consider indigenes of Abuja in his cabinet when appointing ministers, adding that indigenes of the FCT deserve better representation at the Presidency.

    “I will advise Nigerians to continue to remain united and work with the present administration in order for President Buhari to move this nation to greater height.  We are also appealing to President Buhari to consider Abuja indigenes in his ministerial appointments, so that we can contribute our quota in his government.

    “The indigenes of the FCT have been marginalised for a very long gone time and we believe that with the present administration, the marginalisation will come to an end. We are also appealing that since the independent anniversary is taking place today, Nigerians should continue to be law abiding and loyal to this administration,  so that the government will be focus and succeed in his desire to reposition the nation in all ramifications.

    “Nigerians should be patient with President Buhari as he is taking his time to reposition the country and correct everything that needs to be corrected. We should continue to pray for this administration, that God will give our President good health and the wisdom to pilot the affairs of the nation to greatness,” he said.

     

  • Saraki: Mending fences

    The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since assumption in office in June has not been sighted in the Presidential Villa, Abuja until last Thursday.

    He has kept away from the seat of power probably because of his faceoff with his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Saraki, had against the wish of his party, contested and emerged the Senate President with the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators in the red-carpet chamber.

    Apart from his emergence, Saraki, unlike the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara who won election to the number four seat in similar circumstances, also did not allow the wish of the party to prevail in the selection of other Senate leadership positions.

    Saraki has not been to the Presidential Villa until last Thursday during Nigeria’s 55th independence anniversary celebration, except if he had visited under the cover of darkness in the last three months.

    As the number three citizen, it would have been unprecedented for Saraki to have absented himself from the independence anniversary celebration.

    His predecessor, Senator David Mark did not miss any of the celebrations under the last dispensation.

    Saraki, who arrived the Presidential forecourt after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, took salute from the military personnel on parade before joining dignitaries and invited guests at the sitting arena.

    He exchanged pleasantries with them before taking his seat.

    There were also warm exchange of pleasantries between Saraki and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and later with President Muhammadu Buhari when they arrived the venue separately.

    The frequent smiles from discussions between Saraki and Buhari during the event made some guests to wonder in low tone what has kept Saraki away from the seat of power for so long.

    As if that was not enough, Saraki who left the Presidential Villa after the ceremony ended returned to Osinbajo’s office in the Presidential Villa about an hour later in a private car.

    He spent about thirty minutes in a private meeting with Osinbajo.

    Saraki was escorted to his vehicle by Osinbajo after their closed-door meeting.

     

  • Fear not

    The fear of President Muhammadu Buhari is growing in many quarters. In his days in the military as Head of State, he was known to be a no-nonsense man and an apostle of discipline, transparency and accountability.

    Those in government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies prior to Buhari’s democratic administration, who have done things anyhow to enrich themselves and drained the nation’s resources, are now treading cautiously out of fear.

    The fear and new self-inflicted restraint from doing things anyhow is said to have mainly been responsible for the improving power supply in the country.

    Frequent acts of vandalism in the energy sector under the former administrations have suddenly stopped with the inauguration of the administration on May 29.

    Fuel scarcity and long queues that have been the story of past administrations have also stopped under Buhari’s administration.

    The improvement could visibly be seen during the recent festive periods and independence anniversary celebration as the country was spared of such fuel scarcity and queues.

    These are just two areas where the fear of Buhari has helped in services rendered to the nation.

    There are many other silent areas of improvements resulting from such fear.

    But President Buhari on assumption in office has counseled Nigerians not to fear him.

    As if the counsel was falling on deaf ears, President Buhari in his October 1st independence anniversary message to Nigerians again urged them not to fear him but should rather fear the consequences of their actions.

    This means that those who soil their hands have course to worry while those on the right side of the law will never have any problem with him but earn his support.

    He said: “As I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone.

    “People should only fear the consequences of their actions. I hereby invite everyone, whatever his or her political view to join me in working for the nation.” He added

    But he harped on the need for change in the habits of Nigerians in order to bring about the desired change being championed by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government.

    “I would like to end my address this morning on our agenda for CHANGE. Change does not just happen. You and I and all of us must appreciate that we all have our part to play if we want to bring CHANGE about.

    “We must change our lawless habits, our attitude to public office and public trust. We must change our unruly behavior in schools, hospitals, market places, motor parks, on the roads, in homes and offices. To bring about change, we must change ourselves by being law-abiding citizens.” He said

  • Indigenes urge Buhari, EFCC to probe FCDA officials

    Indigenes of Dagbalo community in Apo area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC )  to investigate the activities of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) officials in respect of allocation of plots, especially those whose

    Certificates of Occupancy were approved in less than the stipulated one year.

    The indigenes through their leader,  Rev. Danjuma Tanks, who made this call on behalf of the community, insisted that if the investigation on what he described a the nefarious  activities of FCDA officials commences, it will aide in healing the wounds suffered by indigenes of Abuja.

    Rev. Tanko said the Indigenes who affected by the ill fated activities of the FCDA were subjected to untold hardship and all manners of inhuman treatment by the past Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed.

    According to him, the FCTA through the department of Ressetlement and Compensation took a bulldozer two years ago, which was July 30, 2013 to demolish the entire Dagbalo community and destroyed their farm lands  without any ressetlement or compensation.

    “They allocated the same area to one Mr. Owuora, the owner Owuora group of companies. It took the FCDA officials, led by the director of Ressetlement and Compensation, Mr Francis Okechuckwu five days,  in company of well armed Military personnel in a pickup van to wipe off our entire community.

    “Our people who were helpless and armless,  could do nothing,  but to report the matter to the nearest Police division at Apo, where we advised to go to court  and the case has been in court for the past two years now. All efforts by our Counsel to ensure quick dispensation of justice has proved abortive. This is therefore causing untold hardship and more suffering to our people, even as we squatting with our neighbours.

    “Also,  about this time last year, the FCDA called for settlement out of  court, which we did not object to. But,  for the past five months now, they have  failed to fulfil the promises they made to us.  Instead, they tried to lobby me to sell out my community and I bluntly rejected it. So, we are back in court and since then, the FCDA has resorted to delaying the court procedures, without respect to the judicial process .

    “Counsel to the FCDA has joined in frustrating the case by failing to tender his redress for adoption, which ought to have been been done since July, 2015, before the court went on recess, but neither the director nor their defense counsel were in court to tender  their redress for adoption. Now,  the resumption the next adjournment has been shiftedOctober 17, 2015.

    “We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari, who we see as an act of God to liberate us from our suffering,  through his anticorruption campaign to investigate the nefarious activities of the FCDA and they way they are subjecting indigenes of the FCT to immeasurable suffering by forcefully confisticating their land without due compensation and resettlement,”he said.

    Tanko further appealed to President Buhari to instruct the incoming minister of the FCT to ensure that their communities which were wrongly demolished by the FCDA and allocated to a single developer are restored to the people,  saying that as it is presently,  none of the affected indigenes have any place to call their villages or hometown.

     

  • Youths to APC: choose credible candidates

    Indigenous youths of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), under the auspices of AMAC Youth for Good Governance (AYGG) have appealed to the leadership of the council chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to ensure that a credible Chairmanship candidate is elected from the over 23 chairmanship aspirants in the forth coming party chairmanship primaries.

    The youth who made this call through their leader, Comrade Ishiaku Audu, in a press briefing in respect to the forth coming council elections,  explained that there is the need for the party to trail the path of the good example exhibited by the national level of the party,  where the leadership was not bought with money before the presidential election.

    Audu explained that the youth are worried with the numbers of aspirants that are vying for the chairmanship position and most of them intend to buy their way through with money, saying that since the APC has become the ruling party, that the numbers of chairmanship aspirants has gone beyond the expectation of the people.

    According to the indigenous youth,  it is obvious that with the numbers of aspirants and the ways most of them are going about the chairmanship election,  whereby some of them are trying to buy the conscience of the people with money is something to be worried about, that if the party is not careful,  the wrong person will be chosen during the primaries.

    “We are seriously disturbed, because we do not want the wrong person to be selected by the party during the primaries. We have taken critical look at all the aspirants and if we are allowed to make our choice,  we will prefer the former AMAC Secretary and present FCT APC Secretary,  Hon. Abdulahi Candido,  because he has been the only consistent person in the party, before it became the ruling party.

    “We must understand that the era of buying the conscience of people with money to get their votes is over. We are appealing that the primary election be based on somebody that has what to offer to the people of AMAC.   That is why we believe that Hon. Candido is the best aspirant amongst all of over 23 aspirants and he can continue with the spirit of positive change in the council.

    “We will not keep quiet and let things go wrong in the council.  We have gotten information of how some aspirants are trying to buy the conscience of people, by giving them cars and monetary gifts. That attitude has shown they do not have anything to offer the people, if anyone of them becomes chairman. AMAC people should not sell their future for peanuts. That is why we are appealing that the leadership of the party should not make mistakes during this election,” he said.

    The indigenous youth further advised the AMAC leadership of the party to consider experience and sincerity when making the choice to select the candidate to fly the party’s flag during the election, saying that only an aspirant  that has the experience in the affairs of the council, will be able to know how to affect the lives of the people when elected.

     

  • A frustrating fair

    A frustrating fair

    The exhibitors are few, patronage insignificant, items too costly. This year’s Abuja International Trade Fair is leaving a sour taste in the mouth, reports GRACE OBIKE  

    It hurts to admit, but the 10th Abuja International Trade Fair is falling short in several respects. There is none of the trademark hustle and bustle. Nor that feast atmosphere. The sellers are few, and those who display their articles are grumbling about low patronage. Even the few buyers are just as frustrated, lamenting prices they consider out of reach.

    People believe that new and uncommon products can be bought at cheaper rates at trade fairs. Indeed, that used to be the case in Abuja when patrons trooped to trade fairs especially those held at the old parade ground right in the middle of town.

    Things seem to be changing.

    Some residents of Abuja who visited this year’s fair at the J. T. Useni International Trade Fair complex along Airport Road with the hopes of a fair that can be compared to others left disappointed.

    •Scanty crowd at the fair
    •Scanty crowd at the fair

    The reason for this poor outing at the fair is not quite clear. Is it the poor economic situation in the country? Is it because the fair is being held during the Sallah celebrations or that the distance to the venue is far? What is beyond doubt is that fewer people visited the fair last week even though it was public holiday marking the Eid el-Kabir celebrations.

    Guests familiar with other trade fairs were mostly disappointed after they were forced to pay the compulsory N100 gate fee to enter the complex, with few stalls and even fewer buyers showing up.

    Although the few participants at the fair actually came from a few different countries like Egypt, Ghana, Cameroon, etc, others came from Lagos and other states.

    The fair, which was opened on Friday September 18 and ends on October 2, has given many participants reason to worry as most of them complained of low patronage and poor turnout of buyers.

    Ghanaian jewel seller who gave his name as Mensah complained of lack of sales.

    He said, “This was not what I expected, to be honest. Last year’s fair was better that this one. I have barely recovered my transport to Abuja, talk more of other things. The few people that come price the products so low and complain that they are expensive but it is not our fault.”  ?

    For some visitors, the fair was some sort of family excursion, with their active children turning the place into a playground, while the parents went from one shop to the other trying to bargain their way through the market.

    “I am honestly not impressed,” said a man who came with his wife and three children. “Will you believe they counted all of us in the car and made us pay for each person? It is crazy; usually, when you drive into trade fair grounds with your car, you are just required to pay for the car and not everyone else in it.”?

    Complaining further, he said, “We are in an electronic age and you will expect that there will be an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) mounted in the complex to make it easier to shop but none; the traders do not even have a Point of Sales (POS) machine to make shopping easier. One will have to leave the complex and go all the way to Area 1 to withdraw more money since Lugbe Federal Housing that happens to be the? area around here with a bank can only boast of one bank and there is no money in it with the Sallah break.”

    The theme of the fair is “Entrepreneurship as a panacea for economic growth”.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, Mr Abdulkadir Musa said that the trade fair seeks to lay a foundation for inclusive growth, wealth creation, food security and reduction of the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

    He added that the fair was one of the best platforms for international and domestic exhibitors to create new product lines, access new markets, build new business relationships and showcase new products.?

     

  • Aspirant to donate half of salary to charity

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and aspirant of the forthcoming chairmanship election in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdulahi Candido has said he will donate 50 per cent of his monthly salary to charity if he wins election.

    He also promised to establish a local AMAC radio station that would focus on tradition,  cultural heritage, occupation and other vital aspect of the people in the territory, saying that the radio station would serve as a united force for the people of AMAC and Abuja at large.

    “AMAC is a very large council and the radio stations around do not really speak directly to the people. So, as a local council that operates within the locality,  our intention is to come out with a local radio station that can speak directly to the people in their mother tongues.

    “Different languages ranging from Igbo, Yoruba, Gbagyi, Gwandara, Hausa and other languages, would be concentrated on the radio production. That is the idea of coming out with a local radio station that will speak directly to the people outside what we have now.  When you bring a station that is grassroots oriented, it will affect the lives of the people directly,” he said

    Candido added that if elected his administration will establish skills acquisition and vocational centres in the 12 wards, where school leavers and unemployed graduates will be trained free of charge in different kinds of trade.

    “This is aimed at making the people self reliant and also job providers. A special unit will be charged with the responsibilities of finding jobs in Ministries,  Departments and Agencies (MDAs),  companies will also be approached with a view to ensure that AMAC quota is not short-changed.

    “While private companies that operate operates in our localities will be encouraged to provide their host communities with jobs. The council will enforce laws that will compel compliance, so that our younger ones are kept off the streets,” he said.

     

  • Christian pilgrims board screens travellers

    The Christians Pilgrims Welfare Board (CPWB) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has started screening pilgrims intending to travel to Israel for the 2015 pilgrimage.

     

    Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christians Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Kennedy Okpara explained that the screening exercise is necessary to ascertain if the pilgrims are Christians and understand the reason for the spiritual journey.

    Okpara, who was represented by the Federal Commissioner representing North Central Zone, Mrs. Unekwu Ugboro,  said the pilgrimage is a spiritual exercise and not for sightseeing or tourism.

    “They are to be prepared spiritual and we pray that when they come back they would be changed people and when they are changed they will be able change their families, environment and nation positively,” he said.

    He also added that pilgrimage is for moral and spiritual transformation, “we believe that if people are morally and spiritually transformed they will fare better in their endeavours and impact positively on others and at the end of it all, we will have a better nation.”

    The Director of FCT CPWB, Dabara Vingo said the screening is aimed at ascertaining the health status of the pilgrims and to know the people with the tendency to abscond.

    Vingo also said that the board is fully prepared with the help of security, medical and other personnel to read the intent of the pilgrims, adding that the exercise started with 300 pilgrims, a number that increased to 1,200 due to additions from the NCPC.

    He said pilgrimage is for those that are intending to improve their holy life, “the Holy Land would make them read more about their faith thereby transforming their moral lives.”