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Tag: FCT

  • FG to supply quality seeds to farmers – Ogbeh

    FG to supply quality seeds to farmers – Ogbeh

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu. Ogbeh, says the ministry  is working with the Nigeria Security and Defense Corps ( NSCDC ) to ensure that quality seeds are supply to farmers by authorised seed dealers.

    Ogbeh made this known on Tuesday in Gwagwalada, FCT, at the Seed Fair and Farmers’ Field Day, organised by the National Agricultural Seed council ( NASC ).

    According to him, quality seed is paramount to enhancing agricultural productivity as it contributes more than 50 per cent of increased crop productivity in the country.

    He said seed was very important to the sub-sector, and that any group or individuals engaged in selling adulterated seeds to farmers must face the fuĺ wrath of the law.

    “I am a victim of fake seeds. I am a farmer you all know. I sent my manager to a shop to buy seeds. He got a very nice packaged envelops and when we opened them, they were broken seeds from the market.

    “Over 70 per cent of people who have no business with seeds jump into the business and selling junk to farmers without getting certified by the seed council.”

    “We are going to open extension offices in every local government to monitor the quality of seeds being supplied to farmers.

    “We will compel agro companies to sell their seeds to authorised dealers. Farmers will be told if you buy seed from anybody else aside the authorised dealers, don’t blame us if you buy fake seeds from them.

    “And if they buy from authorized dealers and it turns out to be fake, report them to us. We will get police to arrest them, ” he said.

    According to him, the Federal Government ( FG ) through NASC has over the year engaged in regulating the activities of seed producing entities.

    He added that this was aimed at ensuring that enough quantities of improved quality seeds are available for farmers use across the country in any given time.

    He expressed regret for still owing seed companies that participated ai the 2014/2015 Growth Enhancement Support, GES, assuring part payment of the debts owed soon.

    “We will try our best to pay seed companies we are owing. Without good seed, agriculture is impossible. So we want them to keep supplying that is why we will try and pay the debts.”

    Dr Olusegun Ojo, the Director General, NASC, said that council has carried out sensitisation and campaign to educate the public in order to rid the market of fake and adulterated seeds.

    He added that through the enforcement and surveillance activities, some fake and adulterated seeds were confiscated at various markets across the country.

    “We organised a stakeholders workshop to develop a roadmap for efficient coordination of importation and marketing of vegetable seeds in the country.

    “Let me reiterate to member of the public that seed business is highly regulated and there are procedures and guidelines for engaging in seed production and marketing.

    “All intending groups and organisations going into seed business are hereby reminded that they must be duly accredited and licensed by the council.

    “The council is prepared to clamp down on any unauthorised groups or individuals engaging in illegal seed business by selling fake seeds to innocent farmers,” he said.

    Mr Richard Olafare, the President, Seed Entrepreneur Association of Nigeria ( SEEDAN ) urged the Federal government ( FG ) to fasten in the payment for seeds supplied under the GES scheme.

    He explained that recent efforts by the association to initiate the settlement of the outstanding debts should be accelerated to conclusion in order to avert the damage cause to the seed sector.

    “Members of SEEDAN are worried about the delay in the payment for the seeds supplied under the GES, exposing several seed companies to threats And embarrassment from various banks.

    “Some banks went as far as publishing list of so called defaulters seed companies in national newspapers. Some of our members are death with high blood pressure,” he said.

  • Court adjourns Dariye ’s alleged N1.162bn fraud trial

    Court adjourns Dariye ’s alleged N1.162bn fraud trial

    An FCT High Court in Gudu, on Monday adjourned the trial of former Gov. Joshua Dariye of Plateau until Oct.10 at the instance of the defence.

    Dariye is facing a 21-count charge bordering on money laundering and diversion of ecological fund to the tune of N1.162 billion.

    Dariye’s new counsel, former Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Kanu Agabi (SAN), asked for the adjournment to enable him get acquainted with the case.

    “I am appealing for the very last time and beg you on my knees. I have also pleaded with Rotimi Jacobs, grant us one more adjournment to get acquainted with the case,’’ Agabi said.

    In his response, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) prosecuting counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), told the court that the case had lingered for so long.

    Jacobs noted that the judge had advised the defendant to bring a counsel who will continue with the case when his former counsel withdrew from the matter.

    He said the defendant had called 16 witnesses, but yet to close his case.

    He reminded the court that it was while Agabi was the Attorney General of the Federation that Dariye was arrested and investigated.

    According to him, the UK has even refunded some of the stolen funds recovered from Dariye to the Federal Government.

    “How can he then come and appear as defence counsel,’’ Jacobs queried.

    Justice Adebukola Banjoko, in granting the adjournment, said that she did that in the interest of justice.

    Banjoko also said that she expected the defence counsel to honour his word and study the case.

    “Now that you are here, I know you will live up to expectation,’’ she said.

    The judge also ordered that the new counsel be furnished with the records of proceedings to enable him get acquainted with the case.

  • FCT residents react to the rise in cross-dressing among men in Nigeria

    FCT residents react to the rise in cross-dressing among men in Nigeria

    Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday expressed surprise by the rise in the number and societal acceptance of cross-dressed men across the country.

    Cross-dressers are people who wear clothing typical of the opposite sex; in this case however, popular among men who dress as women.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that police officials made various arrests of young men who have allegedly defrauded wealthy men in Lagos, Zamfara, Rivers and Abuja by presenting themselves as women.

    Some of the residents who spoke to NAN said that it was astonishing how young Nigerians seem to be accepting the idea of cross-dressing.

    Joy Nduka, a makeup artist, said that she was surprised by the fact that more Nigerians were aaccepting the idea of cross-dressing.

    “I first heard of this concept in Nigeria last year when it was in the news that some men dressed like women to dupe rich men they met at bars and hotels.

    “I found it a bit funny at first that some men could be easily deceived in that manner by their fellow men.

    “However, I later realised that we all focused on the men who were robbed and not on the men who were comfortable dressing like women to commit the crimes.

    “It shows the trend is gradually being accepted among Nigerians,’’ she said.

    Victor Itamunoala, a marketer, said “We have always had popular TV personality, Denrele Edun, who remain a controversial figure because of his cross-dressing fashion.

    “His fashion concept has always had a hint of feminism in it be it with makeup, hairstyles, high shoes and more.

    “Nigerians were against his fashion but these days, many people seem to support him and he has inspired more men to dress that way.

    “We have gradually seen a number of Nigerian social media personalities become popular for being cross-dressers and the most popular one today is the man that calls himself the `Snapchat queen’, Bobrisky.

    “Bobrisky, originally known as Okuneye Idris, has gradually become a celebrity by acting and dressing as a woman.

    “We all watched him transform from a dark skinned man to a light skinned woman who now travels the world and gets paid in pounds and dollars by Nigerian fans who take pictures with him.

    “This is insane and appalling, especially as all these famous cross-dressers claim to have connections among politicians.

    “The next thing we will see is same sex marriage being legalised in Nigeria, this is how such things start’’ he said.

    Another resident, Ndidi John said that the trend was catching on among youths because of the influence of foreign movies.

    “You cannot eliminate the role of social media, foreign films and now Nigerian celebrities that engaged in cross dressing on the youths.

    “But I personally believe that most of them will grow out of it as the advance in age and become less rebellious,” she said.

  • Deziani: Oduah advises FG to follow due process

    Deziani: Oduah advises FG to follow due process

    A member of the National Assembly, Sen. Stella Oduah, has urged the Federal Government to follow due process in investigating and prosecuting corruption allegations against former Petroleum Minister, Deziani Alison-Madueke.

    She made the call when she featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.

    Oduah, a former Minister of Aviation, said that Alison-Madueke should be tried in the court and be convicted before the seizure of her property.

    “We have laws in this country. We have processes and policies on how things ought to be done. If we are law-abiding, then we must do things according to the law.

    “Anything outside that is going to be illegal, in my own view.’’

    A Federal High Court in Lagos had on Aug. 28 ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion being alleged loot recovered from Alison-Madueke.

    The court fixed Sept. 22 to hear the application for the final forfeiture of four properties valued at N2.6 billion, linked to Allison-Madueke and her associates.

    The properties are located in Lagos and Rivers as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed the application seeking to have the former minister’s properties finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

    Oduah, who is the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, also said that alleged corruption against the Nigerian Police would be visited by the National Assembly after its recess. (NAN)

  • NCC, FCT partner on telecoms infrastructure

    The Executive Vice Chairman (EVC), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta has met with the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammed Musa Bello to discuss how best to ensure the deployment of telecoms infrastructure to the city that houses the three arms of government.

    Danbatta identified a number of challenges that have denied the FCT the best telecoms services, especially with quality of service (QoS).

    “We have come because, we believe that with the progressive style of your administration, these challenges will be resolved for the benefit of the government, the residents and national telecommunications development,” Danbatta explained.

    According to a statement endorsed by Director, Public Affairs at NCC, Tony Ojobo, these challenges include inability of operators to co-locate because the sites offered for co-location are inadequate and do not suit the technical specifications of carrers.

    He advised carriers be involved in determining allocation sites to ensure that the identified sites meet network and radio frequency standards of all stakeholders.

    Danbatta also listed the 2006 fee regime of the FCTA which still exists and the astronomical rise in fees for building permits imposed on operators by the FCTA.

    The others include retrospective FCTA laws that affect telecom facilities and activities of road construction companies in the city.

    He also listed delayed approval for installation of base stations/fibre deployments, implementation of National Economic Council (NEC) resolution on multiple taxation, levies and charges on ICT infrastructure as part of the challenges faced by operators in the city.

    On the 2006 fee regime of FCTA, he said it was agreed in a meeting between operators, FCTA and NCC that year that the Federal Capital Administration would meet and harmonise positions on the astronomical increase in fees for building permits imposed by FCTA.

    “This has not been done and operators have continued to receive bills from the Administration based on the 2006 rates.  Therefore, we request your approval to establish a committee made up of officers of the FCT and the NCC to resolve issues relating to charges to ensure rates agreed are cost based and comparable to what FCTA charges are, for other users of properties” Prof. Danbatta appealed to the Minister.

    On the retrospective FCT laws that affected telecom facilities, the NCC boss said any law or policy by the FCTA that affect telecom facilities should not be made retroactive.

    “We have observed that the fact that telecom services in the FCT were not envisaged during its initial planning has resulted in administrators approaching telecom facilities as a normal property and visiting them with regulations that should not be applicable. We therefore request that approval be given to all existing BTS in the FCTA except those that clearly pose a danger to its surrounding”. he said.

    He also told the minister that the operators had complained to FCDA engineering department about frequent cuts of their fibre lines by road construction companies in the FCT. “These frequent cuts of fibres have resulted in total loss of services by subscribers and have added to the problem of poor quality of service in the FCT. Despite the efforts put in by the engineering department of the FCDA to address the complaints, the cuts have continued unabated, road construction companies should be enjoined to exercise extreme caution to ensure reduction or total elimination of fibre cuts,” he advised.

    On delayed approval for installation of base stations, he said there were causes of applications for installations of base stations in Abuja that have been pending since 2014 and beyond.

    The NCC chief said the quarterly contribution of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has increased to N1.6trillion from N1.4 trillion.

    He added that the ICT sector was now contributing close to 10 per cent to the GDP yearly.

    The country, he added recorded an increase in internet users hitting 92 million as at June.

    He said that broadband penetration was expected to hit 30 per cent next year, and that would further increase the number of internet users in the country.

    “Telecommunications has attracted more than $68billion in private sector investment since 2001” he said.

    The FCT Minister, Mallam Musa Bello, however promised that the capital city’s administration would collaborate with the NCC to overcome those challenges.

    “Part of our job is to ease businesses and increase investment in the city and the country at large.  We would support you in ensuring there is always increase in broadband penetration across the country,” Mallam Bello said.

    He promised to set up committee to look into all complaints raised by the NCC.

  • FCT guarantees more education for IDPs

    The FCT administration has said it will continue to provide access to basic education to the children and other vulnerable persons at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the FCT, pending when their return to their original communities.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello disclosed this in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI).

    Bello disclosed that the FCT Administration has made available its vocation and rehabilitation centres for use by NGOs and other relevant government agencies in the FCT for the training of internally displaced persons to at least equip them with the basic economic skills while they are still housed at the IDP camps.

    According to the minister, “We have tried using our relationship with a number of NGOs to make sure that we concentrate on giving the young boys and girls basic education that they require so that by the time they move back to their communities, at least they would not have missed out too much.”

    “Within the FCT, we have a number of vocational institutions that we usually make the facilities available to the agencies of government that may want to use them to provide some form of intervention or some kind of skill acquisition training. So, in order for every agency not to duplicate by establishing its own vocational centre, I will advise that your organisation leverage on what is already on ground because you are going to cater for people who are really not going to be permanent. All you need to do is to give them some semblance of stability before they move on,” he said.

    The minister in a statement issues by his  Special Assistant (Media) to FCT Minister, Abubakar Sani charged the NCRMI and similar agencies, including those in the FCT to really assist these people, especially the young ones, noting that most of them have missed out of school for four to five sessions.

    “That impact will not be seen in our communities and their communities until many years down the road. Then you will realise that a certain age group missed out, either in terms of employment or in terms of getting into tertiary institutions.

    “With respect to your request for a transit camp for deportees, we would look into the master plan, and we believe there should be something that could accommodate this so that if for any reason deportees are brought to Abuja for instance, you can have a place where you can keep them, do some medical checks on them and then try to work out how to link them up with their final places of abode. That is something we can work on and we should be able to make land available to sort this out”.

    Earlier in her remarks, the Federal Commissioner for the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCRMI), Hajiya Sadiya Umar Faruk said the Commission has been receiving Nigerian nationals who have been returned from various parts of the world, stressing that their intervention for this group has been focused on return, readmission as well as integration to at least to ensure that the returnees are brought back in dignity and safety and are able to settle back into the society so as to contribute to the development of such communities.

    She said the Commission is currently engaged in providing economic and employment opportunities for the displaced persons living in camps “because we believe that poverty has contributed immensely to the internal displacements especially in the North East. We are committed to keying into the recovery plan envisioned by President Muhammadu Buhari to alleviate the sufferings of our persons of concern while protecting their dignity.

    “We realised that we cannot do it alone without reaching to those that are widely known for their empathy to the plight of the vulnerable persons, hence our coming to the FCT Administration to explore areas of collaboration in terms of providing skills for the IDPs and transit camps particularly for deportees.”

  • NULGE: 22 states, FCT owing council workers

    NULGE: 22 states, FCT owing council workers

    Debt computation 

    1. Bayelsa State (10 to 16 months)
    2. Kogi (seven to 15 months)
    3. Delta State (eight to 14 months)
    4. Kaduna (12 months)
    5. Oyo (three to 11 months)
    6. Edo (10 months)
    7. Abia (five to nine months)
    8. Kwara (two to nine months)
    9. Benue (nine months)
    10. Nasarawa (seven months)
    11. Ondo (six months)
    12. Ekiti (six months)
    13. Imo (six months)
    14. Zamfara (not implementing minimum wage)
    15. Adamawa (four months)
    16. Rivers (four months)
    17. Akwa Ibom (four months)
    18. Ebonyi (four months)
    19. Plateau (four months)
    20. (Taraba (three months)
    21. FCT (three months)
    22. Osun (paying half salaries for 24 months)
    23. Enugu (few workers owed few months).

    TWENTY-two states and the Federal Capital Territory have failed to pay local government workers’ salaries for between one and 16 months, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) said yesterday.

    The union said 14 states – Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Sokoto, Kebbi, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Cross River, Niger and Anambra – were up to date in payment.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, the union urged governors of the indebted states to offset the workers’ salaries and other allowances with the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund.

    It warned that failure to do so, its members would be forced to shut down the country’s local government councils.

    NULGE National President Ibrahim Khaleel cautioned governors against diverting the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund, but use it to pay the workers’ entitlements.

    The union vowed to mobilise its members to shut down local governments.

    A computation by the union revealed that Bayelsa State was leading in indebtedness to local council workers with between 10 to 16 months, followed by Kogi (between seven to 15 months); Delta State (eight to 14 months); Kaduna, 12 months; Oyo, three to 11 months; Edo, 10 months; Abia, five to nine months; Kwara, two to nine months; Benue, nine months and Nasarawa (seven months).

    Others are: Ondo, Ekiti, Imo with six months; Zamfara (not implementing minimum wage), Adamawa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi, Plateau – owing four months; Taraba and FCT (three months).

    Osun State has been paying half salaries for 24 months and few workers were owed few months in Enugu.

    The union added that Ekiti State has refused to remit union dues for the past nine months. Ogun State, it added, has not remitted its deduction for seven months.

    It said 700 workers were owed for between one to three months in Cross River State.

    Khaleel, however, said the union was aware that some governors were already claiming that the amounts released were not in conformity with the published figures.

    He said: “We want to state in strong term that no governor should either divert or tamper with the fund. This should be an avenue where the backlog of arrears of salaries owed the local government workers and some other welfare packages such as leave bonus, arrears of promotion benefit, arrears of annual increment and non-implementation of minimum wage, most especially in Zamfara State; are resolved and paid.

    “We, therefore, use this medium to appeal passionately to the state governors to use this second tranche of Paris Club loan refund to clear the backlog arrears of outstanding salaries owed local government workers across the country to ameliorate the untold hardship they are passing through.

    “We want to make it categorically clear that our union will not tolerate a situation where any state governor will hide under any guise to deny local government workers their legitimate salaries and allowances.

    “In view of the above, NULGE will not hesitate to mobilise our teeming members and shut down all the local governments across the country, if the governors attempt to divert the fund meant for the payment of arrears of salaries and other entitlements. A word is enough for the wise.”

  • IGP seeks support for passage of Police Trust Fund Bill

    IGP seeks support for passage of Police Trust Fund Bill

     

    …To promote 30 policemen in FCT to next rank

     

     

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris has called for support from stakeholders and members of the public in the passage of the Police Trust Fund bill.

    There would be a public hearing of the bill on the 11th of July for the bill that is before the National Assembly.

    The IGP also announced his intention to promote 30 police personnel within the FCT for their outstanding performance and dedication.

    Idris also explained that the promotion is a show of appreciation for their dedication since he assumed office in the last one year as the 19th indigenous IGP.

    He disclosed this Friday when he visited the Divisional Police Headquarters in Abuja.

    According to him: “Police Trust Fund bill is before the National Assembly and there would be a public hearing by 11th July. The truth is, police needs funding to buy vehicles, fuel, equipment and to give allowances to our men and I think everybody needs to support the police so that the bill can be passed on time.

    “If the bill is passed, police officers across the federation would be more effective in the discharge of their duties”, he said.

    On the promotion, the Police Chief said: “I want to appreciate our men in the FCT because they have shown rare dedication in the last one year that I have been in office.

    “I want to request that the CP makes some recommendations so that they can be promoted to the next rank. They have made Abuja safe for all of us and we can only show little appreciation for that feat.

    “For doing a good job of providing security for FCT residents, 10 Inspectors would be promoted to their next rank and 20 other Rank and File would also be promoted to the rank.”

    The IGP while charging other officers and men to be professional and disciplined in the discharge of their duties added that they should shun intimidation and harassment of innocent Nigerians.

    He said: “We are meant to protect and serve; we are to protect and serve them and not intimidate them. This is the seat of government, we have major democratic structures here; the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Supreme Court and other very sensitive national organs. So please take your job seriously and be very professional”.

     

  • Things FCT needs, by Reps

    The House of Representatives has bemoaned the fact that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) does not have any tertiary institution of its own.

    The House also condemned the slow pace of development in the suburbs of the FCT compared to Abuja city.

    Speaking at the ongoing public hearing on bills on the FCT, Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Herman Hembe assured that the House would work assiduously with the Senate to ensure that work on the bill establishing Abuja University of Technology and Abuja College of Agriculture is concluded and sent to the President for assent before the commencement of next academic session.

    According to the Committee, commencement of academic activities on September this year remains sacrosanct.

    “One of the problems that contributed to this long delay is probably that one of the Chambers completed work on the bill and the other could not…This time, the House is going to ensure that the Senate expedites action on it and send it to the President for assent. The school is ready, the infrastructures are in place and ready to take in 200 students.

    “So, we are mindful of the benefits this would impact on our education system and FCT in particular and that is why we are determined this time to make this a reality because it is unthinkable that the FCT does not have its own tertiary institution,” Hembe said.

    While describing  the slow pace of development at the suburbs of the Federal Capital Territory  (FCT) compared to the Abuja city as unacceptable, the Committee regretted  that the four states of Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger and Kaduna bordering the FCT have not benefitted from development emanating from the Federal Capital.

    Hembe said part of the reasons behind the commencement of the process of the establishing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wider Areas Planning and Development Commission and FCT Security Trust Fund was to implement measures inclined to develop the four states that border the FCT.

    Sponsor of the Wider Areas bill, Jonathan Gbefwi (PDP, Nasarawa) said, “Over the years, these suburbs as they are classified, have recorded high population densities in terms of accommodating majority of people working in the FCT but cannot afford to live there.

    “The bill is therefore aimed at establishing a commission that will be saddled with the responsibility of bringing development to the wider areas through the provision of basic infrastructure and social amenities that will bring about a certain level of urbanisation.

    “Also, in a bid to address prevailing problems caused by congestion in many of these suburbs, a master plan just like that of the FCT would be implemented in the Wider Areas where strategies would be developed towards a more rational utilisation of land and other natural resources as well as the better arrangement of residential, commercial, industrial, recreational and other needed activity centres within these communities,” he said.

    The high point of the hearing however was the failure of the  Ministry of FCT to contribute to the discourse as the Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaye, said the position of his Ministry on the two Bills  would be communicated to the Committee after due and wider consultations.

    He disclosed that a panel to look at the Security Fund bill  has been set up and given a week to conclude its assignment.

  • FG alerts on birdflu outbreak of in 7 states, FCT

    FG alerts on birdflu outbreak of in 7 states, FCT

    The Federal Government on Friday alerted the public to the outbreak of Avian Influenza or Bird Flu in the FCT and seven states of the country.

    raised the alert at a meeting with state Commissioners of Agriculture in Abuja on Friday.

    Mshelbwala listed the states affected by the outbreak to include Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, FCT and lastly, which reported a case on May 30.

    He said that the disease had spread across 26 states of the federation and the FCT since it started in 2008 affecting 800 farms in no fewer than 123 local government areas.

    Mshelbwala, who said that there were no scientifically proven vaccines for bird flu, noted that the Federal Government was adopting quarantine, movement control, stamping out, decontamination and bio-security measures to curb the spread.

    The director expressed regret over the poor bio-security practices by some poultry farmers, adding that it was the major reason for the continuous spread of the disease.

    According to him, the Federal Government has paid over N674 million in compensations to 269 farmers across the affected states.

    “Our national action plan encourages proper regulation of the poultry industry and enforcement of annual registration of all actors along the poultry value chain including farmers, traders, egg merchants and feed millers.

    “It also encourages the creation of veterinary extension services to facilitate the control and proper inspection of poultry and poultry products,’’ he said.

    Mshelbwala said that the way forward to the containment of the disease was to ban importation of poultry and products, quarantine and bio-security measures, among others.

    He, however, warned poultry farmers against illegal vaccination of birds, saying that it was a deadly alternative to the control of the disease.