The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Honour for FCT Minister

    Honour for FCT Minister

    The FCT Administration has won for Nigeria a United Nations’ Public Service Delivery Excellence Award in a keenly contested competition that had 601 entries across the world.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed received the prestigious award through the FCT Millennium Development Goals (MDG) performance on its mobile Public Health Care programme (MAILAFIYA) at the ongoing 2013 United Nations Public Service Forum in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

    This is the first award won by Nigeria since the commencement of this global competition about 10 years ago, organised by the United Nations Organisation to encourage good governance and improve the standard of living of ordinary persons worldwide.

    The elated FCT Minister after receiving the award expressed gratitude to God who made the day possible, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan for his unwavering support as well as the FCT MDG team for its uncommon innovation to put smile on the faces of ordinary people who hardly get access to quality health services.

    The minister expressed happiness for being able to use the FCT MDG programme (MAILAFIYA) to touch on the lives of ordinary residents of the Federal Capital Territory who in the past had suffered neglect.

    Senator Mohammed remarked that the award is a certification of excellence by the United Nations which is the highest award, giving confidence to the donors and development partners.

    According to him, “it is only a sick person that knows the value of healthcare delivery and FCT Administration would continue to improve on this achievement in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan”.

    He said further: “Our vision in creating the ‘Mailafiya programme’ is to establish a world class model of primary healthcare delivery through an integrated data managed mobile health strategy especially at the inaccessible areas in and around the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory”.

    The minister revealed that the programme has afforded the FCT Administration the desired opportunity to really reach out to the underserved like the rural poor; adding that Mailafiya is now an household name in 336 communities of the territory who have been enjoying this quality service.

    Senator Mohammed disclosed that over 85,000 patients have enjoyed the Malaifiya programme in about four years of its existence.

    He seized the opportunity to appreciate the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon for the special interest he has in Primary Health Care delivery and recalled his last visit to Nigeria where he commissioned the Primary Healthcare Centre in Dutse-Alhaji, a suburb of Abuja.

    The Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria came second in the public service delivery category while South Africa came first.

    The Galaxy Backborn, Nigeria also came first in the fourth category, ‘Promoting whole-of-government approaches in the Information Age’.

    Meanwhile, delegates from FCT Administration namely the Directors of Establishment and Training and the Economic Planning, Research and Statistics/ Chairman Project Implementation Committee of FCT MDG respectively earlier attended pre-award seminar “Transformative e-Government & Innovation: creating better future for all” at the Bahrain International Circuit.

    It may be noted that in all the categories, there were only 43 winners with Africa accounting for only six comprising Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa.

    The FCT Minister who was a guest of King Ahmed ibn Isa Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in company of some other governments’ delegations from other parts of the World were hosted to a private lunch at the King’s Palace.

    Senator Bala also participated in a Ministerial Roundtable prelude to the award proper, where experiences and expertise were shared amongst the comity of nations.

  • 22 concessionaires to begin waste collection

    inister of State for Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has disclosed that 22 concessionaires have been certified to begin waste collection in area councils and satellite towns in the FCT.

    Akinjide, who made this known at a meeting with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress, FCT Council, said the administration has delineated the area councils and satellite towns into 22 lots for the purpose of daily waste collection from households in the six area councils.

    The move is aimed at ensuring a clean environment in these areas.

    The minister said: “The selection process for the licensees has been done in line with the National Procurement Act. The Administration has shortlisted 22 concessionaires and award letters have been issued for them to start as soon as possible.”

    She disclosed that the administration through the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) would acquire heavy equipment and trucks as part of measures to ensure effect waste management in the area councils and satellite towns.

    “The STDA is already providing infrastructure in the area councils and also supporting the councils in the area of capacity building in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda,” she added.

    She assured residents of the territory that more high capacity buses would be provided by the FCT Administration to enhance the transportation system.

    “The FCT Administration carried along stakeholders in the transport sector in the implementation of the new transport policy. More high capacity buses are to be provided to support existing ones,” she explained.

    The FCTA had on June 3 commenced the new transport policy in the territory which restricted mini-buses to the area councils and satellite towns. There are over 300 high capacity buses and 160 Abuja taxis currently operating

    Earlier in his address, the Chairman of TUC FCT Council, Comrade Aliyu Musa, had expressed the labour union’s support for the new transport policy, saying that it was for the overall interest of residents and visitors to the federal capital city.

    Musa praised the FCT Administration for being proactive in the management of the transport system in the nation’s capital.

    “We, however, will advise that the administration should provide more high capacity buses as well as enforce the use of designated bus-stops by commuters.

    “Buses should no longer be allowed to stop at irregular places. The new transport policy is necessary for the security of the residents,” the TUC chairman stated.

     

  • FCT gets emergency agency

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has approved the immediate establishment of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    The minister has also approved the appointment of Mr. Abbas Idris as the pioneer Director-General of the Agency.

    According to a statement issued by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the new agency is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing all emergency and response matters in and around the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory.

    It also has the mandate for swift and efficient management of all emergency challenges across the territory.

    The establishment of this new agency is guaranteed under the umbrella of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act 1999, which provides that all states of the federation and the FCT should establish similar agency.

  • Fire destroys property in Galadimawa

    Fire has damaged a block of five shops with goods worth thousands of naira at Galadimawa village,Abuja.

    The shops include a provision store, salon, a patent medicine and interior decoration facilities as well as mattresses and rugs mini depots.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who witnessed the incident, reports that the fire, which started at around 1a.m.on Sunday, lasted for an hour and was later put off by fire fighters from the Federal Fire Service.

    The fire is suspected to have been caused by electrical faults from one of the shops.

    Mr Emeka Obi, an eye-witness, told journalists that the owner of the mini depot got supplies twice a year.

    According to him, the proprietor of the depot recently got supplies for the second half of the year and everything had been destroyed by the fire.

    Obi said: “Only God can intervene in my friend’s business.”

    Residents of the village, who praised the Federal Fire Service for its prompt response, called for well known emergency numbers for the public to reach the department.

    Mr Paul Ikyado, a resident of the village, said the level of destruction caused by the fire would have been averted to a reasonable level if the firemen were reached on time.

    “When the fire started, we were helpless, we had no emergency number or contact of the fire service.

    “The rugs and mattresses caused more fire and the electrical fault from the ceiling made the fire spread faster.

    “The items lost in this fire would have been less if we got the fire men on time,” he said.

    Ikyado called on government to enhance the services of the fire service by providing short, prompt and popular emergency numbers for citizens’ safety.

    Some of the shop owners were not residents of the village and could not be contacted immediately.

    Confirming the report, Mrs Eugenia Osuagwu, Chief Fire Assistant, Federal Fire Services Command Headquarters, said that no life was lost.

  • New face of Abuja

    New face of Abuja

    Things are looking up in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    That was the submission of the Minister of the territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, at the Ministerial Platform in the nation’s capital city, where he made a presentation.

    The territory is developing at a fast pace, he said. A good network of paved roads has replaced what used to be. Travel time has been remarkably reduced and comfort enhanced.

    He spoke about the lift in the FCT shelter profile, stressing the impact of the well-funded land-swap deal.

    Senator Mohammed left no one in doubt that he believes the nation’s capital has a new and beautiful face, thanks to his ministry.

    He explained that his administration is working on an ultra-modern integrated transportation system, including a light rail linking different parts of the Federal Capital Territory, which is 22 per cent completed. He also mentioned the rapid bus transit which was implemented to replace the smaller buses and the SURE P taxi scheme which was created to ease the transport situation, enhance security and decongest the roads.

    He also said that his administration has embarked on the maintenance and construction of several roads, saying: “We have opened the roads through Bwari where you can travel to Kaduna without taking Suleja and this has reduced travel time by 30 minutes. We have also put in place traffic lights with solar panels all over the city, removed the speed bumps on the highways, reconstructed and maintained the roads to reduce accidents and reduce travel time just like is found in other countries around the world.

    “The housing deficit in the city that was started by my predecessors has been made better by the land-swap system, where private investors, within and outside the country are involved in the development of housing units which will be sold at affordable prices and the administration has spent about N150 billion since inception for resettlement and compensation cost.”

    Bala explained that about 30,000 jobs has being created through Agricultural activities and the FADAMA project which through the involvement of expatriates, has educated a lot of farmers and helped them grow. He added that the FCT policy where the administration buys farm produce from farmers, stores it and sells back to them for cheap rates during scarcity.

    He concluded by saying that in order to realise the dream of making the FCT the model city that it is meant to be, his administration has rid the city of beggars and the destitute, by returning them to their states or rehabilitating them. He further warned that all those people that sell on pedestrian bridges or along the roads will be evacuated.

  • Mother of abandoned baby seeks help

    Favour Abdulazeez, who claimed to be the mother of a baby girl that was abandoned at the backyard of an apartment in Kuje, Abuja, has solicited for financial assistance from the public to enable her claim and take care of the baby.

    Abdulazeez told journalists that she abandoned her baby because she was jobless, divorced and had no means of fostering the child.

    She said that when she kept the carton with the baby inside the bush, she did not go away but hid in the bush to know who would pick the baby.

    She stated that she did this to enable her know the person who would pick the baby girl to enable her to do a follow-up.

    “All along, I was monitoring the baby’s situation, I know those who picked the baby and took her to the police.

    “I was listening to their conversation from my hideout, I even followed them from a distance when they were taking my baby away,” she said.

    Abdulazeez, who turned up at the police outpost in Gwagwalada on Friday to claim ownership of the baby, added: “I told the police that I would take care of my baby if only the government would assist me with a job or a trade no matter how small,’’

    Inspector Yahaya Musa, the Police Area Command in Gwagwalada, FCT, had on Friday declined comments on the matter, saying that he was not authorised to speak to newsmen on the matter.

    Musa instead referred newsmen to the social welfare unit of the Gwagwalada Area Council for further enquiries.

    Mrs Hanatu Turu, Head of the Social Welfare Department of Gwagwalada Area Council, said that she was aware of the incident.

    She said police should be allowed to conclude their investigations.

    Abdulazeez was said to have been delivered of the baby girl on June 13 and secretly put her in a carton and took her to a nearby bush behind her house at night, where she abandoned the baby.

    A resident in the area, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that Abdulazeez is her neighbour, adding that it was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of passers-by who later took the baby to the police outpost.

  • Fed Govt inaugurates centenary committee

    The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee for the grand finale of the centenary celebrations in Abuja.

    The committee which is chaired by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, has as members the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Minister of lands, housing and urban development.

    Also on the committee are the Minister of Labour and Productivity; Minister of Communication Technology; Minister of Sports; Minister of State, Works; Minister of State 1, Foreign Affairs and the Director, General Service Office.

    Senator Anyim Pius Anyim who inaugurated the committee, spoke on the importance of the centenary day celebration, saying that, “Mr President considers the centenary a unique opportunity for us as a people to re-inspire the unity of Nigeria”.

    The centenary day celebration will take place on the 1st January 2014 and has the theme of; “One Nigeria,Great Promise”.

    Senator Anyim also said that, “Mr President and indeed the whole people of Nigeria are looking forward to a grand finale of the centenary celebration that will not only be memorable but also a testimony to our renewed commitment to live together in peace and harmony, to collectively work for the upliftment and development of our dear country.”

    The chairman of the committee Senator Bala Mohammed in his speech said that, “the centenary celebration offers us an auspicious opportunity to re-affirm the obvious truth that, Nigeria is not a historical accident.”

    Bala further stated that, “Some even unimaginatively go further to compare Nigeria to the United States of America or Great Britain. But the truth is, there is no plausible basis for comparing Nigeria with America which is enjoying over 200 years of independence or Britain which was never colonized. Modern-day Nigeria came into being only on January 1, 1914, which is 100 years ago.

    “As a matter of fact, Nigeria is just going to be 53 years old this year as an independent nation. The early years of the two so-called “model countries” were worse than ours and we must therefore never lose sight of the…historical facts.”

    Senator Bala on behalf of the committee pledged that they will do the utmost to ensure that Nigeria is bequeathed with a landmark and memorable Centenary Day Celebration come 1st January 2014.

  • Council chief places appointees on probation

    The Chairman of Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Ibrahim Daniel, has said that all the newly appointed political appointees in the council will be on one year probation in order to asses their performances.

    Daniel, who made the declaration at the swearing-in of political appointees, said their appointments were in recognition of their zeal to move the council to greater heights.

    Replying on behalf of the appointees, the new council scribe, Abdullahi Wakili Ashara, thanked the council chairman for finding them worthy of the assignment and pledged their support and loyalty to the chairman in order to ensure rapid development of the council.

  • FCTA establishes new schools

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has established nine new Junior and two Senior Secondary schools in the last two years to accommodate the influx of pupils into the territory.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said this in Abuja.

    Mohammed said that the ever-increasing population of Nigerians from all parts of the country trooping into Abuja has made the FCT Administration to expand its educational facilities to take care of their children and wards.

    The minister reiterated that the constant demographic changes is over stretching the infrastructure and facilities in the Federal Capital Territory and that his administration in consonance with the transformational dreams of President Goodluck Jonathan has been striving to meet up with such onerous challenge.

    According to him, the FCT Administration during the same period has construct six new prototype of a storey building of eight classrooms with toilets, office and store in four basic schools across the territory.

    The minister revealed that his administration has been able to complete 1,215 classrooms for basic schools in all the six area councils of the territory.

    He disclosed that the administration has also built six classrooms, seven staff quarters, landscaping, boys hostel, fence, drainages and sporting facilities at the School for the Handicapped, in Jabi, Abuja.

    Mohammed further disclosed that during the period, his administration was able to build two staff quarters, playground, landscaping and drainages at School for the Blind, Jabi-Abuja.

    “Two new Science Laboratories were constructed and furnished and three were fully renovated at the Senior Secondary Schools; while 40 Science and Intro Tech Laboratories were completed at Basic Education Level,” he added.

    His words: “Eighty sets of furniture were provided for Primary and Junior Secondary Schools while five libraries were constructed and furnished in Junior Secondary Schools across the territory”.

    The minister stated that 1,308,780 pupils/students textbooks and instructional materials were distributed to Basic Education Schools this year alone.

    Senator Mohammed also stated that the FCT Administration has set-up a Sustainable Energy Resource Centre in Karu, a suburb of Abuja.

    Apart from the completion of District Library at Bwari and Teachers Development Centre at Kwali, he further revealed that 1,697, Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) teachers were trained in ICT during the same period under review.

    The minister noted that his administration has provided borehole as well as electricity installations at the Abuja University of Technology, Abaji (AUTA) site.

    ”At the FCT College of Education, Zuba, Early Child Care Education Block; Youth Friendly Centre have been completed, and ICT Centre established”, Senator Mohammed stressed.”

  • ‘Bad society makes for mass failure’ 

    Prevalent vice in today’s society is part of the reasons for mass failure in schools, Chairman, Governing Council of the National Examination Council (NECO), Dr. Paddy Njoku, has said.

    While supervising the National Examination Council (NECO) examination which began in Abuja last week, he said the students have been distracted by the various crisis and negative reports in the society.

    He blamed parents and every other stakeholder in the education sector for the mass failure as they have not created a good society for the children to live in.

    While addressing the candidates, Njoku urged them to shun every form of malpractices because it will not bring the best out of them but make them corrupt leaders in the future.