Musa Dagara of the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), Abuja, on Tuesday advised motorists in the territory to maintain high level of concentration and alertness while driving.
Dagara said doing such would go a long way in reducing the spate of accidents on the roads.
He also advised drivers to avoid making phone calls while on the wheels, and to regulate their speed.
“We always advise drivers to ensure that they maintain high degree of alertness and concentration while on the wheels.
“We observe that some drivers go as far as making phone calls and even browsing on their mobile phones while driving.
“This is very dangerous and it exposes them to accidents on the roads, “he said.
Dagara spoke against the backdrop of a ghastly car crash which occurred at the bridge before Wuse 2 , recently
“The course of the accident was speeding and dangerous overtaking by the driver.
“Such accidents are avoidable if drivers are more careful and obey traffic regulations,’’ he said.
He added that three occupants of the Ford Sports car involved in the accident were critically injured and were rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Abuja
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the deployment of 37 Police Commissioners in State Commands and the Federal Capital Territory.
One of the affected officers is the Force spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, who has been deployed to Kogi state.
Others are Usman Bala Alkali (Delta State); P Abdallah (Ebonyi); Chris Ezike (Edo); Etop J. James (Ekiti); Mohammed Adamu (Enugu); Wilson Inalegwu (FCT); Austin Iwar (Gombe); T. Lakanu (Imo); U. Tilli Abubakar (Jigawa); U. U. Shehu (Kaduna); M. Katsina (Kano); U. Abdullahi (Katsina); Yakubu O. Jubrin (Kebbi); E. Amadasun (Kwara) F. Owoseni (Lagos); Mohammed Sani Usman (Nasarawa); Abubakar Marafa (Niger); Abdulmajid Ali (Ogun); M. Ogbodu (Ondo); K. Shodipo (Osun); Leye Oyebade (Oyo); Nasiru Oki (Plateau); Hyelasinda Kimo Musa (Rivers); Salisu F. Abdullahi (Sokoto); Okechukwu Nwodibo (Taraba); Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim (Yobe) and Femi Ogunbayode (Zamfara).
In a statement yesterday by PSC’s spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, quoted the chairman of the PSC, Sir Mike Okiro to have said the deployment was aimed at reinvigorating the various state commands.
The exercise, he added, is geared towards effective and efficient policing, in line with the change agenda of the present administration.
He advised the state commissioners to take their jobs seriously and ensure that they are committed to the enforcement of law and order and protection of lives and property within the ambits of the rule of law.
As part of Federal Government’s efforts to bridge the housing gap, a private firm, B.A.M. Projects & Properties, has promised to build and deliver 500 affordable housing units in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Communications Officer of the firm, Kelvin God’swill Musa, said the project located at BELHAM Estate in Karsana District near Gwarimpa Housing Estate, is being developed on a 45-hectare of land. The units are: two-bedroom apartments, three-bedroom town houses, three-bedroom luxurious apartments, four-bedroom detached bungalows and five-bedroom villas.
The Director, B.A.M Projects and Properties, Mr Abba Bello Mohammed, told reporters, shortly after the just-concluded Ninth Abuja Housing Development Exhibition which was held at the International Conference Centre (ICC) that his company had since three years ago embarked on the project having successfully completed all necessary building processes. An approval by the FCTA for a development lease was thereafter issued to the company under the mass housing scheme of the FCDA.
He disclosed that his company is an emerging mass housing developer to watch in the FCT armed with the endorsement and recognition of the FCTA to participate in the scheme based on its cognate experience, expertise and full compliance with the laid-down procedures of the government.
According to him, his company gained official recognition after it completed all the necessary procedures for registration such as payment of compensation to original settlers, approval of the engineering design and a certified development planning design.
On why information about the project had been delayed until now, Mohammed explained that the company chose to utilise the opportunity of the exhibition to showcase itself to the housing and property market. He said that his team wanted to be sure that the project had taken off as proof to the public of its seriousness about the project. He expressed delight that public response to the range and quality of the houses so far has been impressive and encouraging.
“With B.A.M Projects & Properties, you can be sure of our sense of quality and care as they blend with our reputation. It is only when you enter the houses that you get a true idea of how much thought and care that went into each property. We have taken every opportunity to blend comfort with contemporary style with insistence on the very best fixtures and fittings. This is only good for our esteemed clients”, he said.
He said BELHAM Estate which is about 10 minutes drive from the Central Business District of the Capital City represents the climax of his company’s over six years’ arrival into the nation’s housing industry, adding that the company is founded on the philosophy of “just do it well, the patronage will surely come”.
“Our passion for craftsmanship, exploring architectural heritage and for interior design has led to BAM’s projects being garlanded many times over in the industry and the media. By consistently maintaining standards and implementing a progressive programme of innovation, we have successfully participated in some of the best high profile schemes in the housing industry”he said
Concerned citizens of Plateau State have taken the opportunity of the visit of the Secretary- General of the United Nations (UN), Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, to protest killings in the state.
The protest, held in Abuja, was targeted at drawing the attention of the UN Secretary-General to the alleged killings of the indigenes by the Fulani herdsmen, especially the recent carnage in Barkin Ladi, which led to the death of over 20 Berom.
The protesters, who were at the Unity Gate and Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja where Ki-Moon was lodged, got his attention and presented their petition to him in the presence of foreign reporters, who were in the entourage of the UN Secretary-General.
They displayed banners, which contained thought- provoking inscriptions, such as “How many more do we have to bury?” The banners also bore the photographs of the victims.
A copy of the petition, which was later made available to reporters, was read by the group’s spokesperson, Mrs. Kate Pam: “We bring you greetings from the traumatised men, women and children of Plateau State. Permit me, sir, to give a summary of the nightmare our lives have become in the last decade.
“The attack on our villages by Fulani herdsmen, whom we gave our land as pasture for their livestock, started over 10 years ago. Things climaxed on March 10 with the Dogo Nahawa massacre when over 500 men, women and children were killed in a cowardly dawn attack. From then, we have not known peace. Our tormentors have moved from village to village, killing, maiming, looting, shooting and burning.
“From May this year, the attacks on our villages have increased. The people of Riyom and Barkin Ladi are worst hit. An average of 10 people are killed every week. On May 2, 27 people were killed in a COCIN church in Foron. Among the dead were the pastor, Rev. Luka Gwom and a young woman who wedded two weeks earlier. Two days later, 30 people were killed at Zakupang in Barkin Ladi Local Government.
“Another attack on Kakpwis village left two men dead. The villages in Barkin Ladi Council have suffered these attacks, at least twice every week. On May 29, over 500 gunmen invaded Shonong village, killing people and torching homes. That attack left over a thousand people displaced, with about 300 houses razed. June was also a nightmare for the people of Barkin Ladi and Riyom. Over 20 villages were attacked. In the first 10 days of July, we experienced a number of attacks.”
There has been much buzz about the planned Dance with Peter reality show, and as audition is scheduled to begin on August 28, in the Federal Capital Territory, there is no doubt that skilled dancers and fans of Peter Okoye, one-half of the PSquare group in whose name the show is patterned, will storm the venue en masse.
Touted as the Africa’s hottest dance Reality TV show, Dance with Peter is packaged by Peter, and sponsored by telecommunication company, Globacom.
The Abuja audition is scheduled to hold at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre, Central Business District. The second leg of the auditions, according to organizers, will take place in Accra, Ghana, at the National Theatre, South Liberia Road, on Tuesday, September 1.
“This will be followed by Benin, Edo State, on Friday, September 4, at the Oba Akenzua Cultural Center, Airport Road, Benin City. Lagos is next in line on for the audition on Tuesday, September 8, at Bamako Studios, 1 Bamako Street, Ojodu, Lagos.
“The final audition for “Dance with Peter” will be held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, September 10, where prospective dancers in the show will be auditioned at the Atrium Event Centre, Stadium Road,” Globacom said in a statement.
According to the company, “those who want to participate in the show can register by sending ‘DANCE’ to the short code 55517 in Nigeria and 3030 in Ghana through their Glo lines.”
It adds that “Registration costs N100 for Nigeria and 0.5GHc for Ghana. “Once they send the SMS to the short code, they will then be requested to send their details such as Name and Location at no extra charge. All successful registrations will get a confirmatory SMS with instructions on what to do next.”
The show promises a mouth-watering prize of brand new Toyota RAV 4 with N3million for the best dancer, including the rare opportunity of featuring in P-Square’s next music video.
Organisers say the first and second runners-up will receive a brand new Honda Civic car, N2million and a brand new Kia Rio car with N1million respectively. They too will have the chance to feature in a top Glo Ambassador’s music videos.
Supporting Peter on the show are dance experts such as Peter, Kaffy and Flex who will feature in the show as judges, while Ehis Okoegule of MTV Base will be the host.
