The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Politicians urged to shun sentimental criticism

    The National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) Ambassador Dickson Akoh has urged politicians and others to remove sentiment from any criticism of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that it is too early to lampoon the new government.

    Akoh pointed out the dangers of such attack, saying it can distract Buhari and his government.

    The PCN boss spoke in Abuja at the 17th anniversary of the PCN.

    He commended Buhari for the financial bailout granted the state governments to enable them offset the backlog of unpaid salaries and allowances to workers who are being owed for several months.

    His words: “The PCN believe that Nigeria has passed through a phase and now has a growing opportunity for the desired change under the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We are of the view that it is indeed too early to embark on any form of sentimental criticism of the new government, as such posture is capable of distracting an administration that needs proper and careful planning before hitting the ground running.

    “I hereby enjoin Nigerian youths, particularly members of uniform youth organisations, as agents of change and social order worldwide not to join any dissenting force but align themselves with the Buhari administration in the onerous task of nation building.”

    Akoh said the major task ahead is to work relentlessly to ensure the passage of the bill seeking for an Act for the Establishment of the PCN by the 8th National Assembly adding that: “You are quite aware that the bill which scaled through second reading in the 7th Assembly and was slated for public hearing could not be concluded because of the electioneering campaign embarked upon by the legislators.”

     

  • Enterprise made easier

    Enterprise made easier

    Few things can be as frustrating as setting up a business only to see it crash. Young entrepreneurs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) now know how to avoid such disasters and smile to the bank.

    A partnership between The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) and the Bank of Industry (BOI) availed such youths and others a workshop at which the dos and don’ts of small businesses adequately explained. The forum dealt with such issues as how to get funds to start a business and whether you must have collateral before you can get a loan.

    It was not the first time TREM would help business-minded youths who have little cash. Last year about 30 young persons were empowered with over N1 million to secure industrial sewing machines, industrial baking equipment and fish farming tools, among others. This year some business owners took advantage of the church’s Vision House Leading Edge Conference to learn how to grow their businesses.

    At the conference, representative of the Bank of Industry (BOI), Regional Manager, North Central, Jack Kings dutifully instructed the participants on how to get business support and run their enterprises successfully.

    Kings gave reasons why small business owners often meet a deadlock. Some businesses, he said, die on the demise of their owners.

    The solution according to him is to seek support from the BOI.

    He said, “For you to access BOI support, about 50 per cent of the business members should be Nigerians. There is also need for you to have stakes far beyond passion for the business.”

    He went further to explain the need for financial discipline so that entrepreneurs don’t dip into their business private accounts.

    “Are you passionate, energetic and resilient in the face of challenges, If you fall, will you be able to still rise up and continue with the business?”

    Entrepreneurs were encouraged to start businesses small and then allow it to grow with time, so in case of eventuality, loss would be minimal. According to the expert, a short challenge could cause the entire downfall of the business if proper structure is not taken into consideration.

    TREM General Overseer, Bishop Mike Okonkwo  described the conference as one participants would not forget in a while.

    Those participants eventually got to know that it was important to create viable and realistic roadmap for businesses to attract BOI supports. In a sense, it is a way of saying or doing something positive, as the clergy advised.

    One other simple success secret is the company being in proximity to reliable sources of raw materials. Also, the organisation should be a member of professional bodies or entrepreneurs association to gain needed recognition especially on funding.

    On the possibility of cooperative societies seeking loans, Kings told the participants to disregard need for such. According to him, the BOI, “have suspended most cooperative societies because they are there to take advantage of the system.”

    Clearly, basic reason for organising this conference is not far-fetched from the surrounding need to diversify the economy, create jobs, empower the youths and, above all, boost standard of living. In a situation where youths graduate from tertiary institutions annually but get no jobs, it becomes imperative to adopt a different approach to employment.

    An executive committee member of the conference, Dr. Bisong Omare said there is need to make youths financially independent through empowerment.

    He said, “We keep encouraging people not to get frustrated and make something out of their lives, rather than just sitting at home but do something for themselves.”

    Should the government also partner religious bodies, Omare said it would go a long way to ending poverty and foster job creation.

    “Government has done well, there was Sure-P initiative that the previous administration introduced. The programme helped so many young people and cut down frustration ýwhen students finish school without job openings.

    “So we want to help them and get them to do something for themselves. At least the nation could be a better place to live in.”

    The organisers, however advised the Federal Government to look into past initiatives on job creation and perhaps consider ýthem if government found them useful.

    “Normally, because money is needed, whatever you want to do, you definitely need money. We do empowerment programmes, give soft loans in the church to help young people instead of just sitting at home getting frustrated.

     

  • Nightmare on the other side of town

    Nightmare on the other side of town

    Driving is pleasurable in the swanky parts of the territory, dreadful in less graceful areas. Blame the bad roads, reports GRACE OBIKE

    When the roads are free in the glitzy districts of the nation’s capital, you could cruise in your car. In several outlying parts, though, driving is hellish no matter the hour of the day or season. In the rainy season, it is sheer agony in those less celebrated areas.

    Such parts as Maitama and Asokoro where the rich and powerful live are the stuff of dreams but in the wet season, parts of Durumi, especially Durumi II, for instance, are a nightmare for motorists. To get to the area, one will have to cross a small stream. In the rainy season, the stream overflows its banks and residents have to wade through its murky waters or pay some muscled youths to ferry them across on their backs.

    Roads in Nyanya, Karu, Jikwoyi and environs are bad. Even the main expressway that leads into Abuja from Nasarawa State is not in such great shape with patterns of potholes on it. The streets are worse.

    Mr John Bishop, a resident of Karu, said 90 per cent of the road is in complete decay and that it has become worse this rainy season.

    “I will honestly tell you that 90 per cent of the roads around Nyanya, Karu, Jikwoyi, Orozo and the rest are really terrible. Virtually all the roads are terrible, car owners like myself have to wash our cars everyday and even with that, people always ask us if we are coming from the farm with our cars; when it rains heavily, motorcycle operators refuse to ply some parts because they can get stuck in the road and some of the roads are so slippery that even vehicles get stuck in them.

    Papei, directly behind the famous Maitama, fares rather badly too. The road leading into it is awful in the dry season; in the rainy period it is worse. It hardly has any drainage. This leaves the area flooded.

    Galadima, near the popular Gwarimpa, has little drainage but it is not enough to de-flood the area. The road is very bad. Its wet orange clay soil makes driving a choking exercise. Garbage lines the road. Houses are built so close to one another and very close to the major road.

    Dutse also has its share of bad roads. Some residents claim that they have become tired of waiting for the government of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Area Councils which are supposed to be closer to the masses to do what they are meant to do. Kubwa is an area where only major roads are good; those leading into streets are very dilapidated and in some areas eroded my minor erosions.

    Pipeline is one of such areas. Although the area is directly behind the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) ýcamp, the road leading into the area is really bad. Surprisingly, the area boasts lovely private houses and the residents ride lovely vehicles. The problem is driving to their homes. The road is so bad that sometimes residents have to fill the road with sand, which is quickly washed off again.

    Uzodinma Oko, a resident of Pipeline, told Abuja Review that they were all required to contribute money to repair the road but nothing came out of it.

    •Another bad road in Kubwa
    •Another bad road in Kubwa

    She said, “This road is so terrible, everyday, people pack out of this vicinity because of the road, the houses here are actually nice and affordable but the road will not allow people to stay. The area association made each house in every compound contribute N9,000 and even car owners were asked to pay again differently for the rehabilitation of the road, because everyone is tired of the suffering; we all paid but that was since last year. When we asked, we were told that the man who collected the money from everyone had embezzled everything, he did not even think of doing the road even a little, recently they returned with another demand for money but no one will pay because our job is not to provide them with money that they can embezzle”.

    Byahzine, another popular part of Kubwa, has the most dilapidated roads. At night, people pay motorcycle operators double the normal fare to take them to their homes.

    The FCT administration is known to give the six Area Councils their due allocations at all times and in most cases, it is the job of these area council chairmen to provide simple amenities like roads.

    Bwari Area Council roads are awful right up to its secretariat.

    Esther Isah, a resident of Dutse, described how she and the motorcyclist ferrying her fell on a slippery dirt road.

    “I had gone to Bwari and I was still on the motorcycle in the market when the bike man lost control because of how slippery the road was and we fell. It was so embarrassing and as people pitied me and said sorry because not only was my dress ruined but most of the products that I had purchased in the market were all over the road I wanted to be angry at the bike man but I realised that it was not his fault. The road is slippery since our government has refused to repair it. These bad roads are really dangerous and cause a lot of accidents. The government honestly have to come to the aid of the masses and provide the necessary amenities.”

     

  • ALGON boss hails NUJ president

    The President of Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Micah Jiba has congratulated the newly elected President of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Mr. Waheed Odusile, the Managing Editor of the Nation Newspapers.

    Jiba who is also the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), expressed optimism that the emergency of Odusile would mark a new beginning for Nigerian journalists who are struggling in the profession to make ends meet.

    According to the ALGON boss, who made this known in a press statement, there are so many things that needs to be corrected in the media sector by the new administration of Odusile, mostly in the aspect of total neglect of Nigerian journalists who give voices to the voiceless.

    “We believe that with the credible credentials of Odusile and his long experience and antecedents in the practice of journalism, which is regarded as a very respected and noble profession, Nigerian journalists will have reasons to smile out of their hard times.

    “We want to assure the President of NUJ that ALGON is fully ready to work with the newly elected leadership of the NUJ, as we have always seen ourselves as partners in progress. We will continue to work together for the benefit of the common Nigerians at the grassroots, in order for them to get the change they desire.

    “I also want to appeal to the newly elected President of NUJ to always put the interest of Nigerian journalsits at heart, by ensuring that their salaries are paid regularly as at when due, because most of them at suffering to survive because of none payment of their salaries.

    “I believe that if the issue of welfare and salaries of Nigerian journalists are corrected by this new NUJ administration, then Nigerians will get the best from the media and the journalists will no longer sell their conscience for money,” he said.

  • All for Buhari in Cameroon

    Though not the first Nigerian leader to visit Cameroon, President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-day trip to the country may be well be one of the most memorable.

    Buhari, who was the fourth Nigeria’s President to visit the country behind former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’ Adua and Goodluck Jonathan, completely seized the airwave and cyberspace many days before the visit.

    Apart from a tumultuous crowd that turned out to welcome and bade him fareware, almost all the programmes on television, radio and social media in the country completely focused on Buhari’s visit.

    Discussions at any little gathering of Cameroonians also centred on Buhari with excitement of the visit glaringly showing on their faces.

    Different groups of women, men and youth in the various colourful Cameroonian national attires dancing and showcasing their culture were at many points between the Yaounde International Airport and the Hilton Hotel, where Buhari stayed.

    They were also on the roads leading to the Presidential Villa, known as the ‘Unity Palace’ and on many roads in the city.

    At every point, security personnel had hectic day keeping the crowd in check to prevent them from spilling to the roads in excitement.

    While armed security personnel dotted the two sides of major roads in the city, snipers were strategically positioned on top of high rise buildings looking out for troublemakers.

    Any road where vehicles were allowed to ply prior and during the visit, had many check points where the vehicles and passengers were thoroughly screened.

    Pedestrians were not left out as they were made to open any bag on them for searching.

    Shops, doors and gates to buildings by the roadside of Buhari’s routes were shut throughout the visit.

    Nigeria and Cameroon flags and banners with various messages on the strong ties between the two countries were hung on the two sides of the road at intermittent intervals

    Besides the rolling out of drums by the Cameroonians and Nigerians residing in the country, the visit is viewed as a great plus for security in the sub region aimed at defeating the Boko Haram terrorists.

    The visit is also expected to boost bilateral relations between the two countries

    As part of the communique read in the presence of the two leaders at the end of the visit by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Ismail Aliyu, the two leaders agreed to complete the demarcation of the land border between Nigeria and Cameroon before the end of the year in order to concentrate on enhancing cross-border cooperation.

    They also endorsed the commitments made at the Extraordinary Summit of the Lake Chad Basin Commission and Benin Republic held on June 11, 2015 in Abuja.

    The two leaders agreed to strengthen security collaboration along their common border under the auspices of the Nigeria-Cameroon Trans-Border Security Committee and within the framework of the implementation of the concept of strategic operations approved at the Abuja Summit.

    They reaffirmed their determination to strengthen cooperation with other neighbouring countries for the rapid elimination of  terrorism and other security threats.

    Thanking the United Nations, the African Union, the ECOWAS, Economic Community of Central African States and other bilateral and multilateral partners for active solidarity against Boko Haram, they reaffirmed their support for the implementation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s Five-Year Investment Programme (2013-2017).

    This seeks to save Lake Chad, restore its ecosystem and promote the socio-economic development of the people living within the basin.

    The two leaders also welcomed the first meeting of Governors of contiguous states and regions on the Nigeria-Cameroon border in Yaounde, calling for such regular meetings to strengthen collaboration between the two countries.

    One of the governors on the visit, Adamawa State Governor, Jibrilla Bindow said: “I am very happy to be part of this team. Though it concerns me because I am one of the governors that are affected by this insurgency, Adamawa is one of the frontline states.

    “As you know, Mr. President is a serious person and the Cameroonians are very happy to meet him. We the six governors that came with the president are also highly impressed.

    “Our expectations are very important for our people. Apart from the insurgency that affects the North East states, Yobe in particular because of the mountains around the state. I’m sure Boko Haram will soon be a thing of the past.

    “It is also highly important, Cameroon and Nigeria has already signed an MoU to reconstruct the road between Demse-Belel-Jimeta-Gerei. So we are very impressed and looking forward to seeing some of the implementations of what we have agreed. The road is very important for the movement of goods and services.”

    On his part, Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade, said: “It has been a fantastic outing, a closed-door meeting between President Buhari and Paul Biya, with extensive outcomes. Emphatically looking at the Boko Haram menance and see how, through that bilateral cooperation, they can curb the incidences of Boko Haram.

    “My hope is that a joint patrol team will be set up, a collaborative effort will be set up to check the Chadian corridor, which will check proliferation of small and light arms to Nigeria. My expectation is that the day of Boko Haram will soon be over.”

     

    Avoiding past mistakes

     

    Will you like a President who appears to be very fast with policies that get the country nowhere or a seemingly slow President who properly articulates his policies and hit the mark for the progress of the country.

    Many Nigerians, no doubt, will definitely go for the second category of President in order to have their expectations and yearnings met.

    This is a poser for those who may already be feeling that President Muhammadu Buhari, after two months in office, is not as fast as they want.

    In this direction, the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa last week Tuesday called for patience.

    He said: “Change is not by magic it is driven by the people, the spirit and the character and the planning. We have had so much problem in this country in the past because we run into policy blind folded without adequate and effective planning.

  • Council chief hopes for more revenue

    The chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr Ibrahim Daniel has expressed the hope that the FCT Internal Revenue Service Board inaugurated in May will collect more revenue in the area councils.

    Speaking during an interview, Daniel said that there were many areas in the council and FCT where that authorities could not collected revenue because there was no enabling law.

    He added that with the board in place, revenue collection will be made easier.

    There was no enabling law. Like the property task in Abuja, it runs into billions of naira. From the projection, in FCT, if they are to collect revenue on it, it will run into billions,” he said.

    He noted that development will be recorded in the councils as whatever the board collected as revenue, 60 per cent will be plunged back to the councils.

    “The good news for the councils is that whatever the board collected from the revenue, 60 per cent will be plunged back to the council. It is a massive change,” he said.

    Daniel expressed hope that though the board will face various challenges, the FCT residents will begin to get its impact before the year runs out.

    “There might be challenges this time around, administrative structures, modalities for collecting the revenue and how to kick-start it. I am sure that before the year runs out, we will begin to get the impact of the FCT Revenue Board,” he said.

    Recall that the former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Bala Mohammed, has the inauguration the board following the signing of the law by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Mohammed had stated  that the FCT administration expects to generate N400 billion annually through the board adding that the board had responsibility for assessment, collection and accounting for revenues accruable to the FCT and other related matters.

  • Council chair makes case for autonomy

    The chairman of Kwali area council, Hon Ibrahim Daniel has stated that the autonomy for local governments in the states and abolishing of joint state and local government system, would help bring about development at the grassroots.

    Daniel who was speaking in an interview stated that the local government autonomy if implemented, will bring positive transformation to the lives of the people at the grass root.

    Reacting to the report of the autonomy granted by  Kaduna State Governor, Mallam  Nasir El-Rufai  for local governments in the state and the abolishing of joint state and local government system, Daniel urged more states in the country to follow suit as it will no doubt bring development to the door step of the people.

    “The governor of Kaduna State is replicating what he as a minister saw in FCT. He met one of the best practice of FCT administration and decided to take it to his state. The area council account in FCT have been an autonomous account. Whatever FCT administration generates, 10 per cent goes to the area councils. If other states will follow suit, It will bring development will be seen at the door step of the people.

    “Whatever money that is meant for the councils should be giving to them so that the developemnt will reach to the people.  For me, there should be only two tiers of government in the country, the local government and the federal government. The state does not have a jurisdiction, they exist under the local government. What you see is the capital center being developed while the local government are let on their own,” he said.

    He expressed sadness that in most states, development was only recorded in the city capital adding that it was bad as the state fund should be equitable distributed so that development will be for everyone.

    “The state funds are meant for equitable distribution. If more local government created, they will deal with the people in the grass root and federal government have to do with international issues, the military and other issues,” he said.

     

  • 20,373 motorcycles impounded

    Since the ban on commercial motorcycles in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some 20,373 of the two-wheeled vehicles have been impounded by the administration.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, has warned commercial motorcycle operators to stay away from Abuja because their motorcycles will be impounded, if caught.

    Mr. Chukwu also stated that in order to ensure the safety of lifes and property on Abuja highways, the FCT Administration has used its new computerised Vehicle Inspection Scheme to check the roadworthiness of 11,000 vehicles from September 2014 to date.

    He claimed that the FCTA Computerised Vehicle Inspection Scheme is the first and the only one in Nigeria and added that the policy has become very necessary, considering the number of the unfortunate road crashes in and around the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

    Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary FCT, Muhammed Sule made the revelation in a press statement where he said that  Engr. Chukwu disclosed that the inspection is ongoing and

    urged the motoring public to take advantage of the scheme to know the status and be sure of their vehicles before using them on the highways.

    He restated that the vehicles’ test would make the Directorate of Road Traffic Services certify such vehicles for use thereby minimizing avoidable road accidents.

    Chukwu also added that in order to improve service delivery, the FCT Administration has  approved six additional Driving Training & Test (DTT) Canters for the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services to run driving tests simultaneously as well as the issuance of drivers’ licenses and assured that the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services as at today, has the capacity to process new vehicle number plates /vehicle papers within 24 hours except for fancy or out of series numbers that may take longer time.SSS

  • Residents plead for health facility

    The residents of Adadu community in Kwali area council has called on the council administration to provide a clinic in the area so as to alleviate the suffering of the residents as it comes to getting quality health care.

    Speaking during an interview recently, the chief of the community, Habila Joshua stated that the residents especially the women and children needed a health facility which can cater to their health needs.

    He stated that pregnant women usually deliver at their homes because of the distance of the hospital in the area adding that when there was complication in the pregnancy, taking the woman in labour to a hospital was always an uphill task.

    “Our roads are very bad. So in order not to complicate the situation, the woman who is in labour are carried on someone’s back. Normally, we use motor cycles for transportation but carrying a woman in a bike and in the bumpy road  is a difficult task,” he said.

    Habila also stated that the bad road in the community has cut it off from other communities as the people find it hard to transport themselves from the community to another due to the bad road and called on the council to help them in solving their problems.

    He expressed gratitude to the government for providing potable water to the community adding that the availability of the water has help the people a great deal in their quest for a clwan drinkable water.

    ‘’We are grateful that we were remembered. We need more things like a clinic. We have to go to far places to receive health care. Because the road are bad, it takes us hours to get to access a clinic. We are happy that we have a primary school. We remember we always remember we have a government with the school,’’ the community chief said.

  • ‘Prioritise education’

    The Acting Director, FCT Secondary Education Board, Hajia Rakiya Daniya has stressed the imperatives of education, saying it is the key to social and economic development. She advised communities to make it a priority.

    Daniya stated this during her first visit to Kabusa community in the Abuja Municipal Area Council.

    Her prompt visit which was to inspect the Senior Secondary School and solicit for the Chief and the Community’s support in facilitating the movement of the school to its permanent site was accompanied by officers from the Board.

    The acting education boss explained that educating children has proven to be a great asset to parents, communities and the nation, adding that investing in it will make positive impact.

    She noted that no community can develop without providing functioning education services.

    In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer, (PRO), Odugbo Sarah, she further stressed that the FCT Secondary Education Board in fulfilment of its mandate of providing and sustaining qualitative senior secondary education to FCT residents will continue to work assisdously to achieve its objectives.

    The acting director stated further that the establishment of Government Secondary School in kabusa among other communities in the Federal Capital shows the determination of the FCT Administration to make Education accessible and affordable as it has place education in its front burner for its teeming populace all around  the six Area Councils of FCT.

    Daniya while soliciting for the Chief’s support in ensuring the existing mutual relationship between the school and its host community is maintained said, it is the wish of the Board to embark on its projects at its permanent site noting that, the present structure and facilities at the old site are over stretched.

    She appealed to the community to continue to encourage their children to take the advantage of the school and learn for their advancement.

    Daniya restated that, the FCT Administration is committed to providing functional and sustainable education aimed at bringing speedy development to its indigenes and residents.

    In response, the Chief of Kabusa Community, Yohanna Koche commended the Ag. Director and her team for their visit and expressed his readiness to help where necessary in the movement of the school to its permanent site.

    He noted also that, the establishment of the school has been a blessing to the community and as such, the community will not hamper its expansion.

    He also appealed to the authority to assist in providing other social amenities needed in the community.