The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished mechanic shops illegally constructed on the land earmarked for livestock market at Kugbo on Abuja-Nyanya – Keffi expressway.

The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the Minister of the FCT, Ikharo Attah, who led the demolition on Saturday, said the affected mechanics had been served quit notices in the past three years, with a reminder about five months ago to leave the area.

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He explained that the exercise followed the complaints received from the FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat that some mechanics have taken over the land that was originally designated for livestock market.

The minister’s aide regretted that the situation had forced the ram sellers to move close to the main road, which contradicts sanity of the nation’s capital.

Attah stated that dismantling the structures was in line with the commitment of the present minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, to maintain sanity  and restore the masterplan.

He said: “In our efforts to sanitise the city in the moment of Eid al-Adha, we discovered that the Kugbo ram market is not where it ought to be. The stretch from the electric pole down to the other side has been occupied by the mechanics and some persons who deal in other items have forced the ram market out of its original place.”

The All Progressives Congress North Legacy Youth Movement (APC-NYLM) has pledged to work for the candidates of the party in the 19 northern states in the 2023 general election.

The group said it was mobilising one million permanent voter card carrying youths across each of the northern state and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Co-Convener of the group, Usman Yero, said this during a press conference in Abuja on Friday.

Yero said the APC had proven to be the most viable option for Nigeria’s continued progress and development.

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He said: “The APC has proven to be the most viable option for Nigeria’s continued progress and development.

“The party, having selected her flag-bearers for all elective positions through peaceful and credible primary election exercises, moves to the next critical stage of mobilising and consolidating support for the party for 2023 elections.

“It is in recognition of this critical exigency that we saw the need to constitute a grassroots youth-based movement, the APC North Legacy Youth Movement (APC-NYLM), aimed at galvanising and mobilising support for our party candidates at all levels across the 19 Northern states.”

Two months after the electrocution of three persons following the explosion of a transformer at Yaunde, Tumfre area of Gombe, the family of one of the victims, Andrew Abu Yaro yesterday demanded for the sum of N500 million as compensation from the Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC).

The residents in a protest held at the community yesterday demanded for restoration of regular power supply to the community, which had been in darkness since the incident on 27th of April, 2022.

The placards carrying protesters asked the Gombe State Government to come to the aid of the residents and put an end to deliberate negligence on the part of JEDC.

Counsel to ASP Abu Yaro (rtd), father to Andrew Abu Yaro and some residents of Yaunde community of Tumfre Quarters, Barrister Ayuba Rabiu, in a letter to JED said the N500 million is to compensate for the breach of duty of care owed to the deceased which led to his death.

The letter is also demanding replacement of properties of JED customers whose property were destroyed as a result of the company’s negligence on that fateful day.

The community is also demanding for a replacement of damaged meters, the overloaded transformers as well as a letter of condolence to the family of the late Andrew Abu Yaro.

“This protest is a follow-up to our earlier demands from JED to take up the responsibility of all that happened as a result of their negligence in this area, especially the death of Andrew Abu Yaro and two others.

“We acknowledged the fact that some repair works have been done but JED still needs to demonstrate responsibility for their act of negligence. This community has been in darkness for the past two months, they need to restore electricity supply to the area because some people’s businesses are been affected. Also some damaged appliances need to be replaced,” Ayuba said.

Meanwhile, the Regional Manager of JED, Awal Baba Jada while reacting to the protest said electricity supply will be restored back to the community this week.

He added that the community will enjoy free power supply pending the replacement of all damaged meters in the area.

He however said JED is still waiting for reports from the National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, which had investigated the mater, before they know the appropriate action to be taken.

“As soon as we get the report, we will surely do what is necessary but as at now, we have not gotten the report from them. But electricity supply will be restored back to the community this week.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) women in the North-Central zone of the country have promised to work for the election of the presidential flag bearer of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in next year’s general elections.

APC deputy national women leader, Mrs Zainab Ibrahim stated this yesterday in Lafia when she led all the APC state women leaders in North-Central and the APC national women leader in the zone, Princess Zarah Audu to launch the Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) registration/collection and Women in Governance Advocacy in Nasarawa State.

The deputy national women leader urged all the women to come out and obtain their voters card to enable them elect a president that will consider the women folk and work for the general good of Nigerians, even as they stated that that person is the former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

According to her, “We are here in Nasarawa State to launch a campaign that is created to orientate Nigerian women on the need to register and obtain their new PVCs and desist from engaging in election violence and contribute their quota towards the smooth and overwhelming victory of our great party in Africa, APC.

“After the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as our party’s presidential flag bearer and so many patriotic party members as Governorship, Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly candidates, our caucus met and decided to get more people to register and obtain their PVCs.

“We are most delighted to fully engage in campaign, advocacies and interaction that could promote the chances of our great party winning elections, more especially our presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

According to Princess Zarah Audu, “We are here basically to talk to you about the need for you to get your PVCs, we need to get our PVCs and we need to vote APC continuity.”

Other women who spoke at the occasion are the Nasarawa State APC women leader, Mrs Esther Monde, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hadiza Rufai and the state first lady, Hajiya Silifat Abdullahi Sule.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom on Saturday, July 2nd, 2022, flagged-off the distribution of improved seeds to the 23 local government areas in the State.

Performing the ceremony at the headquarters of the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Makurdi, Governor Ortom tasked the council chairmen to ensure that the improved seeds are given to genuine farmers for onward cultivation in this year’s farming season.

The improved seeds flagged-off for distribution include 6,900 bags of rice, 833 bags of maize, 1,000 tins of watermelon seeds, 333 bags of sorghum and 11,000 bundles of cassava stems.

Governor Ortom commended the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under the leadership of the Special Adviser, Barrister Kenneth Achabo, for initiating and sustaining the agricultural programme, saying he was impressed with the results achieved in two years.

He called on the people to key into the programme, noting that it has added economic value and is boosting the agriculture sub-sector for food security.

The governor pointed out that with two private investors in Makurdi and Ukum as off-takers in cassava processing as its major raw material, the product was already in short supply, calling on the people to engage in profitable agriculture.

He directed the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to liaise with the agriculture departments of local governments to organise a seminar for farmers on best modes of cultivation of the improved seeds to produce the needed result.

Earlier, Achabo had lauded Governor Ortom for the premium he has placed on agriculture.

Benue State House of Assembly Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, represented by a member of the committee, Hon Geoffrey Agbatse, praised Governor Ortom for rural transformation, and appealed to the local government chairmen to ensure that the seeds are used properly.

Chairman, Guma Local Government Council, Dr Mike Ubah, who spoke on behalf of the 23 council chairmen, appreciated the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for initiating the agricultural programme in collaboration with the state government and assured that the real farmers in the local governments will benefit from the improved seeds.

Foreign investors in Nigeria’s financial market have complained about contradictory rules and regulations, which they claim is discouraging investors from coming into the country.

They said Nigeria is plagued by different rules and regulations by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the different arms of government.

Simon Lee, CEO Tripeak, a Hong Kong-based Fintech company said investors will be scared of investing a lot of money in an economy if they are scared that rules might suddenly be changed and investments will go up in smoke.

Lee said this yesterday in Abuja at the African Financial Market Conference (AFMC 1.0).

He said, “For a country to grow, there must be an increase in productivity. To do that basically, you need to get more things done in less time. So when we talk of revolutionising the Nigerian Market, it means making things more efficient and getting more things done in less time. For our technology Fintech, what we do is provide a seamless pipeline for Nigerian individuals and traders to access the global financial market. The faster they can access the market, the better price they can get, the better results they will have in improvement in productivity.

“I have visited Nigeria three times and from the people that I have spoken to, the picture that I get is basically that the rules and regulations are very contradictory. For example, the CBN will say one thing, the legal department will say another and the President will maybe say a third thing. So all these competing viewpoints go about in the media, social space and when you have this much confusion, people don’t know what do.”

Lee explained that with such uncertainty, investors willing to invest huge money will calculate the risk and hesitate before putting their money down.

“So if you streamline the regulations, even if it is strict and tough, if you make it very clear and concise, people can move forward. They can know what to expect. People are not going to be afraid that maybe in a few months someone might change the rules and all investments will go up in smoke.

Director of Tradecland, Amarachi Ihechirimadu said the title of this year’s conference is demystifying the digital market in Africa.

She said Africa is behind in comparison to other continents regarding technologies, and that “Tradeclandfx has come to Africa to teach and explain to people of Africa the opportunity for every young African to become independent by investing in the global financial market.”

Bauchi State Deputy Governor,  Sen. Baba Tela, has debunked the report making the rounds on social media that he has resigned from his post as number two citizen of the state.

Tela, who dismissed the report in a statement made available to journalists in Bauchi by his Press Secretary, Sani Mu’azuIlellah, said he remains committed to the objectives and ideals of the government of Bauchi State under the able leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed.

The statement partly reads, “The attention of the Deputy Governor Bauchi State, Sen. Baba Tela has been drawn to a fake news on social media to the effect that the Deputy Governor has resigned from his position. The statement/report on social media is a figment of the imagination of the writer.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we would like to assure the peace-loving and hard-working people of Bauchi State in particular, and the nation in general, that Sen. Bala Tela has not resigned as the Deputy Governor of Bauchi State.”

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola said the COVID-19 pandemic led to project abandonment, cost overrun and claims and litigations arising from construction disputes.

He also said it led to permanent job losses, cost overrun and the impact of which was felt more by low and medium income earners.

The minister added that it is important to urgently put together a sustainable and encompassing framework to encourage the identification of new local materials for manufacturing the required building components.

Fashola said this in Abuja, at a two-day national workshop of the 109th Council Meeting of the Association of Housing Corporations of Nigeria (AHCN), titled, “Addressing housing challenges of low and medium income earners through alternative building materials”.

The minister, who was represented at the occasion by Director (Construction), of the Ministry, Arc. Bashir Usman stated: “It is coming against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to permanent job losses, project abandonment, cost overrun, time overrun, claims and litigation arising from construction disputes, the impact of which is felt more by low and medium income earners.

“I, therefore, cannot but completely agree on the importance of urgently putting together a sustainable and encompassing framework to encourage the identification of new local materials for the manufacture of required building components and to also encourage the expansion of existing industries producing building materials from local sources such as clay, bricks, timber etc.”

On his part, the President/Chairman of AHCN, Dr. Victor Onukwugha said it is important that Nigerians look inward to create sustainable solutions that will address housing challenges and rising housing deficits.

He said, “Several options and strategies have been tried to address housing challenges in the past and the nation is still bedevilled with rising housing deficit ranging

A Federal High Court in Kano presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman, on Friday restrained the Kano State Government from borrowing N10 billion for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras.

A coalition of NGOs, the Kano First Forum (KFF) filed a motion exparte dated June 27, sworn by the Director-General of the association, Dr Yusuf Isyaka-Rabiu.

KFF, through its counsel led by Mr Badamasi Suleiman-Gandu, prayed the court to restrain Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State from borrowing N10 billion loan.

Other respondents in the suit are the Attorney-General of Kano State, Commissioner of Finance Kano and Speaker Kano State House of Assembly.

Others are Access Bank, Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office and Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

Justice Liman granted the prayers of KFF and restrained the first respondent from borrowing the N10 billion loan and ordered all parties to maintain status quo.

He also ordered the plaintiff to serve Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management office and Fiscal Responsibility Commission with the order and other court processes.

The News Agency  of Nigeria (NAN) reports that KFF is challenging the Governor of Kano State from borrowing the sum of N10 billion on the grounds of non compliance with rules and regulations governing loan transaction.

The applicants in their prayers challenged the state government for not complying with Dept Management Office Establishment Act 2003, Fiscal Responsibility Act 2007 and laws of Kano State 1968.

The adjourned date would be later communicated to both parties in the suit.

NAN reports that the State House of Assembly had on June 15 approved Ganduje’s request to access N10 billion from Access Bank.

The Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has condemned an online report by an NGO, MAWA Foundation, which used a picture of a dilapidated Primary Healthcare facility purportedly of Unguwan Madi village in Jega Local Government Area to question what was spent on rural health by the state government in 2021.

Briefing newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, the Executive Secretary, Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Doctor  Abubakar A Kaoje, said in view of the distortion of facts in the report and its tendency to misinform the public and create a bad impression of the  government, the agency is compelled to clear the air on the matter.

The truth of the matter, according to Dr. Kaoje, is that in 2021, the Kebbi State government had a budgetary provision of N3,065,379,144.00 for  PHC, out of which N672,968,488.93 was expended for the year.

He said “The figure of N3.03 billion quoted in the MAWA report as the State’s expenditure on PHC in 2021 is therefore, a gross mis-presentation of facts.”

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Kaoje also stated that, “The Primary Healthcare facility showcased in the report is a 3rd grade facility (Health post), of which Kebbi State has over 500, in addition to the 1st grade (PHC) and 2nd grade (Health clinic) healthcare facilities. And the facility is actually in Jega, not Maiyama LGA as alleged by that report.

“The sad truth is that due to the neglect which the PHC system in the country has suffered over the years, infrastructural decay is one of the major challenges of the PHC not just in Kebbi but the entire country. It is in realisation of this fact that the NPHCDA identified PHC revitalisation as one of the pillars of its PHC reform agenda.”

He added that “In its effort towards addressing the PHC infrastructure gaps and in line with the Ward Health System  of the country, which aims at providing at least one functional PHC per political ward, the Kebbi State government in collaboration with development partners has embarked on PHC revitalisation, which resulted in the renovation of 140 of the 225 ward focal PHCs in the state with an on-going  renovation of 36 more facilities.”

Dr. Kaoje also stated that the Kebbi State Government had approved the full implementation of PHC Under One Roof policy and provided regular funding for PHC activities in the 21 LGAs in Kebbi State.

“This,” he said, “has led Kebbi State to score 82% in the PHC Under One Roof scorecard-5 of the NPHCDA in 2020.”