Category: Northern Reports

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said over N150 billion liabilities inherited from previous administrations have been cleared.

This was revealed after the outcome of the FCTA Executive Committee meeting chaired by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, held in Life Camp, Abuja.

The FCDA Executive Secretary, Shehu Ahmad, revealed that the current FCT Administration has cleared all the liabilities inherited from the previous administrations, which has led to the completion of some major infrastructural projects within the city centre.

The FCDA boss noted that before now, most contractors have abandoned their sites because of accrued liabilities from the previous administrations worth over 150 billion.

He said:  “The minister took the bull by the horn and cleared all the liabilities of these and other contractors, including those developing the Airport Expressway. So, all the liabilities were cleared.

“So, all uncompleted segments of the works along this axis were completed. Now you can operate in dual mode on Constitution Avenue and we are making efforts now to also finalise the development of the dual carriage of the Independence Road.

“So, this is what has actually eased the traffic right from the City Centre, from Three Arm Zone through to World Trade Centre, and to the National Hospital. And the travel time for most commuters, and passengers to the airport has drastically reduced. You can almost plan your travel time now from your home to the airport.”

While enumerating some of the challenges, which include inadequate funding, uncontrolled population influx and resettlement of original inhabitants, the Executive Secretary advocated the review of the Master Plan to address some of these challenges.

Ahmad also called for a coordinated development strategy to be pursued by the Administration with its contiguous states that would ensure the development of the satellite areas among the states and the FCT, as viable economic areas.

According to a statement by her Special Assistant, Media, Austine Elemue, the minister said the administration is mulling the option of “operation know your neighbour” as part of efforts to address the persistent security challenges in the country’s capital.

Aliyu said this has become necessary in view of recent security challenges facing the Federal Capital Territory, just as she also noted that the executive meeting was to x-ray some of the challenges facing the Administration.

She, however, urged the FCDA to come up with policies that would address the development of the human component, even as she also advised the authority to initiate policies that would outlive the present administration.

Youths have been urged to vote out bad leaders in the 2023 general elections.

The Nigeria Youth Organisation (NYO) and its affiliate bodies gave the advice after a meeting in Abuja.

According to the organisation, youths accounted for 50 per cent of the registered voters, urging them to use their voting strength to bring about change in next year’s polls.

During a briefing with reporters, the National Secretary of NYO, Comrade Duke Alamboye said: “We urge the youth to disbelieve mischief-makers who incite the innocent people against the country.

“If leaders had performed well, we would not have found ourselves in this mess in just seven years. Therefore, we urge our youths to identify the bad and wicked leaders in the parties and vote them out.

“Our resolve and commitment to collaborate with security agencies, government parastatals, embassies of friendly countries, international aid and donor organisations in the advocacy project to change the perception of the youth that violence, destruction of lives and property are the key antidotes to oppression and slavery.

“We urge youths to shun violence, never present themselves to be used by those who would put their lives at risk, use and abandon them after their selfish and unpopular interest.”

The organisation condemned the “unprovoked and dastardly bombing of the Abuja-Kaduna train by terrorists believed to be youths within the ages of 18 and above,” describing it “as barbaric, senseless, abominable and hatefully evil.”

The Katsina State Police Command has announced a restriction on the movements of people in Katsina State today from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the conduct of the local government elections.

A release issued to reporters by the spokesman of the state’s Police Command Gambo Isah, a Superintendent of Police (SP), said the measure is to ensure a free, fair, credible and peaceful election.

He said: “The command, in its determination and total commitment, wishes to inform the general public that after due consultation with relevant stakeholders on the elections, it gave the following restriction orders.

“That politicians and very important personalities (VIPs) are barred from going to any voting centre with their security details and orderlies.

“Also, they are warned to desist from moving from one place to another as stipulated by the State Electoral Act (as amended).

“All entry and exit points into the State are going to be manned by security personnel, and movement will not be allowed until the elections are over.

“The police and other security personnel will be conducting robust and purposeful patrols to ensure compliance with this order and towards a hitch-free exercise,” he said.

Gambo further assured the citizens of adequate security for all to come out en masse and exercise their franchise without any fear of harassment or molestation.

According to him, the deployment of police and other sister security personnel to man the polling units has been concluded.

“We are calling on the good citizens of Katsina state to partner with security agencies to make the elections a success.

“The command does hereby warn that any attempt by any person or group of persons, to undermine our will, will be seriously dealt with,” he said.

He urged parents to warn their wards to dissuade from any act capable of undermining the process and to avoid confrontation with security agencies.

Kullen Allah Cattle Rearers’ Association of Nigeria (KACRAN), a Fulani Social Cultural and Herders group has commended Northeast Development Commission (NEDC) for embarking on the provision of water points for livestock farmers in the region.

KACRAN, in a statement by its National President Mohammed Khalil Bello and made available to The Nation, expressed gratitude to the commission for prioritising the welfare of livestock in the Northeast.

KACRAN noted that “as a herder association that is interested in daily happenings in the country, especially the one that directly affects the livestock sector, and severally commend or oppose what will not augur well to the country’s animal husbandry, wishes to thank the Northeast Development Commission for its decision in providing water points to the Northeast livestock farmers.”

The statement also noted that the initiative of NEDC will stop the constant migration of herders and lead to the high production of animal husbandry.

The statement also called on the Federal Government to increase the funding of the commission to enable it to execute more laudable projects for the common people.

The statement reads in part: “We of KACRAN as the direct beneficiaries of the aforementioned water projects, are of the view that water scarcity is the major problem of animal production in most of the Northern states of the country.

“The provision of water points by the commission will end the sufferings which our people face for over 100 years due to either scarcity or lack of potable water. This, in some cases, forces our people to migrate from one place to another in search of it.”

Ibrahim Almustapha (APC-Sokoto) said Nigeria’s current challenges are signs of greatness, saying the country has the capacity to surmount them.

Almustapha, who represents Wurno/Rabah Federal Constituency of Sokoto State at the National Assembly, said this during a chat with reporters in Sokoto yesterday.

“I see most of these challenges, especially the security challenges facing the country as a sign of greatness. Many great countries passed through lots of challenges on their way to greatness.

“I believe the same situation is applicable to Nigeria and once we are able to overcome them, Nigeria will certainly become great in every aspect of human endeavours, in terms of economy, infrastructure, power and all others.

“What we need is to come together as a nation with sincerity, towards tackling the challenges, Nigerians who are fond of celebrating bad news and negativity should stop.

“Those supplying information and logistics to bandits and armed robbers should stop and those entrusted with the task of fighting them should be more sincere,” he said.

Almustapha said although Nigeria has recorded some achievements in the fight against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, much needed to be done.

“I think the Northeast has witnessed relative peace for some time now, certainly, the situation is not the way it was in 2015 when the All Progressives Congress (APC) came into power,” he said.

He expressed optimism that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government would succeed in its bid to tackle the security challenges bevelling the country.

Almustapha said that the new leadership of the APC would reposition the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“When you talk about discipline, determination and uprightness, I think you are talking about the new APC executives led by Senator Abdullahi Adamu,” he said.

Bothered about the seemingly intractable power-sharing crisis that has overwhelmed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), an auto magnate, Chief A.C. Okocha has said that only the Delta State Governor Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has the wisdom and expertise to salvage the party from the power-sharing crisis it is enmeshed in.

Okocha, who is equally the National Chairman of Ogwashi-Uku PDP Leaders’ and Elders’ forum, noted that it was a thing of joy when about every leader in the PDP was declaring to be President; Governor Okowa kept his cool and was watching keenly from a distance.

“Governor Okowa is much more qualified than most of those clamouring to be president,” Okocha said, “but this governor prefers to do things differently. He is a man of great wisdom who watches issues keenly before dabbling into them,” he said.

Okocha stated that now that key members of the PDP have fought themselves into a cul-de-sac, Dr Okowa would have no choice but step out and provide quality leadership so as to create a sustainable atmosphere.

Okocha mentioned that anything short of this could affect the chances of the party taking over power at the centre in 2023.

“The Governor loves peace and orderliness. This is what is required in the PDP at the moment. I believe he is the only one who can bring about the order at the party. He should step up and do that now before the party implodes,” he said.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Adamawa State has won all the 21 local government areas elections held on Saturday.

Alhaji Isa Shettima, the Chairman of Adamawa Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC), declared the result yesterday in Yola.

Shettima said two parties, the PDP and the All Progressives Congress (APC), contested the local council chairmanship election.

He said: “Having satisfied with the requirements of the law and highest votes score, the candidates of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won all the 21 local government areas election.”

Shettima expressed the commission’s appreciation to the electorate, security operatives and other stakeholders for the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.

The member representing Pankshin, Kanam and Kanke (PKK) in the House of Representatives Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has condemned the terrorist’s attacks on several communities in Kanam Local Government Area.

The communities are Kukawa, Kyaram, Gyambau and Dungur, among others.

The lawmaker, in a statement, said he was in Medina for Lesser Hajj along with some of his colleagues when the news of the attack broke.

He commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and prayed to God Almighty to forgive their shortcomings and grant them everlasting rest.

The lawmaker, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Armed Forces, said he contacted the Minister of Defence, General Magashi (rtd), to request immediate military presence in the affected communities and those bordering them in order to arrest the surging activities of bandits in communities within his constituency.

Gagdi flayed the Federal Government’s act of negligence to provide security for Plateau communities, despite intelligent reports by the Directorate of State Service (DSS) concerning the influx of bandits  into Plateau State and other neighbouring states.

According to him, the Federal Government, which has exclusive control of the security apparatus in the country, has woefully failed in its primary responsibility of protecting the lives and property of Nigerians.

Gagdi said he was going to cut short the Lesser Hajj and return to the country in order to visit the affected communities to console victims of the attacks, provide relief materials, as well as to see for himself the extent of damage inflicted on the communities by the marauders.

He commended Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong for his swift response to the situation.

He stated that even though Lalong has no direct control over the security operatives within the state, his swift action to reach out for security interventions in times of infractions has always been commendable, the lawmaker said.

Gagdi raised the alarm for citizens within boundary communities, particularly in Wase and Kanam local government areas, to be on the alert, as fleeing bandits from Zamfara and other Northwest states are traced to be camping within the thick bushes in the mentioned local government areas.

Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has directed the reinstatement of political appointees who had resigned to contest elections but were not favoured by zoning.

He said, however, that only those whose positions were not replaced will enjoy the privilege.

Governor Ortom said this yesterday at a parley he had with all political appointees from the 14 local government areas of the state.

The governor said the gesture to reinstate the former aides who lost their bids for various elective offices was to show his appreciation for their dedication to supporting and working for his administration since their appointment and supporting consensus arrangements in their various constituencies.

The governor dismissed insinuations of any disagreement between him and the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu, saying those who create such false stories will be disappointed.

“I have no single problem with our National Chairman, Senator Ayu, our leader, Senator David Mark, Senators Gabriel Suswam, Abba Moro, Orker Jev or any leader of the party. We are consulting with one another without rancour. So, there is no truth whatsoever in such rumours,” he said.

The governor maintained that: “We are working together for the success of our party, and there is nothing such as division or rift whatsoever. There is nothing that will divide us,” he stated.

The governor will be holding another meeting with his appointees from the Benue South Senatorial District at a later date.