The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FCT

  • FCT grossly under represented in Senate, says Gwadabe

    Former senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Senator Khairat Abdulrazaq-Gwadabe is bidding a return to the upper lawmaking chamber after 15 years of his exit.

    She represented the Federal Capital Teritry (FCT) in the Senate between 1999 and 2003.

    Yesterday,she decalred her intention to return on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Senator Phillip Aduda (PDP) is holding the seat but Mrs Abdulrazak Gwadabe said the nation’s capital had not enjoyed good representation.

    She said when elected, she would reverse the trend through quality representation, stressing that the FCT had been unable to occupy its pride of place since 1985 that she first came to the city.

    She said: “FCT has not been able to get the full benefit of having the government at the top because the FCT APC does not have a senator in the National Assembly. So, the level of recognition of our chapter of the party by other states is very poor. They look at us as if we were beggars. Now, are we going to continue for the next four years without an APC senator in the National Assembly? Not anymore.

    “As a senator in 1999, I had four years to do as much as I could. I did things in two categories – one for my constituents and the other for Nigerians in accordance with my oath of office.

    “The first project I attracted after I had done a survey of water supply and sewage system, I found that the water supply to the people might not last more than five years with the growing population of FCT and that was in 1999. The survey suggested two things: building a new dam or doing a water transfer system.

    “I went to the Committee on Water Resources and requested them to help us do water transfer and so this Lower Usuma Dam Water Transfer was what I did.

    “The annual overflow from Gurara Dam, instead of allowing it to waste was re-channelled to the Usuma Dam so that we can have water for at least, the next four decades.

    “On sewage disposal, I discovered that in many areas, when you flushed your toilets, everything went into the river and I felt while there was need to control that, we also had to build hospitals.

    “So, first I ensured the building of hospitals within few kilometres from one another. I did not stop at that. Each of the 62 Wards in the FCT had project ranging from boreholes, schools to hospitals and road infrastructure.

    “At the national level, my pet project was in the area of HIV/AIDS. Then, the awareness was very low. So, I decided to see how we could eradicate the conspiracy of silence. I ensured appropriation of more funds for HIV/AIDS Awareness and Control and this was what led to the establishment of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) by the then administration of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo”.

  • Man docked for N6,000 theft in FCT

    The Police on Monday arraigned one Brown Iyke, in a Kado Grade 1 Area Court Abuja, for alleged theft of N6,000.

    Iyke, who resides at Mpape, a suburb of Abuja, had pleaded not guilty to the two-count charges of causing hurt and theft levelled against him.

    The prosecutor, Judith Obatomi, told the court that Chinemerenwu Obi, of Utako Village, Abuja, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station on Aug. 27.

    Obatomi said the complainant reported that on that same date, while he was at Utako village, the defendant allegedly stole N6,000 from his pocket and hit him on the right eye where he sustained injury.

    She said the offence contravened Sections 246 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    Read Also: Police arrest suspected cultist, robbery kingpin

    The judge, Alhaji Ahmed Ado, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum.

    Ado said that the surety must be a family man, reliable and residing within the court jurisdiction.

    He then adjourned the case until Sept. 17, for further hearing.

  • One in every two babies not breastfed exclusively in FCT

    Mrs. Amanda Pam, the Secretary, Health and Human Service Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says one out of every two babies delivered in FCT is not exclusively breastfed.

    Pam disclosed this at a ‘Baby Show’ organised by the FCT Primary Health Care Board to commemorate the 2018 World Breastfeeding Week with the theme “Breastfeeding: Foundation of Life’’.

    The scribe identified this gap as a contributing factor to the rate of death and illnesses in the territory describing it as unacceptable.

    Read Also: ‘PPP initiative will accelerate qualitative health care’

    She however suggested that the only way to reduce this burden was to ensure that all women in FCT irrespective of where they live are often time provided with adequate information on affordable, effective and efficient nutritious meals for their babies.

    According to her, the answer to mortality rate is exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months of life, followed by introduction of complementary food at six months while continuing breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond.

    Pam, who identified breast milk as God’s made best food for babies, however urged men to support their wives to effectively breastfeed to enable the children benefit optimally.

    She further urged women to ensure early initiation of breastfeeding within 30 minutes after delivery.

    ‘Women breastfeed your babies within half an hour of delivery, breastfeed without adding water or any food nor drink in the first six months of life.’

    ‘Breast milk provides all the nutrients that the baby needs for growth, development in the first six months of life.’

    ‘It has no cost implication, it promotes bonding between mother and child and as well makes children intelligent, among other benefits,’Pam said.

     

  • Ban on scavengers in the FCT

    Sir: The recent ban on scavengers popularly known as Baban Bolas in the FCT once again brings to the fore the dictum that every malfeasance has an end date. For scavengers in the FCT, the end game has simply come to their unwholesome activities because the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has proscribed illegal refuse collection from residential and other areas, limiting the group to only the approved dump sites in both the city and the Area Councils.

    Much as there have been mixed feelings over this recent development, it is pertinent to point out that scavenging the world over has grown past going from house to house to scatter people’s bins. It is done only at dump sites and there is nothing wrong in the FCT deciding to also follow suit. Abuja residents are witnesses to how the activities of these scavengers are posing a threat and making life difficult for the residents. Under the guise of scavenging from refuse bins in neighbourhoods across the city, the Baban Bolas have been involved in many criminal activities from petty stealing to armed robbery, vandalism of public utilities and other forms of crime and criminality.

    Kudos must therefore be given to the FCTA for responding to the outcries of many FCT residents and imposing this ban because many valuables have been lost to scavengers in the territory, as well as vandalism of public utilities and robbery activities that carried their footprints.

    Those against this ban need to understand that government is not trying to stop the business of scavengers but merely moving to bring sanity and orderliness to the business. It is also to the benefit of the scavengers themselves because going to the approved dumpsites will save them time and reduce the laborious task of moving from place to place and sometimes getting knocked down by moving vehicles.

    Government needs to put policies in place to allay the fears expressed by this group about the ripple effect the decision will have on their members such as loss of jobs and shortage of supply of scrap metals to iron smelting companies both at home and abroad. Government should also endeavour to always carry them along in any new development as regards the practice of their trade.

     

    • Danladi Akilu,

    Durumi II, Gudu District, Abuja

  • FCT now Nigeria’s fourth most populous city

    Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Commissioner in the National Population Commission (NPC), Dr. Daniel Kwali, said yesterday that that nation’s capital is now the fourth most populous city in the country going by the NPC’s estimates.

    Kwali stated this when he paid an advocacy visit to FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello to drum up support for the  World Population Day scheduled for Wednesday.

    According to him, the FCT comes after Lagos, Kano and Ibadan. Of these three, FCT boasts the highest growth rate at 7.1 per cent, which indicates an imminent overtake of these cities in future.

    Kwali also said Nigeria’s population was estimated to hit 450 million by 2050, indicating that it would surpass the U.S., whose current population is estimated at 326 million.

    He noted that this would mean squeezing 450 million people in a space that is approximately twice the landmass area of California, only one of the 50 states of America.

    Kwali also called on Nigerians, especially  FCT residents, to take the issues of birth control and birth spacing seriously.

    He stated that getting correct population estimates of FCT has been fraught with problems because of its peculiar growth patterns.

    “This is as well as the huge dichotomy between the resident population and transient population – people who work in Abuja but leave the city every day for their places of abode,’’ he said.

    According to him, these people put pressure on FCT facilities, but often travel to their hometowns during census periods.

    FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, who was represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Christian Ohaa, re-echoed the dangers of population outstripping natural resources.

    According to him, the absence of reliable population estimate has denied FCT the necessary data to convince legislators for adequate budgetary provisions for the city.

    Bello stated that raising children without making plans for them easily exposes the children to crime and deviant behaviours.

    The minister called on NPC officials to take the message of responsible family sizes to the grassroots, especially through religious leaders.

    He said FCT, as an emerging city, was witnessing the type of population increase that was very unusual for cities of its kind.

    The minister called for concerted efforts to tackle the challenge in order to come to terms with the need for effective planning.

    He  pledged the cooperation of the FCT administration to NPC to enable it execute  its mandate in the city.

    “We would do everything within the ambits of the law to give the Commission all the necessary support it needs,” he added.

  • NYSC assures corps members of protection

    The National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ) has assured corps members serving in volatile states of adequate protection.

    Its Director-General, Suleiman Kazaure, gave the assurance at the opening ceremony of a training organised for NYSC’s Protocol Officers in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in Abuja, on Thursday.

    Kazaure, who was represented by Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Bose Okakwu, said the organisation has put in place security measures to ensure the safety of corps members in their primary place of assignments following increased killings in North Central and other parts of the country.

    He said: “You know NYSC is a human organisation. We feel whatever happens anywhere just the same way we did in the north east too. We are very responsible. We will work with the Act and ensure that the lives of our corps members are safe as well.

    Read Also: NYSC DG warns corps members against traveling, night parties

    “We do not withdraw corps members, you know that but we have plans which we cannot discuss in the open. Security plans are not discussed in the open.

    The DG said the training was organised to improve the productivity and performance of its protocol officers.

    “We therefore expect that at the end of the training we will have better protocol officers,” he said.

    The Director, Special Duties, Hilary Nasamu, said there was need for protocol officers of the organisation to improve their performance in line with “emerging trends.”

    “I am confident that participants will take advantage of this opportunity for personal and professional development by paying adequate attention to presentations as well as making valuable contributions,” he said.

  • Labourer docked for stealing seven bags of cement

    A Kuje Upper Area Court in the FCT on Thursday sentenced a labourer, Sani Katanga, to three months imprisonment for stealing seven bags of cement, valued at N17, 500.

    The Judge, Malam Abdullahi Abdulkareem, sentenced Katanga, 28, with no option of fine after he pleaded guilty to the two-count charge.

    The convict, residing at Paseli Area of Kuje, was earlier brought to court on a two-count charge of criminal trespass and theft.

    The Prosecutor, Mrs Doris Okoroba, told the court that the convict stole the bags of cement from a block industry on June 18.

    Read Also: Pastor jailed 10 years for stealing

    Okoroba said that one Simon Jacob, owner of a block industry reported the crime at the Kuje Police Station.

    According to her, the convict entered the complainant’s block industry at Gudaba area of Kuje and stole seven bags of cement.

    The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code.

     

  • Hajj: FCT begins visa processing

    The Director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Malam Muhammad Bashir, yesterday said the board had commenced processing of visa for those who completed payment of their 2018 Hajj fare.

    Bashir made this known at a briefing on preparations for the Hajj operation at the board’s head office in Abuja.

    He explained that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had allocated 2,115 slots to the board and it had so far sold over 50 per cent of the slots to intending pilgrims.

    He said the board had collected more than 80 per cent passports of those who paid deposits for their fares to ensure timely preparation.

    The director, therefore, advised those who had not balance their fares to do so before May 31, to enable the board to meet the deadline for registration set by NAHCON.

    Bashir said the 2018 Hajj fare for FCT intending pilgrims was N1,492,867.15, with flat Basic Travel Allowance of 800 U.S. dollars.

    According to him, there is a reduction of N45,351.47, compare to what was paid last year.

    He attributed the reduction to concerted efforts by NAHCON to lessen the hardship of Hajj fare due to introduction of various policies by the Saudi Authority.

    He assured that all intending pilgrims who paid in excess would get their refund as soon as the board finished compilation of names and banks details.

    The director said the board had already secured comfortable accommodation for intending pilgrims in Makkah and had concluded arrangements with service providers (feeding) in Saudi Arabia.

     

     

  • FCT: Stemming tide of vandalism

    Sir: Vandalism, pillage and sometimes, plain sabotage of public assets and critical infrastructure, after insurgency and corruption, are the next major issues that pose serious threats to the well-being of Nigerians in general and the FCT in particular. Not only do they constitute a debilitating blight on our national wealth, they are a major setback to national development efforts. FCT residents can tell you this because we feel the sharp edge of this national trauma.

    No sooner had the current FCT Administration headed by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello commenced the completion of ongoing major critical infrastructure projects than it was confronted with the activities of fifth-columnists in the forms of bandits and hoodlums bent on sabotaging the huge investments that the administration was making.

    FCT residents also woke up each day to witness incidents of pillage of major components of public infrastructure such as railway lines and cables, bridge railings manhole covers and communication cables to mention but a few. These vandals dig deep into the ground to unearth armoured cables and sometimes bore holes into water pipelines to irrigate their farms.

    Much as the FCT Administration plodded on and never leaned on these acts of sabotage as an excuse to abdicate its responsibility , there is however the understanding that money that could have been spent on expanding the infrastructure networks and providing new utilities were being sunk into replacing vandalized, damaged and stolen assets or components. Today, the completion of some major arterial roads and bridges, replacement of streetlights and public utilities have imbued fresh air into the city and are bringing about dramatic improvements in the economic and cultural lives of residents. But it could have been a lot better if the administration didn’t have to confront some of these needless setbacks.

    It isn’t all doom and gloom, however, as there are indications that vandals are really having a rollercoaster ride in the FCT, going by some of the commendable measures that have been introduced by the FCTA to preserve and protect critical public infrastructure. Some of these measures include the beefing up of security and surveillance around public infrastructure as well as the vibrant FCT call centre operation which has dedicated lines to special surveillance squads around these facilities. Mention must also be made of the jingles on radio and television stations alerting members of the public to the existence of this group of people and appealing to them to report all suspicious movements around public assets and utilities to the security agencies.

    The FCT Administration also appears to be changing its approach in the installations of public facilities with models that would delay quick theft because the psychology of every thief is to strike quick and escape. So, delaying their capacity to hit and run increases the possibility of their arrests. Of course these measures are beginning to yield fruits as many of the criminals have been arrested through cooperation of vigilant members of the public.

    It is however incumbent on other members of the public to be vigilant because some of these acts of vandalism couldn’t have gone on, sometimes, in broad daylights, if members of the public hadn’t shown such collective unconcern towards public assets and critical infrastructure. We cannot afford to fold our arms and watch these hoodlums continue to reset the clock of our development backward, stall our economic growth and diminish our living standards.

     

    • Danladi Akilu,

    Gudu District, Abuja

  • NJC names Anabor, Saddeeq CCT member, President, FCT Customary Court of Appeal

    The National Judicial Council (NJC) yesterday made public names of 21 individuals it nominated for appointment as Chief Judges, Judges, Grand Kadis and a member of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    Mrs. Julie Abieyuwa Anabor is named as the new member of the CCT. If the President accepts her nomination, she will become the third member of the CCT panel, currently made up of two people, with Danladi Umar (as Chairman).

    NJC’s Director, Information, Soji Oye, in a statement yesterday, said the council, at its 86th meeting held between May 8 and 9 this year, also approved the appointment of Justice Abbazih Musa Abubakar Saddeeq (as President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Oye gave names of other appointees as: Justice Elizabeth A. Karatu (Chief Judge, Kebbi State); Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar (Chief Judge, Katsina State); Alhafiz Mikail Abubakar (Grand Kadi, Katsina State); Bilikisu Gambo Yusuf and Ishaku Usman (as judges, High Court, Kaduna State).

    Also appointed are: Musa Mustapha, Baba Gani Karumi and Waziri Alhaji Abubakar (as judges, High Court, Borno State); Husaini Alhasan Saidu, Zubayr Saliu and Ruth Alolo Alfa (as judges, High Court, Kogi State); Muhammad Haruna and Fatima Musa (as judges, High Court, Gombe State) and Muhammad Inuwa Gombe and Hadi Aminu (Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Gombe).

    Also appointed are: Ahmad Muhammad Gidado,        Mustapha Lalloki, Dalha Bashir Ahmad And Atiku Muhammad Bello (as Kadis, Sharia Court of Appeal, Gombe State).