The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • The poor take over PHCN quarters

    The poor take over PHCN quarters

    Everyone needs a roof over his head; even the poor. But with the cost of accommodation still prohibitive and the bulldozers a constant nightmare, Abuja residents with lean economic muscle are finding shelter in uncompleted buildings.

    For those without a sustainable means of livelihood, everyday is a test of strength and resolve to make ends meet in the nation’s capital.

    Landlords continue to smile to the banks at the expense of tenants who pay through the nose to secure the few and expensive houses available.

    This situation has left the poor with little choice, making uncompleted buildings an irresistible option.

    The Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) quarters, one of the numerous uncompleted structures in the capital city, has become a place of comfort for some residents.

    The quarters may lack the comfort and luxuries of completed buildings but it still serves the purpose of providing shelter which many residents of the capital currently lack.

    According to a resident who pleaded anonymity, the property was abandoned as a result of a legal dispute with the Nigeria Police Force. The dispute, Abuja Review learnt, lingered for many years.

    The quarter, which is located close to Jabi Lake and sandwiched between Lake View Estate, is quite turning into a village of some sort. It accommodates major ethnic groups of the country. There, you will find the Hausa, the Igbo, the Yoruba and even the Tiv and Igala people as the dominant inhabitants.

    Although, the look of the environment suggests a quintessential slum or ghetto of sorts, where booze, hemp are a way of life, residents there have found a way to remain happy despite the uncertainty of occupying an illegal structure.

    Despite the absence of basic amenities: water, toilets, good roads in the quarter, the way of life for residents there is the same. They go about their normal business.

    For example, all manner of buying and selling take place there. A gallon of water sells for N20. Even the use of bathrooms and toilets attracts a charge of N20 for those who cannot afford the luxury of owning a pit toilet.

    According to Usman Umaru; a resident of the quarter and a civil servant, the policy of past administration forced them to seek solace in the quarter.

    He further explained that the demolition exercise under the administration of former FCT Minister, Nasir El – Rufai, left many homeless. Even landlords were not left out, he said. He added that he has become accustomed to life in the quarters after five years of being a resident in the area.

    The quarter is one of many abandoned uncompleted properties in the capital. These buildings serve as homes for the destitute who do not have real means of survival in the capital city. In some of these uncompleted buildings, this reporter learnt that occupants, through arrangement, pay a token just to inhabit it.

    In Gwarinpa, the presence of uncompleted buildings abound. There are so many of them. These buildings, from the look of things, are over two years without being completed. Some are alleged to be owned by some individuals in government and businessmen.

    A resident of Gwarimpa, who gave his name as Segun, explained that some of these uncompleted buildings serve as hide-out for criminals in the estate. According to him, though some inhabitants of uncompleted structures are genuine squatters, others have assumed criminal dimension in their activities.

    Another resident who pleaded anonymity admitted that the security guards in some uncompleted buildings collect money before renting a section of the building to any stranger, adding that people who engage in illegal businesses also live in the estate.

    Are there plans to demolish these structures? According to the Director, the Federal Capital Territory Development Control, Yahaya Yusuf, there are about 430 uncompleted structures scattered all over the capital. Yusuf further explained that under the law, developers were expected to complete their buildings within two years.

    ”We have been having issues in carrying out our statutory responsibility,” the director lamented.

    Continuing, he said: “We have tried, in the past, to carry out demolition of buildings we considered defective but developers secured court injunctions and we were hamstrung.”

  • Minister reaffirms commitment to infrastructural development

    Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has reaffirmed the commitment of the FCT Administration to the development of the federal capital city, area councils and satellite towns.

    The minister gave this assurance at the 2013 Town Planners’ Day of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre.

    She said: “The vision of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to nurture Abuja into one of the best 20 capital cities in the world by the year 2020, while its mission is to provide good infrastructure, services and administration that will stimulate the city’s growth.

    “We are committed to bringing infrastructural development in the satellite towns and area councils at par with what we have in the city. It is only when we have standard amenities and infrastructure in the satellite towns that residents will be motivated to live in these towns, do business there and raise their children.”

    She lauded President Goodluck Jonathan over the re-establishment of the Satellite Towns Development Agency, which she noted was an eloquent testimony of the commitment of the President towards the provision of infrastructure in the Satellite Towns and the area councils.

    The minister advised the NITP members to continue to offer input into the overall urban development initiatives of the FCT Administration.

    “The FCT Administration believes that our vision to be among the best 20 cities in the world, by the year 2020, cannot be realised without our embracing innovative town planning and urban development schemes.

    “No doubt this beautiful city is an evidence of the contributions of the National Institute of Town Planners and its professionals. The successes recorded over the years with the Abuja Master Plan were achieved through the inventive and conscious efforts of town planners and other allied professionals of the built environment,” she added.

    The Chairman of the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Barnabas Atiyaye, stated that the institute offered the government the correct environment to administer and govern the people with ease.

    “Failure to allow the professionals in the built environment, particularly the town planners, to perform professionally will always lead to chaotic situations and sometimes very difficult to manage politically,” he noted.

  • Scary nights in the State House

    A first-time visitor to the Presidential Villa will scamper for safety on hearing those sounds late in the night.

    A journalist, who was newly posted to cover the State House, did indeed take to his heels when he heard a strange noise while waiting around 9.30 p.m. for a closed-door meeting to end in the villa.

    It took some time before his colleagues assured him that everything was in order and that the noise he heard came from the beautiful peacocks he had earlier admired in the daytime.

    About three weeks passed before he became used to the scary noises in the night from the peacocks.

    Some scary things have also happened around some car parks within the Villa popularly known among staff as ‘Maitama’, ‘Asokoro’, ‘AYA’ and Nyanya depending on the distance from the main entrance to the President and Vice Presidents offices wing.

    Some animals, in the dark, normally jump over and pass through the iron fence mesh which separates the car parks from the thick forest in the villa.

    A Muslim staff was shocked one night when he decided to observe the 7.00pm prayer in the mini-mosque by the fence close to the ‘Nyanya’ car park.

    After winding down his car door glasses around 7.30 p.m., he decided to quickly observe the 7.00pm prayer. He left his car and did not think it necessary to wind up the glasses since the car was at a viewing distance from the mosque.

    What he saw when he returned to the car few minutes later shocked him to the marrow. He met four monkeys in the car.

    While one of the monkeys was standing on the driver’s seat and holding the steering, the other three monkeys were on the front passenger’s seat.

    They all jumped out of the car from the other window as soon as the owner opened the driver’s door.

    Frequent fumigations in the vicinity have helped to keep reptiles at bay but a few times snakes crawled out from the thick forest.

     

  • FCTA, firm seal abattoir deal

    FCTA, firm seal abattoir deal

     

     

     

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) and lease agreement with a private investor, Capital Meat Processing Company Nigeria Limited for the establishment of an ultra-modern Abuja Central Abattoir at Tungan Maje in Gwagwalada Area Council of the territory.

    The agreement valued at N1.25 billion was signed by the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide and Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mrs. Olvadi Bema Madayi on behalf of the FCT Administration while the Chairman of Capital Meat Processing Company Limited, Dr. Umaru Mutallab and the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Aliyu El-Nafatu, signed for the company.

    Akinjide, who explained that the central abattoir would be constructed on the basis of public private partnership management, said the project would be completed and operational within 12 months.

    She noted that the construction of the ultra-modern Abuja central abattoir became imperative in order to ensure that FCT residents consume beef prepared in hygienic environment.

    “When completed, the abattoir will have the capacity of slaughtering 500 heads of cattle and 1,500 sheep and goat per day. In the meat processing and fabrication component, about 40 tonnes of meat would be processed into about 10 number products such as sausages, hotdogs, steaks, premium and briskets, among others.

    “It is expected  that when fully operational about 1,000 jobs would be created including professionals like veterinarians, para-veterinarians, livestock officers, butchers, technicians, labourers and drivers, among others,” the minister disclosed.

    She added that the foreign technical partners of the private investor would transfer meat processing technology to their Nigerian partners and also train the Nigerian personnel in the art of processing, curing, aging, fabrication, storage and packaging of meat.

    The minister assured that the new abattoir would be of international standard and would meet the requirements of the World Health Organisation and Food and Agriculture Organisation.

    Responding on behalf of the private investor, the Chairman of Capital Meat Processing Company Limited, Dr. Umaru Mutallab, praised the FCT Administration for its determination and commitment to ensure a hygienic environment for meat processing in the territory.

    “Our interest in establishing an ultra-modern abattoir stems from the need to ensure that the public consumes hygienic food in the FCT. We assure all stakeholders of our determination to make this work,” Mutallab stated.

     

  • FCTA would-be pilgrims fly out

    FCTA would-be pilgrims fly out

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration has started airlifting pilgrims from the territory to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj.

    The approved airline for the FCT, Max Air, airlifted 1,030 pilgrims from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja to Jeddah through two flights of 530 and 500 pilgrims.

    Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who bade farewell to the pilgrims at the Permanent Hajj Camp near the Abuja Airport, advised them to be good ambassadors of the country in the Holy Land.

    “I wish to call upon the intending pilgrims to pray for peace, unity and prosperity of our country and to support our leaders in prayers. Through prayers, Nigeria and the incumbent government will accomplish great things.

    “The FCT Administration remains committed to doing everything possible to ensure that FCT contingent gets the best treatment,” she said.

    The minister assured the pilgrims that the FCT Administration would continue to work hard to articulate policies and programmes that would improve the annual Hajj exercise, including provision of excellent welfare packages for pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

    She disclosed that the FCT had been allocated five flights for the airlift of its pilgrims, which had been concluded on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 11:30p.m.

    She recalled that the FCT and other states of the federation had to contend with the 20 per cent reduction in Hajj seats allocation across the world.

    “As a result of this development, the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board had to design a realistic means of addressing the problem. Open balloting was conducted under the active supervision of key stakeholders; and the exercise was transparent and conducted in an orderly manner.

    “We must accept this as a design of destiny which we lack the power to change. However, I have given directive for special consideration and attention for all those who missed out, in this year’s Hajj exercise as well as prompt refund for those who so desired,” Akinjide said while flagging off the first flight from the FCT.

    The Director of FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hajiya Fatima Sulaiman Gummi, said the agency had undertaken series of activities for the benefits of the pilgrims.

    She listed the activities to include: sensitisation and orientation exercise, induction courses at the area councils’ level, medical screening of all intending pilgrims and immunisation exercises.

    “The FCT Administration, through the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, has secured befitting accommodation for its contingent in Makkah.

    “I wish to call on all our intending pilgrims from the FCT to be law-abiding and respect all policies. I will also call on our pilgrims to strictly abide by the transport system regulations, feeding arrangement and luggage policy as well as flight schedules,” Gummi advised.

    The minister was received at the Permanent Hajj Camp by the FCT 2013 Amirul Hajj, Gen. Abdullahi Bagudu Mamman (rtd); Chairman of the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Ustaz Musa Mohammed; a member of the board, Ambassador Abdulwahab Mohammed Saleh; Chairman of Ministerial Committee on the FCT 2013 Hajj, Alhaji Yusuf Dayyabu and Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of State on Area Councils and Resettlement, Alhaji Yusuf Tsaiyabu, among others.

  • Fighting cyber crime

    Cyber crime, which involves criminals robbing their victims online, is fast becoming one of the greatest crimes globally. $500 million is said to be lost to the crime yearly, worldwide.

    With the revolution in technology and increased access to the internet, many young adults have been engaged in cyber crime, while many children have also been victims.

    Its impact, it was said, could be more devastating than physical war if immediate measures are not taken now to address the menace.

    To stop the crime in Nigeria, First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan, while chairing the 2013 World Cyber Security Conference in Abuja, promised to do all she can to protect children from any forms of online risks and abuses.

    She said: “The internet technology is one of the most outstanding innovations in the field of communication in the history of mankind. Its content is as diverse as human thought. It has completely changed society and opened up new avenues for communication, research, commerce and entertainment.

    “Unfortunately, the immense benefits of the internet however come with its risks. I assure you of my commitment to ensure that the Nigerian child, the African child and the children of the world are protected from all forms of online risks and abuses.”

    “We will create maximum awareness of basic online security measures, develop practical tools to help minimise risks and share knowledge and experience through multi-dimensional means,” she said.

  • Agony of the blind

    Agony of the blind

    She was emotional. Tears ran down her cheeks as she relived how she fell ill in 2005. It was malaria and typhoid accompanied with serious headache.

    She was then a student of the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa studying Architecture. After a thorough examination, she was referred to an eye clinic as the headache persisted and there she was diagnosed with glaucoma. She had an operation but eventually went blind.

    The story of Asabe Abdullahi is similar to the plight of some other students at the FCT School for the Blind.

    The environment is like any other primary school in the country with swings and see-saws for the younger charges and a football pitch. But unlike most primary schools, parents do not always come to pick their children at the close of work because it is a boarding school.

    Like other children, they move around and make friends, while the girls gossip and giggle like other children or adolescents. Boys move around boldly. One thing common to them all is that they are all blind.

    The FCT School for the Blind is located at the Jabi district. Here, the teachers cannot simply walk to the black boards to write notes but are trained to be patient and to pay special attention to the children individually in all the subjects in a normal school curriculum. It is a painstaking job, carefully taking the pupils through the subjects such as the use of Braille, typewriter, mobility cane and many others

    Of course, some of them were born blind or became blind at an early stage in life, even before they could comprehend the world around them but a few others, just like Asabe were born with their sight and were used to the beauty of the world around them but suddenly became blind and no amount of tears or visits to the hospitals could solve the problem.

    Most of us wake up every morning, see the beauty around us and sometimes, forget to thank God for it. While others wake up and the only difference from the nights is probably the sound because such people live in complete darkness and unable to enjoy all the beauty that we readily take for granted.

    That is the life of the blind in our midst who only live by a heightened sense of smell, sound and touch. The school comprises of children from age four to 18 in primary 1 to 6 but also, this school houses a special set of people known as the special needs or rehabilitation class.

    This set of pupils are trained in early childhood education, these are children or even adults that were somewhere in secondary school or grown up before they became blind. Here, they are not taught from the beginning again like the younger pupils but in classes for special areas, which is the braille reading and writing, typing, mobility and orientation and the daily living skills.

    They are sent back into the world they used to know when they had the benefit of sight and allowed to fend for themselves at the end of the course. They can go back and continue life from where they stopped. Watching them bring tears to even the bravest of hearts.

    Samuel Edoja, 19, is so lively, friendly and makes friends with ease. He explained that he had just completed his junior secondary school certificate when he noticed that he was gradually losing his sight. His parents took him to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and no reasonable diagnosis was done before he completely lost his sight.

    Although Samuel still has faith that one day he will regain his sight, he insisted that the braille is very interesting unlike having to read the normal writings of the sited because, people who understand braille can read comfortably in the dark without having to strain their eyes.

    Another interesting pupil who spoke with Abuja Review was Daju Ezekiel, who became blind in 2007 when he was about sitting for his West African Examination Council (WAEC). He just enrolled in the school this term. He was being taught on how to manoeuvre the mobility cane and was finding it difficult because he kept stumbling on things when we visited the school.

    Daju, who is presently a talented musician and can play more than two musical instrument whenever he is invited to gospel concerts ( he used to perform in Kaduna before and after losing his sight) explained that he started seeing the signs in 2006 but finally lost his sight in 2007 just before he could write his WAEC. This made him withdraw from school since he did not know anything about the braille and could not complete the exams.

    He fell into depression and only left his house for concerts. He explained that singing was the only thing that kept him going and his family who after the shock, made sure that he was never treated like an invalid, made him wash and sweep like he did before. This, according to him, made him feel better since he hates people treating him like an invalid.

    They all claimed that they were not aware of the existence of a school of blind which was the reason why it  took them years to enroll. The amazing thing about these pupils Abuja Review spoke with is that, they are promising gospel artistes looking for avenues to realise their dreams.

    Regina Dung, the head teacher of the school explained that one disturbing thing is parents who collect forms for their children don’t bring them back at the right time.This is because they have the feeling that divine healing will come their way.

    Although no true parent will give up on the hope of a miracle for his or her children, she explained that the school has a psychologist who counsels them and some of them.Aside, teachers that read special need also have what it takes to counsel and try to make them accept their situation.

    She encouraged parents with visually impaired children to take them to school and not just leave them at home or send them out to beg, so that teachers can develop their potential.

    The Assistant head teacher who is also visually impaired, Anne Ekandem, explained that she understands how difficult the world of the blind can be since she also “wears the shoes and knows were it aches”.

    She explained that for a blind person to be successful, he or she has to go the extra mile like making sure he  transcribes notes after a gruelling lecture because the recorder will be needed the next day. Again one may sometimes be denied the needed sleep at night.

    “The important thing is to have the basic foundation as a blind person” she explained, “which is the primary education and with the knowledge, the visually impaired can study anywhere in the world, all they will need will be the typewriter, the braille machine and tape recorder”.

    Governments, she added, are trying but they are not meeting up with needs, which makes teaching a little more difficult.

    Unlike most schools, the school work with insufficient materials like the braille text books, mobility cane, writing materials and materials for subjects like mathematics which makes the work a little more challenging. She explained that one cannot readily teach these children the way they should because when they teach them and the textbooks are not available, “how do you ascertain that the child can read?”

    The school management explained that dealing with parents can be very frustrating, some of them who manage to bring their children to school do not even bring them with a bar of soap or tooth paste not to talk of provisions. Coming to pick them up at the close of term is another problem, the parents treat them as if they are the government’s responsibility.

    Parents know how much they spend on their other children with sight but most times forget that the blind ones need more of their love and attention so that they will have confidence to operate in a competitive world.

  • And they got the boot

    And they got the boot

    Wednesday September 11, 2013 is a date that will not be hurriedly forgotten by some ministers who served in the cabinet of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Nine members of the cabinet were shown the way out of the Federal Executive Council in a surprise and shocking manner.

    The sledge-hammer fell on Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru (Ogun), Education Minister, Ruqqayatu Rufai (Jigawa), National Planning Minister, Shamsudeen Usman (Kano), Land and Urban Development Minister, Amal Pepple (Rivers), Environment Minister, Hadiza Mailafia (Kaduna), Science and Technology Minister, Ita Ewa (Akwa Ibom), Minister of State, Defence, Erelu Obada (Osun), Minister of State, Power, Zainab Kuchi (Niger) and Minister of State, Agriculture, Tijani Bukar (Borno).

    It was the first major sack by President Jonathan since he assumed office as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Neither were the affected ministers nor majority of their surviving colleagues aware of what was in store for them last week Wednesday.

    They all looked radiant as they met in groups chatting before the FEC meeting started, others went from seat to seat to exchange the normal weekly pleasantries with their colleagues.

    One of the affected ministers, Hadiza Mailafia, even presented a memo on the day on the Constitution and Cooperation Agreement establishing the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL). Approval was given for the ratification before she was relieved of her duties.

    The tough side of Jonathan was seen by both the affected ministers and the surviving ones as they were swept off balance when the Big Boss, in his usual cool manner, delivered the news of the termination of appointments just before the meeting was brought to a close.

    The nine ministers’ sack came on the 17th day after the Minister ofBukola AmusanBukola AmusanBukola AmusanBukola Amusanr Minister of Defence, Bello Haliru Mohammed alongside the former National Security Adviser, Late General Owoye Azazi were removed from offices in June last year.

    The day of the nine ministers’ sack was unique because it coincided with the 12th anniversary of the September , 2001 deadly terrorists attack in the United States, where many innocent souls were sent to their early graves.

    But in the Nigeria case, no life was lost, except for loss of juicy and plumb jobs by some Nigerians.

    Beside many of the affected ministers shedding tears and sorrowful last week, many of the surviving ministers also could not hide their emotions.

    Most of the surviving Ministers wore long faces as they left the chamber for their ministries. When they stepped out, Culture and Tourism Minister, Edem Duke, Foreign Affairs Minister of State 1, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, Works Minister, Mike Onolememen almost gave journalists, who had gathered at the corridor when the news of the sack filtered to them, the impression that they were affected by the ‘Tsunami’.

    While some Nigerians have applauded the President’s action, some felt that majority of the nine ministers were more or less shown the way out because of the crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where seven aggrieved governors from Kano, Adamawa, Rivers, Sokoto, Niger, Jigawa and Kwara left the party to form the ‘New PDP’.

    But the Information Minister, Labaran Maku, explained that the termination of the appointments had no political undertone but done to inject fresh blood to the system in order to deliver more dividends of democracy to Nigerians.

    “There is no government in the world where the leaders do not reshuffle their cabinets, there is none. And cabinet reshuffle is part of a systematic public administration and I believe what the President has done is simply to address the issues of re-tooling his government to achieve service delivery,” he stated

    Even with the courageous step by President Jonathan, some Nigerians still believe that there are still some ministers in the cabinet who may be using their portfolios to milk the nation dry or are incompetent in handling the affairs of their ministries.

    This set of Nigerians are still pushing for beaming of the President’s searchlight in all direction in order to identify any other clog in the wheel of progress and block any corrupt and economic waste so that Nigerians can get more dividends of democracy.

     

  • FCTA repatriates 2,000 illegal aliens

    FCTA repatriates 2,000 illegal aliens

    In furtherance of the Federal Government’s efforts to address the security challenges facing the country, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has facilitated the identification and repatriation of about 2,000 illegal immigrants from the FCT to their various countries within the last one year.

    The Secretary, Social Development Secretariat (SDS) of the FCTA, Mrs. Blessing Onyeche Onuh disclosed this during a press briefing on the activities and achievements of the secretariat.

    She also stated that, in its determination to boost the tourism profile of Abuja , the FCTA, through the secretariat, has commenced the identification and enumeration of new sites to be developed into tourist destinations.

    Mrs. Onuh said the FCT Administration, In tackling the security challenges posed by illegal aliens in the FCT, a recently constituted inter-agency committee, comprising the military, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the police, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the State Security Services (SSS) are to collaborate with social workers at the secretariat to rid the FCT of illegal immigrants.

    Out of the 2,000 illegal aliens repatriated, Niger Republic accounted for more than 50 per cent with over 1,000 illegal migrants.

    She attributed the high rate of illegal immigrants from Niger Republic to the porous nature of that country’s borders with Nigeria.

    Other countries whose nationals were repatriated were Cameroun, Togo and Ghana.

    On the new tourist sites identified, the SDS Secretary said they included the Dutsen-Alhaji Cave in Bwari Area Council, the Lion Faced Rock at Bwari and Taruga Archaeological Site in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) said to be the first iron smelting site in West Africa.

    She added that the SDS has been working closely with the six area councils and the traditional institutions towards authenticating, preserving and promoting the historical and cultural records of the sites.

    She said the SDS would soon be embarking on aggressive publicity to promote the sites; especially at exhibitions, fairs, festivals as well as embassies and major hotels.

    In similar manner, Mrs. Onuh revealed that the Arts and Culture Complex, Garki is currently undergoing renovation, stressing that the face-lift would make it more attractive to visitors thereby enhancing cultural and entertainment activities in the FCT.

    She added that this year, the SDS has increased the tempo of activities by its Performing Arts Unit while also encouraging partnership with private entertainment outfits for weekly entertainment activities in the FCT.

    Throwing more light on the Taruga Archaeological Site, she disclosed that its architectural design has already been produced as a major step towards transforming it to a major tourist destination in Abuja.

    According to her, the secretariat has continued to organise the Abuja Festival of Arts and Culture, (ASOFEST) as a deliberate initiative to use culture to foster unity and co-existence among the diverse communities in the FCT.

    Mrs. Onuh said the secretariat is at the verge of producing the Abuja Tourism Master Plan which should provide the framework for effective development of the tourism sector.

    “We have equally commenced the enumeration of hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants, eateries and others in the hospitality industry in the FCT with a view to regulating and classifying the facilities in line with international standard practices,” she said.

    She listed, among the major achievements by her secretariat over the past two years, to include the overhaul of facilities at the Bwari Vocational Centre for the physically-challenged persons, the establishment of the Women Rehabilitation Centre, Sabon Lugbe to provide vocational skills to repentant sex workers and the graduation of over 3,000 vulnerable women from the centre.

    Other strides, she outlined, were the fencing and provision of boreholes at the Alheri Beggars’ Colony in Yangoji as well as the building of a market for them to sell their farm produce; the training of about 90 women beggars at the Karamajiji Settlement and their registration into co-operatives with monetary assistance.

    In order to ensure strict implementation of the Child Rights Act, she said the Child Welfare Unit of the Secretariat has been strengthened to enable them to effectively supervise and monitor the operations of all orphanages and other child welfare institutions in the FCT.

    “So far, the Secretariat, through the Gender Department, has also registered 120 Multi-purpose Co-operatives from the six area councils of the FCT,” she disclosed, adding that “it is working closely with the wives of chairmen of area councils to mobilise from the rural communities.

     

  • FCTA to upgrade department into agency

    FCTA to upgrade department into agency

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is seriously considering transforming the FCT Development Control Department into an agency.

    The Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this while addressing the Course 22 participants of the National Defence College at the FCDA Conference Room, Central Business District Abuja. The participants were on familiarisation tour of facilities in the FCTA.

    The minister reiterated that the action has become necessary in order to holistically deal with all the problems associated with housing development in the territory.

    Senator Mohammed emphasised that government could not fold its arms to watch the ever-increasing problems of demography where shanties keep on springing up on daily basis even after being demolished.

    Senator Mohammed insisted that the Abuja Master Plan cannot be allowed to derail thereby making the city go the way of other older cities in the country.

    According to him, the transformation of the Department of Development Control now under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) would provide the needed capacity and manpower in consonance with the Urban and Regional law, as the 250 square kilometers of the Federal Capital City and, indeed, the entire territory continue to grow.

    Senator Mohammed restated the commitment of his administration to strictly adhere to safe city concept of Abuja because the Abuja Master Plan can never be compromised.

    He assured that the FCT Administration would do everything possible to eliminate squatter settlements around the Federal Capital City.

    The minister further emphasised that, in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan, the FCT Administration has come up with the idea of social housing where residents at the lower cadre affected by such removals can adequately be provided for.

    Senator Mohammed noted that, so far, a district has been earmarked for the Abuja Social Housing Scheme apart from the Abuja Land-Swap Model Initiative where 10 new districts are been opened up under public-private partnership (PPP).

    He said that the Abuja Land-Swap Initiative is laudable because it would free government funds even as it boasts robust resettlement programme to satisfy the yearnings of the natives.

    Speaking earlier, the leader of the team, Air Commodore Yusuf Isah, said that they were in the FCTA on familiarisation tour of facilities, which is part of the course.

    He revealed that there are 133 participants in the Course 22 of the National Defence College; including 10 from foreign countries like Brazil, Rwanda, Ghana, Zambia, and Bangladesh, among others.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Obinna Chukwu; FCDA Executive Secretary, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, the FCT Chief of Staff, Alhaji Yau Mohammed Gital as well as some Directors of the FCT Administration attended the meeting.