The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • Questions over conflicting traffic lights

    Questions over conflicting traffic lights

    For a territory known for its reckless drivers, the installation of traffic lights was welcome. But the lights also have problems, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU 

    The first issue may well be why the N861m project took off only weeks to the end of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Muhammed administration. Then, consider also that the traffic lights have been causing all sorts of problems for drivers, many of who are notoriously reckless. Rather than stop one stream of traffic and okay another to proceed, for instance, the lights sometimes indicate that everyone should go at the same time.

    Before now, most traffic lights in Abuja were not functional, a situation that was worsened by the epileptic power supply. The highbrow areas of the city were a bit better. In most satellite towns, there are no traffic lights, and where they existed, they were mere decorations on the highway. The poles in most places were either vandalised by hoodlums or pulled down by careless motorists.

    A few months ago, over 74 traffic lights were suddenly installed by the FCT administration. Why did the FCT Minister wait till the last minute before putting the lights in place?

    When the project started a few months back, controversies followed the exercise. Many viewed the action of the authorities of Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to provide infrastructural facilities in the FCT in the twilight of the administration’s tenure, as a last minute bid to cover up its tracks.

    The residents said the FCT administration started the installation of the traffic lights as part of efforts to hurriedly complete some abandoned projects before the May 29 handover date, adding that the administration was only trying to mop up funds before the change of guards.

    Senator Mohammed hurriedly issued a statement saying that the installation of the new traffic lights was a collaborative project with the Chinese government and that its cost was N861m.

    Bala said the contract was packaged in 2012 by the National Planning Commission as a collaborative project between Nigeria and China, explaining that while China funded the contract with N780 million, Nigeria provided N81m as counterpart fund.

    He described the allegation that the project was aimed at siphoning funds as a campaign of calumny and mischief against his administration.

    Bala said: “Of course, China is bearing the whole cost of the project at the cost of N780m and as usual, with this collaborative project; they nominated the contractor, which is doing the project from China. The only thing we’ve done is to make sure that we provide the counterpart funding for the project totaling about N81m that we’ve provided as a territory and the supervision.

    “So, it’s not true, it’s deceptive and it’s misleading for anybody to think that something that we’re getting as a collaborative and multilateral assistance is something we’ve conceptualized as a last-minute bid of a project for us to go away with. This is a project I believe the incoming administration should be very happy with.”

    Bala said he was not afraid of any probe by the incoming government of General Muhammadu Buhari, saying he was ready to account for all his actions within the last five years.

    The minister also stated that he had documents and records to account for his deeds.

    Even though the minister tried to pacify the people and clarify that the installation and rehabilitation of the traffic lights were not an attempt to complete an abandoned project, many questions were left unanswered.

    For instance, why would the FCTA authorities embark on such a project few weeks to the expiration of the administration?

    Many residents are complaining of the conflicting functions of the traffic lights.

    Chukwudi, a motorist said: “The new traffic lights are causing a lot of gridlock, especially during rush hours. Most of them were not properly situated. Where is the wisdom in putting about three traffic lights on a street? For example, Mississippi Street in Maitama, has about four traffic lights. The traffic situation there coupled with the many intersections can only be imagined.

    His words, “it is a good development, these set of lights are good; those on the pedestrian can cross without fear because the traffic lights have stopped the cars; just that Nigerians are not patient enough, you’ll see some of them still bypassing the traffic lights and it’s quite absurd. The timing is also funny because it seems the contractors were just waiting for the outcome of the elections and now that Jonathan was unable to return, they just want to rush up everything so they could get their pay, that’s the scenario I see. This is something that should have been done before now, street lights should not only be built in Abuja, what is happening in the other 36 states, when you travel out you see street lights too everywhere.

    Speaking at a parley with newsmen on the FCT Transport Secretariat policy trust, the FCT Director of Traffic Management Department, Vincent Igberaese, acknowledged that up till now the contractors that handled the installation of the traffic light projects have not been paid hence the reason for the malfunctioning.

    Igberaese said: “All the areas that do not have traffic lights were discovered later that they are suppose to have traffic lights. The problem we are having with the traffic lights is that Nigerians are not patient. Putting traffic light at all junctions is very important. We are studying the situation, we are still working. It is appropriate that once you meet a red light whether there is a vehicle coming or not or the road is free or not you are expected to wait until it gives you a green light before you go. Even when the red light is still on you will still see people going against the traffic rule and blocking other people that are suppose to pass. These are some of the reasons why we are having problems with the traffic light.

    “Traffic light is to ease movement but it is creating more problem for us because of the way we are using it. I agree that some of the traffic lights are giving conflicting signal. As a department we have set up a maintenance team that goes round to look at all these problems and rectify them but the main problem we have as a department is that some of the traffic lights were constructed be contractors and up till now they have not been paid and they have not handed over to us. It is known that prior to this time we have never had a maintenance unit, maintenance of traffic light was done on a performance contract basis. The companies do not want to do maintenance due to the issue of payment.”

    He also disclosed that again, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has reiterated that the ‘Park and Pay’ scheme which was suspended in April last year after several court cases nullified the establishment of the scheme will still take off in Abuja better than it was.

    This is as a result of the indiscriminate ways of parking by the motorists in Abuja.

    He said “the Parking and pay was suspended but it will come back on the streets because if you look around now, we park indiscriminately. I am sorry to say that we are not doing what we are supposed to do for a city like Abuja.”

    Speaking also was the Director of Directorates of Road Traffic Services (DTRS) otherwise known as VIO, Abdullahi Danjuma, who said, the traffic laws of the city must be adhered to.

    He urge residents to cooperate with the traffic agencies to sanitise the city.

    According to him, the administration has so far tested 8, 000 vehicles through the computerised vehicle testing center.

    He added that six additional licencing centres have been added to the Mabushi and Secretariat centres for better service delivery across the federal capital city.

    He said: “We have made the registration of vehicles seamless, less than 48 hours”.

     

  • Closing in on oil looters

    His intention to fight corruption was there even during the campaigns. President Muhammadu Buhari left no one in doubt in that regard. And it was just as well because corruption has almost brought the country to its knees.

    He also made it clear that the searchlight will beam first on the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Not even the declaration by Jonathan in the tail end of his administration that probe limited to his administration will amount to witch hunt has been able to stop Buhari in his stride.

    Buhari, last week Wednesday in the United States of America fingered some unnamed Jonathan’s cabinet ministers to be involved in theft of Nigeria’s crude oil.

    Monies that would have been used to develop the country, create infrastructures and provide jobs for millions of unemployed Nigerian youth, rather than go to the Federation Account, have been siphoned to private accounts.

    Threatening to prosecute and freeze the accounts of the culprits, Buhari disclosed that the noose is already closing in on those that have cases to answer.

    According to him, his government is presently tracing the countries where the oil were exported to and the subsequent bank lodgements.

    He said: “We are now looking for evidences of shipping some of our crude, their destinations and where and which accounts they were paid and in which country.

    “When we get as much as we can get as soon as possible, we will approach those countries to frozen those accounts and go to court, prosecute those people and let the accounts be taken to Nigeria.

    “The amount of money is mind burgling but we have started getting documents. We have started getting documents where some of the senior people in government, former ministers, some of them plotted as much as five accounts and were moving about one million barrel per day on their own. We have started getting that document.

    “I assure you that whichever documents we are able to get and subsequently trace the sale of the crude or transfer of money from Ministries, Departments, Central Bank, we will ask the cooperation of those countries to return those monies to federation accounts.

    “And we will use those documents to arrest those people and prosecute them. This, I promise Nigerians,’’ he added.

    Like the popular saying say that every day is for the thief but one day is for the owner of the house, the day of reckoning is indeed fast approaching for those that have soiled their hands in the oil sector.

     

    VP and VIP mix-up

     

    It is no longer news that there was  a mix-up in the Press Briefing Talking Point of the resolutions of the 59th National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa last Thursday.

    The talking point circulated by the Council Secretariat to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting in line with practice by past administrations, disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who presided over the meeting, informed the NEC of plans by Boko Haram to dump refuse laden bombs in his house.

    After the story started generating reactions on the social media, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, in a statement on the same day denied the report.

    According to him, there was typographical error in the talking point and the aspect of ‘house of the vice president’ in the talking point should have read ‘houses of VIPs’.

    He said: “A press briefing note circulated today by the Secretariat of the

    National Economic Council, NEC, contains a typo on the very last line of the last paragraph.

    “That paragraph should read ‘The Vice President also disclosed that security reports has it that scavengers are now being prepared by insurgents to dump refuse laden with bombs in the houses of VIPs.’

    “The last line erroneously says ‘in the house of the Vice President.’ Please take note of the correction.” He said

    Following the conflicting reports, some Nigerians have viewed them with skepticism and not knowing what to really believe.

    The mix-up, no doubt, has also raised some questions whether the Council Secretariat has no qualified and capable hands or they were just handling their jobs with levity.

    If they escape last week’s mix-up unpunished, they need no prophet to warn them of greater consequences in the event of such mistake again.

    So they must sit up now as they cannot afford such dangerous slip in future meetings.

     

    Presidential Sallah bash

     

    In the spirit of the season, wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari a forthnight ago organized sallah party for Nigerian children at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Not less than three thousand children turned up for the party in the old Banquet hall, which was decorated to children’s taste.

    While loud speakers rendered various songs to the delight of the children, giant screens were also mounted showing different cartoons.

    Balloons of different colours were used to form different shapes hanging on the hall ceiling as decorations, while they were also used to form giant babies and animals placed at various points.

    While two bouncing castle were mounted for the children, funny dressed clowns were also on hand to make the children laugh.

    The children, who were given packaged meals and drinks at the party, also took part in fashion parade and dancing competition.

    Beside the children catching fun in the hall, Mrs. Aisha Buhari also remembered and sought for prayers for the less privileged children and for those at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)’ camps due to insurgency.

    Speaking at the occasion, she said: “The future of this great country lies in your hands. You are to complement the efforts of government by working very hard in school and to be obedient to your parents.

    “Tomorrow, you may be the President, the President’s wife, senator, honourable members, governors, medical doctors, teacher, journalist, engineer, nurse, lawyer and the rest of our honourable professions.” She added

    She also did not fail to advise the children’s parents, a great number of whom came with their children to the party, on the need to encourage and monitor their children.

    While both Muslim and Christian children attended the Sallah party, it will not be a bad idea if a similar party is organised in December for the Christmas season.

  • FCTA gets media department, new CPS

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration has established a media and communication department as part of efforts to better interface with the public.

    To this end, the FCT Administration carried out mass redeployment of information officers who were recently promoted.

    Those affected in the redeployment exercise are officers who were promoted to the rank of Deputy Director and they include Mrs. Grace Zamani, Mr. Cosmos Uzodima and Mr. Mohammad Hazat Sule.

    Our correspondents gathered that Mrs. Zamani has been moved from Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) to Public Enlightenment and Civic Orientation, Mr. Uzodima was equally moved from Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) to Research and Publication Division, while Mr. Sule has been moved from office of the Chief Press Secretary to

    Media and Communication Division.

    In a two paragraph letter from the office of Establishment and Training dated July 2, 2015 and made available to our correspondent stated that all redeployments are with immediate effect.

    The letter signed by the Chief Admin. Officer of the Department, Mr. Omosoluyi Bamidele on behalf of the Director reads in part: “I am directed to inform you that approval has been given for your redeployment to Department of Information and Communication Headquarters with immediate effect. You are expected to hand over to Anthony Ogunleye (CIO) who is being informed by a copy of this letter to take over from you.

    “You are therefore to report to the Ag. Director, Information and Communication for further posting instructions please.”

    It will be recalled that the new Chief Press Secretary, Ogunleye joined the service of FCT Administration in 1994 as Information Officer. Until his appointment, he was the Public Relations Officer of Education Secretariat of the FCT Administration where he effectively coordinated other agencies in the Secretariat.

    He equally served as Head of Public Relations in Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat and Health and Human Services Secretariat.

    Ogunleye is happily married and the union is blessed with children.

     

  • Residents seek Dutse Road expansion

    Residents of Dutse Satellite town in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged the area council to expand the Dutse-Bwari Road and relocate roadside traders at the Dutse market road to ease traffic congestion.

    Danladi Joshua, a resident of Dutse Alhaji, said that the volume of traffic congestion along the Dutse market road has become so unbearable that the residents do not know the next steps to take to ease their plight that is why they need the leadership of the area council to come to their aide in solving the problems that the roadside traders are causing the people.

    According to Joshua, if the leadership can expand the road for it to accommodate vehicles and also chase the roadside traders into the market, it would ease the traffic flow in the area, saying that the most of the roadside traders do not care the suffering they are causing road users because they want to make ends meet.

    “These traders casing this traffic congestion always come with the excuse that they have to make ends meet, and this congestion is mostly at the junction of Dutse Alhaji, the first gate of Dutse satellite town, because the market is located closed to the road and this rush to beat the traffic jam sometimes causes accident at the junction.

    ”We thank the council chairman for constructing the new market and it has enough space inside, but we are saying that the authority of the Bwari Area Council should expand the road and ensure that the traders who sell their products outside the market are sent into the market, and that would ease the traffic congestion along this Bwari road,” he said.

    Agatha Ohia, a trader in the market said that why most of the traders use outside the market, is as a result of the fact that the market is usually locked as early as 6.30 in the evenings, and those that have not finished selling their wares would then choose to trade outside to sell more.

    “Some of the traders that sell outside the market have shops inside the market and others do not have, and some of them are bread sellers who believe they do not need shops and prefer the roadside.  The truth is that, even if they do not have shops inside the market to sell, that should not give them the right to use their wares to obstruct traffic flow.

    ”If the authority of Bwari area council can map out strategy to expand the road for motorists and relocate most of this traders that do not have shops inside the market. After that, they should set up taskforce to monitor the use of the market and the control of roadside traders even in the evenings, this can go a long way in solving this traffic congestion we always experience on this road, mostly on Monday Market days” she said.

  • CJN hails NOUN

    The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has been described as a foremost institution in the provision of quality and comprehensive education in the country.

    Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Hon. Justice Mahmud Mohammed made the endorsement at the fourth annual lecture in his honour titled “Law as an instrument of Excellence and integrity”.

    It was organised by the institution’s School of Law in Abuja.

    The CJN added that NOUN which was resuscitated in 2001 by the Obasanjo administration was designed to provide unrestricted tertiary education to Nigerians.

    His said, “I know it is a fact that the National Open University of Nigeria was initially established on the 22/July/1983 as a medium for open and distance learning in Nigeria. Although it was suspended by the government on the 25/April/1984, it was resuscitated on the 12/April/2001 by the former President of the federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR with the sole mission to provide qualitative affordable distance learning.

    “The success story (of NOUN) lies in testimonies of its astuteness, past and present. Indeed for our dear citizens, the university is now an indispensable tool for achieving educational empowerment.”

    The chief Justice of the federation also added that NOUN being the biggest institution in the country with its unique mode of education delivery, is providing unrestricted access to educate prisoners, artisans, house wives and other underprivileged Nigerians.

    He said: “With over 408,000 students, it is Nigeria’s largest single tertiary institution offering over 50 programmes and 507 courses. It is indeed laudable, from prisoners to full time artisans, and even house wives in Nigeria, NOUN unique model now allows all to simply combine their daily work and routine with flexible school schedule”.

    Mohammed further stated that this year’s lecture provided a special avenue to bridge the divide in other to dialogue on issues that binds us all.

    “This event has provided a veritable forum for us to bridge the divide, boarders, language and geography in order to dialogue on issues which commonly bind us all. This further relates me to the fact that the role of NOUN is crucial to the fulfilment of improved education for all persons in Nigeria irrespective of our desired background”.

    The Vice Chancellor National Open University of Nigeria, Prof. Vincent Ado Tenebe said: “The NOUN school of law was one of the units approved by the federal ministry of education through the National universities commission (NUC) in 2003. Thereafter we produced the detailed program proposal in line with the NUC BMAS. This is what other universities use all over Nigeria. Our students receive lectures and we have first-class course materials prepared by seasoned academics and professionals in law and legal studies.”

  • City of killer drivers

    City of killer drivers

    The nation’s capital posts grim statistics on road fatalities. Blame motorists who never bother to go to driving school. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Nigeria has one of the highest road traffic crash records in the world with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) posting the highest figures. Speed limits in the city appear to be viewed as mere suggestions, and lanes nothing more than driveways on which to zoom and swerve at will, while driving against traffic is routine. If caught, a little money gets you out of trouble.

    Many pedestrians are frequently crushed as a result, leaving resident with just one conclusion: Abuja drivers are not properly trained in driving, or better still, refuse to be trained.

    Some roads in the FCT are notorious for ghastly accidents. Abuja-Kubwa-Zuba Expressway tops the list. The road under reconstruction, when completed, will likely be among the best and widest in the country with 10 lanes.

    Many Abuja motorists are ignorant of the dangers associated with smooth roads and therefore have little consideration for safety, hence avoidable accidents are common. For this reason, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps or FRSC have stationed their ambulances at some locations along the expressway.

    The Abuja-Lugbe-Gwagwalada Road, also being rehabilitated, is another blood sucker. When completed, it may rank among one of the best in the country. But many reckless drivers have met their deaths on that road, while several others have sustained critical injuries in deadly crashes.

    Residents continue to lament that despite endless sensitisation by the FRSC and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) on roads regulations, the capital city is still facing the challenges of reckless driving and beating of traffic lights which is resulting to increasing rates of road accidents.

    They are of the opinion that because there are no stringent measures to monitor speeding on the highways, there are endless accidents in the FCT. They also say that if there are measures to monitor drivers, while the reckless ones are arrested, it will go a long way to reduce accidents.

    An investigation has shown that many hit the road as soon as they buy their first cars, with probably only a week between the purchase and their first experience on the expressway. They shun  driving schools.

    This further contributes to the increasing fatal accidents in Abuja.

    Mrs. Sade Adamu, a resident, described the recklessness of drivers as pathetic and worrisome because it brings pain to other careful road users.

    Shola Dina, another resident, said,

    “The truth is that driving is all about being very careful. But that is what is lacking when we study Abuja drivers. From observation, we find out that their driving is more offensive, instead of defensive. They are usually impatient and go to the extent of breaking traffic rules and regulations and not taking note of road signs.

    “I do not think that most drivers in the FCT attended driving schools; that is why they do not observe traffic rules and regulations. Driving entails responsibility, care, consideration and having courtesy for other road users. It has to do with safety first above all. I will advice that the government should do something about the bad behaviour of drivers within the city and the Road Safety agency should sanction those that do not follow the rules on the roads.”

    Mr. Ayo Joseph, the Proprietor of Joy International Driving School in the FCT, said that drivers are supposed to attend certified driving schools for them to drive safely and avoid accidents, saying that it is the reason while the Road Safety certifies most driving schools.

    “[Anybody who wants] to start a driving school must go to the CAC [Corporate Affairs Commission] to register, and after FRSC and Vehicles Inspection Officers (VIO) and  all these agencies have registered your name, then the person is free to start a driving school. Then the owner of the diving school will be attending road safety courses, so that they will have the recognition to issue their students driving certificate.

    Joseph explained that driving schools teach the road signs, the traffic signs, warning signs, regulatory signs, the mandatory signs and prohibitory signs. So, that drivers will know the rules and regulations in driving, because, if somebody as a driver do not know those signs, it could easily cause accidents.

    “Some drivers in the FCT see those signs as road decorations, just like flowers decorate the roads, but they are signs to ensure safe driving. Why there are accidents on the road is because  some drivers call themselves professionals and try to beat traffic light that show the ‘Red’ light for them to stop, and by so doing there may be another oncoming vehicle and that would lead to fatal accident.

    “Most of these drivers that have accidents are not learners, they are the supposed professional drivers without attending driving school and they have automatic vehicles. Also, most of them always try to beat Road Safety when they are asked to stop or slow down and this act can cause accident on the way.

    “Another reason for accident in the FCT, is over speeding. So, on expressway, the maximum speed is supposed to be 100km per hour, while highway is supposed to be 90km. Also, a good driver is supposed to be patient and alert because of other road users, like human beings and animals.

    A private car owner says it is not just about drivers not observing the rules. The truth, he says, is that most of them do not even know the rules. “How many of our drivers go to driving schools before getting their driver’s licences? To tell the truth, even me I had not perfected my driving ability when I got my driver’s license”, he explains.

    The Federal Government has endorsed various policies to deal with the menace of unqualified drivers yet the same government has consistently fallen short on enforcement while people seem to always find a way around the system.

    One of the most recent accidents in Abuja claimed the life of a woman, identified as Deaconess Ngozi Ike, 39, and a mother of five, who was crushed by a truck which suffered brake failure.

    Another victim, Mrs Rose Awhia, aged 52 and mother of two, who, perhaps missed her way and, instead of driving a stretch to turn, chose to drive against traffic on the speed lane when a Toyota Hilux van, on speed, had a head-on collision with her car. Though the impact was more on the Hilux van and the two persons inside it, the woman died before medical attention could get to her while her sister survived.

    What many motorists fail to understand is that vehicles are designed for maximum loads. It is, therefore, not surprising that when subjected to stress above the loads, accelerated wear and tear set in on the vehicles.

    Another car owner, Segun Omo  said: “I know how dangerous that road is because its wide and with unexpected diversions on it due to construction still going on and heavy traffic due to travellers from other states, the airport, and other parts of the city… its really unfortunate that most of our drivers think they are on a race circuit thats why they drive without thinking of other road users, residents by the roads their family or the passengers in their vehicles….May the souls of the departed RIP and may God grant speedy recovery to the injured.  Please this is a reminder to those alive: We have only one life, we have family, friends, loved ones, and those whom we mentor knowingly or unknowingly please lets think of them and drive safely and defensively… we shouldn’t practice Electronic Arts Need For Speed Hot Pursuit (EA NFSHP) games or even James Bond 007 style of driving. Sometime we cause everything that happen to us in life but after it happen we blame devil nobody has ever see devil now is the innocent passenger who lost her life may her soul rest in peace.”

     

  • SOS to Buhari over planned demolition

    Some indigenous residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) seeking to save their shops from demolition have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and keep the bulldozers away.

    The residents, who were mainly youths, said there were “renewed moves” by the Federal Capital Development Authourity (FCDA) to pull down their shops in the Apo resettlement area.

    They explained that the planned demolition will cut off their sources of livelihood and cripple the local economy, ultimately leading to multi-faceted crisis.

    Comrade Daniel Vudabo, leader of the youths who gathered at the resettlement with intention of staging a peace protest, said that the shops in the area remained the indigenes only sources of income, since their farmlands have been taken away from them.

    “We had no other choice, but to collect loans from community banks to build this shops, so that we can rent them out and use the money to cater for our families and send our children to schools. We do have any other source of income and now that the FCDA is coming to demolish our shops, we are confused.

    “We were living comfortably at Garki village. We did not beg them to relocate us to this place, because in Garki we have our shops and farms, now that the government brought of us without any alternative sources of income, what do they want us to do?” he said.

    Vudabo appealed to President Buhari to call the FCDA officials to order, so that the officials would not as a result of their selfish ambition, spoil the good works his government has started. We know President Buhari is a listening leader and he will hear our cry,” he said.

    The President of Greater Gbagyi Development Initiatives (GG-DIN), Prince Gimba Gbaiza, described the actions of the FCDA officials as improper and wicked.

    “If anything thing has to be done, they have to follow the right procedure of the ressetlement. If anybody wants to demolish our shops they have to write to us properly and not to act based on their selfish interest.

    “We have the right to resist any demolition attempt, but we choose to give them the opportunity to explain to us why they want carry out the demolition and yet no concrete reason was given by the FCDA.

    “We are victims of injustices done by the previous administration of the FCT and we have cried out to the government endlessly and nobody cares to listen to us. We will not stop in Mobolising ourselves if eventually the FCDA comes.

    “Imagine, they took people’s houses, they could not give them better houses, they took one hectares of land belonging to one man and they gave him 50 by 50. Their farm lands where taking away without alternatives farm lands and when the people sort for an alternative way of income and you come with the bulldoze to demolish their shops, that is injustice,” he said.

  • Plaza sealed over N60m waste debt

    The Abuse Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) a department under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in charge of environmental management, has closed down a plaza for nonpayment of waste collection fee.

    The AEPB, through its contractors, place refuse bins at various parts of the Territory, especially the city centre, into which residents cast their waste for a fee.

    City Plaza, said to have defaulted in the payment of an accumulated waste fee of N60m, was taken to court, and because its representatives were absent at the hearing, the court ordered that the facility be sealed off.

    The AEPB is dreaded by hawkers, beggars, environmental violators and other residents alike.

    The Board’s Public Relations Officer, Ipe Ukairo said in a statement that the Director of the agency Mr Baba Lawan supervised the execution of the plaza’s closureý, reiterating that the board is determined to go after defaulters in payment and other environmental nuisances.

    He said, “ýThe AEPB continued with its renewed determination to recover all government revenue accruing to the FCT Administration from waste collection charges. The Director, AEPB who supervised the execution of a Seal Off Court Order issued against City Plaza reiterated the Board’s determination to go after all defaulters in payment of waste collection bills and other environmental nuisances in the city.

     

  • Perm Sec warns directors

    The Permanent Secretary Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, has warned directors of the Administration to be alive to their responsibilities or face the music.

    He made this charge during an emergency meeting with the directors in charge of City Management and Cleaning, urging them to step up the tempo of activities to rid the city of garbage, street urchins, hawkers and other miscreants who pose security threats to the residents of the territory.

    In a statement issued by the Director, Information and Communication in the FCT Administration, Stella Ojeme, the Permanent Secretary also directed for the strict enforcement of policies and rules on the restrictions of movements of trailers and trucks between the hours of 8pm – 6pm within the city to forestall undue crashes.

    He urged the Social Development Secretariat to double its efforts by removing all street urchins and destitute to the designated locations for proper treatment.

    His words: “The half way home in Gwagwalada should be used to temporarily house the street children and beggars with cancers some of whom it has been established are pretenders out to scam the populace.”

    He mentioned in particular the sick destitute being paraded on the streets adding that the genuine cases among them should be taken to FCT hospitals for care and proper treatment at the expense of the Administration as part of our social community services to the less privileged.

    The Permanent Secretary also charged the Task Team on City Cleaning and Management to redouble efforts towards keeping the city clean from all encumbrances and appealed to residents for their understanding and co-operation.

     

  • Women group backs INEC chair’s appointment

    A political group under the auspices of Women in Politics Forum (WIPF), and other non- governmental organizations has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as the acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    WIPE urged Buhari to shun all those criticizing him over the appointment of the INEC boss.

    Briefing newsmen on the development, the President of WIPF, Barrister Ebere Ifendu said the position of women in politics forum is that the appointment is in line with the national gender policy and procedure for INEC’s appointment.

    She emphasized that Zakari’s appointment is not a favour as insinuated in various quarters.

    Her words: “This has showed that our president is a gender sensitive leader. The forum also recognizes and appreciates the recent unprecedented appointments by the Governor of Kaduna State Mallam Nasir El Rufai specifically the gender composition of his cabinet. We call upon other state actors to emulate this gender sensitive posture of Mr. President and Governor.

    “However, our attention has been drawn to the persistent criticism of the appointment of the acting chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC). The position of the women in Politics Forum is that this appointment is in line with the national gender policy and procedure for appointment in INEC. The time has come for Nigeria to recognize that appointment of women in executive and other positions is not a favour as has been muted in some quarters.

    “Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari’s appoint men, is the first appointment into a critical government posts by President Muhammadu Buhari. It is also in the true spirit of his campaign promises to women. The inclusion of women in election administration will augment efforts to increase women’s voices and participation in the electoral process. It is imperative that gender inclusiveness is adopted as a culture and a right in executive appointments. We therefore further urge Mr. President to recommend this distinguished woman to the senate for confirmation.”