The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FCT

  • Media urged to promote Nigeria’s unity

    Nigerian media has been called upon to promote peaceful co-existence and unity of the country.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said this at the Eighth Annual Ramadan Public Lecture entitled “Islam in a Multi-Religious Society” organised by the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN) at the National Mosque, Abuja.

    The Minister who was represented at the occasion by Muhammad Hazat Sule, Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, insisted that without peace no nation can achieve much in terms of development or even in the practice of religious beliefs as enshrined in the holy books.

    Mohammed reiterated that only through peace and stability would the entire country achieve sustainable development in all spheres.

    The Minister emphasised that all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory and indeed every Nigerian have a stake in the Abuja project.

    As the Minister congratulated the Muslim faithful, particularly those resident in the FCT on the commencement of the Ramadan fast, he admonished them to use this holy month for spiritual re-dedication and spread the message of love, selflessness, sacrifice, patience and modesty.

    While noting that Ramadan is a period of spiritual rejuvenation, he enjoined Muslims to use the period to continue to pray for the country and its leadership.

    Mohammed also urged Muslims to follow the injunctions of Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad during and after Ramadan, which he stressed, is an inspiration to Muslims to show compassion, mercy and kindness to their fellow brothers irrespective of religion.

    He thanked the organisers of the public lecture and for inviting him to be the chief host of the occasion, as the association seems to have taken a bold step in fostering peace and unity of the country.

    The Minister also commended the organisers and saluted their courage for bringing to the front burner the issue of peace and unity at this auspicious period in Nigerian history.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Mother of Day and Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the members of the fourth estate of the realm for taking a lead to promote unity of our dear country.

    She also commended Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik for doing justice to the topic of the lecture but enjoined members to do more in publicising the activities of the association.

    The lecture was delivered by Uztaz Nurudeen Abdulmalik and chaired by Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

    Some of the media icons who also attended the lecture included the Directors-General of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) and Voice of Nigeria (VON).

     

  • Power failure: Inverter to the rescue

    It has not really been a good time for residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) especially those who live in the suburbs. They grapple with power failure. Some of the areas affected include Lugbe, Jabi, Kubwa, to mention but a few.

    Tired of complaints to appropriate authorities, some the affected communities have taken to the popular radio station, known as “Wazobia” to air their grievances.

    It could be worrisome when some lament living without power for almost two years and had to resort to power generating sets as well as inverters.

    Generating sets have their shortcomings such as environmental pollution, noise and the need for gasoline, a fact which has made the inverter the better option.

    Inverter adoption has been on the increase in the country especially the capital territory, as users look to improve the quality of their lives. The solution allows users to store energy when it is available and deploy it whenever it is needed, without needing to switch on their generators.

    The solution is automatic, and assures users’ experience ‘Always on Power’. The resultant savings from not having to spend money on diesel are enough to justify the purchase of inverters. The fact that they produces no noise and no pollution, just adds to their value proposition.

    Speaking to Abuja Review, Head of Simba Service, subsidiary of Simba Group which distributes the product in the country, Mr. Kj Anil said customer satisfaction has earned the firm much credibility.

    “At Simba, we believe that total customer satisfaction is only achieved, when a good quality is supported by attentive and responsive customer care and after sales service,” he added.

    The power backup solutions are manufactured by Luminous Power Technologies, an Indian power and storage firm. The company, according to Anil, produces high quality inverters, batteries and renewable energy products.

    Anil further advised the concerned territories to strengthen its drive for alternative power source as well as renewable energy.

    This among other internationally acclaimed methods can enable the administration as we ll as the country to achieve its goal on nationwide power transformation.

     

  • Federal Executive Council Meeting

    Federal Executive Council Meeting

  • Day of demands for Abuja indigenous people

    Day of demands for Abuja indigenous people

    The indigenous people of the Federal Capital Territory have marked their day. But even as they did so, they made it abundantly clear that mere feasting was not top on the agenda.

    The people who marked the day in Gwagwalada on the platform of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), saw it as an opprotunity to unburden their minds and let the authorities know what they really want.

    One of their requests was for the Federal Government to democratise governance in the Territory. They asked that the President of the Federation relinquish his powers as Governor of the FCT and the National Assembly also give up the role of the legislature of the Territory.

    The people requested that those powers be given to the original inhabitants and residents of the Territory so that they can freely and directly elect those to govern them.

    OIDA expressed support for the National Assembly’s proposal for election of a mayor of FCT with executive powers.

    The proposal is part of the recommendations by the National Assembly in the ongoing constitution amendment.

    OIDA President, Danladi Jeji  also expressed their support for the Mayoral status of the city.

    Jeji said: “The Senate proposal for an elective mayor, with governorship power, as contained in the constitution review is hereby accepted by OIDA.“

    “But we plead that for the FCT, the democratic institutions of a second tier administration (the state) should be unambiguously entrenched in the constitution when finally amended, “ he said.

    The FCT indigenes had proposed the removal of “an unconstitutional democratic deficit” imposed by the military regimes in their memoranda to the constitution review.

    Jeji commended NASS for respecting the democratic tenets of the rule of law and constitutionality by satisfying the yearnings and aspiration of indigenous people of the FCT.

    He said there was a need for the creation of two additional senatorial districts and four federal constituencies in the FCT in line with what obtains in other states of the federation.

    “Perusing the activities of government vis-a-vis progressive practice globally, it has become abundantly clear that the indigenous communities of FCT have been seriously short-changed.

    “Government has responded to the demands of the Niger Delta for revenue allocation based on the principles of derivation.

    “It established a Niger Delta Ministry and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the FCT indigenes have not been so treated, “ he said.

    He appealed that 20 per cent of all sales accruing from land proceeds within the FCT and 40 per cent of all land allocation to individuals should be given to indigenes.

    “Major streets in the FCT should also as matter of policy be named after indigenous heroes and traditional leaders.“

    Earlier, the General Secretary of ACE, Mr Emma Ezeazu, called on the Federal Government to rectify the development challenges facing the FCT original inhabitants.

    “We are also asking for the establishment of an FCT Original Inhabitants Development Commission.”

    He said the FCT Indigene day is a day to showcase the rich cultural heritage of the nine indigenous tribes of the Federal Capital Territory namely: Amwamwa, Bassa, Egbura, Gade, Ganagana, Gbagyi, Gbari, Gwandara and Koro.

    It is organised to show how peaceful and accommodating we have been to all Nigerians in the centre of unity.”

    “We also want two additional Senatorial districts to be created for the FCT to make it three like other states in Nigeria”

    “That not less than four additional federal constituencies should be created for the FCT to make it six like other states”

    “That eleven additional Area Councils should be created in the FCT”he said

  • FCT FA boss says Obuh’s decision to quit in order

    FCT FA boss says Obuh’s decision to quit in order

    Alhaji Musa Talle, Chairman, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Association (FA), on Tuesday said Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh, made the right decision by resigning after the U-20 World Cup.

    Talle told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the coach had an agreement with the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) to take the team to at least the semi-final of the competition, which was not met.

    It would be recalled that Nigerian Under-20 team were ousted from the World Cup in Turkey after they lost 2-1 to Uruguay in the quarter-finals.

    He called on other coaches to emulate what Obuh did, adding that: `if you did not meet up with the terms and conditions given, it is better to resign honourably than being sacked”.

    According to him, even though the coach does not want to resign, the NFA will definitely remove him, so it is better he resigned honourably than being embarrassed.

    “What he did was right; I feel that was the best decision because he did not fulfil his part of the agreement. I call on other coaches to do the same, once an agreement is breached and the condition for taking the job not met, it is better to resign honourably than being removed,’’ he said.

    Talle said that lack of good performance by the players was the coach’s failure, as he had the duty of adopting better ways of improving the team’s performance.

    “You are the one to select the players and if you do not select the players that will perform, it is your fault. For the fact that you have accepted the terms and conditions given to you, the success and failure goes to you. Whatever effort the NFA puts in during and after the competition is not recognised. The credit is always given to the coach,” he added.

    Talle urged the NFA to employ a new coach to continue from where Obuh stopped, adding that the association should not wait till when there were competitions.

  • Agency takes measures against flooding

    As part of effort to prevent flooding, the Department of Urban Affairs of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council said structures at flood- prone areas and under high tension wire will soon be demolished.

    The FCTA said many of the buildings close to the flood plains have already been  marked for demolition and clearing of drains has begun to allow free flow of water

    The Acting Directorof the department, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim disclosed this in Abuja at the flag-off of FCT flood awareness campaign.

    The one -week sensitisation campaign that would be carried out in all the six area councils may not be unconnected with the recent predictions by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET).

    Ibrahim stated that the sensitisation campaign was a wake-up call by all stakeholders to prepare for flood and adopt measures aimed at preventing, averting and containing flooding incidents.

    According to him, “it is a wake-up call on our relevant stakeholders to take proactive measures towards preventing and tackling the incidence of flooding in the FCT, these measures include but not limited to clearance  of drains to allow for free flow of storm water, demolition of illegal structures built on flood as well as early warning system”.

    The sensitisation teams include officials from National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, and Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    Part of the flood- prone areas visited includes Dutse Alhaji, Dutse Magaranta, and Kubwa all in Buhari Area Council.

     

  • Honour for FCT Minister

    Honour for FCT Minister

    The FCT Administration has won for Nigeria a United Nations’ Public Service Delivery Excellence Award in a keenly contested competition that had 601 entries across the world.

    FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed received the prestigious award through the FCT Millennium Development Goals (MDG) performance on its mobile Public Health Care programme (MAILAFIYA) at the ongoing 2013 United Nations Public Service Forum in Manama, the capital of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

    This is the first award won by Nigeria since the commencement of this global competition about 10 years ago, organised by the United Nations Organisation to encourage good governance and improve the standard of living of ordinary persons worldwide.

    The elated FCT Minister after receiving the award expressed gratitude to God who made the day possible, the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan for his unwavering support as well as the FCT MDG team for its uncommon innovation to put smile on the faces of ordinary people who hardly get access to quality health services.

    The minister expressed happiness for being able to use the FCT MDG programme (MAILAFIYA) to touch on the lives of ordinary residents of the Federal Capital Territory who in the past had suffered neglect.

    Senator Mohammed remarked that the award is a certification of excellence by the United Nations which is the highest award, giving confidence to the donors and development partners.

    According to him, “it is only a sick person that knows the value of healthcare delivery and FCT Administration would continue to improve on this achievement in consonance with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan”.

    He said further: “Our vision in creating the ‘Mailafiya programme’ is to establish a world class model of primary healthcare delivery through an integrated data managed mobile health strategy especially at the inaccessible areas in and around the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory”.

    The minister revealed that the programme has afforded the FCT Administration the desired opportunity to really reach out to the underserved like the rural poor; adding that Mailafiya is now an household name in 336 communities of the territory who have been enjoying this quality service.

    Senator Mohammed disclosed that over 85,000 patients have enjoyed the Malaifiya programme in about four years of its existence.

    He seized the opportunity to appreciate the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki Moon for the special interest he has in Primary Health Care delivery and recalled his last visit to Nigeria where he commissioned the Primary Healthcare Centre in Dutse-Alhaji, a suburb of Abuja.

    The Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria came second in the public service delivery category while South Africa came first.

    The Galaxy Backborn, Nigeria also came first in the fourth category, ‘Promoting whole-of-government approaches in the Information Age’.

    Meanwhile, delegates from FCT Administration namely the Directors of Establishment and Training and the Economic Planning, Research and Statistics/ Chairman Project Implementation Committee of FCT MDG respectively earlier attended pre-award seminar “Transformative e-Government & Innovation: creating better future for all” at the Bahrain International Circuit.

    It may be noted that in all the categories, there were only 43 winners with Africa accounting for only six comprising Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco and South Africa.

    The FCT Minister who was a guest of King Ahmed ibn Isa Khalifa, the King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, in company of some other governments’ delegations from other parts of the World were hosted to a private lunch at the King’s Palace.

    Senator Bala also participated in a Ministerial Roundtable prelude to the award proper, where experiences and expertise were shared amongst the comity of nations.

  • 22 concessionaires to begin waste collection

    inister of State for Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, has disclosed that 22 concessionaires have been certified to begin waste collection in area councils and satellite towns in the FCT.

    Akinjide, who made this known at a meeting with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress, FCT Council, said the administration has delineated the area councils and satellite towns into 22 lots for the purpose of daily waste collection from households in the six area councils.

    The move is aimed at ensuring a clean environment in these areas.

    The minister said: “The selection process for the licensees has been done in line with the National Procurement Act. The Administration has shortlisted 22 concessionaires and award letters have been issued for them to start as soon as possible.”

    She disclosed that the administration through the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) would acquire heavy equipment and trucks as part of measures to ensure effect waste management in the area councils and satellite towns.

    “The STDA is already providing infrastructure in the area councils and also supporting the councils in the area of capacity building in line with Mr. President’s Transformation Agenda,” she added.

    She assured residents of the territory that more high capacity buses would be provided by the FCT Administration to enhance the transportation system.

    “The FCT Administration carried along stakeholders in the transport sector in the implementation of the new transport policy. More high capacity buses are to be provided to support existing ones,” she explained.

    The FCTA had on June 3 commenced the new transport policy in the territory which restricted mini-buses to the area councils and satellite towns. There are over 300 high capacity buses and 160 Abuja taxis currently operating

    Earlier in his address, the Chairman of TUC FCT Council, Comrade Aliyu Musa, had expressed the labour union’s support for the new transport policy, saying that it was for the overall interest of residents and visitors to the federal capital city.

    Musa praised the FCT Administration for being proactive in the management of the transport system in the nation’s capital.

    “We, however, will advise that the administration should provide more high capacity buses as well as enforce the use of designated bus-stops by commuters.

    “Buses should no longer be allowed to stop at irregular places. The new transport policy is necessary for the security of the residents,” the TUC chairman stated.

     

  • FCT gets emergency agency

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has approved the immediate establishment of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

    The minister has also approved the appointment of Mr. Abbas Idris as the pioneer Director-General of the Agency.

    According to a statement issued by the Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the new agency is saddled with the responsibility of overseeing all emergency and response matters in and around the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory.

    It also has the mandate for swift and efficient management of all emergency challenges across the territory.

    The establishment of this new agency is guaranteed under the umbrella of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act 1999, which provides that all states of the federation and the FCT should establish similar agency.

  • Mother of abandoned baby seeks help

    Favour Abdulazeez, who claimed to be the mother of a baby girl that was abandoned at the backyard of an apartment in Kuje, Abuja, has solicited for financial assistance from the public to enable her claim and take care of the baby.

    Abdulazeez told journalists that she abandoned her baby because she was jobless, divorced and had no means of fostering the child.

    She said that when she kept the carton with the baby inside the bush, she did not go away but hid in the bush to know who would pick the baby.

    She stated that she did this to enable her know the person who would pick the baby girl to enable her to do a follow-up.

    “All along, I was monitoring the baby’s situation, I know those who picked the baby and took her to the police.

    “I was listening to their conversation from my hideout, I even followed them from a distance when they were taking my baby away,” she said.

    Abdulazeez, who turned up at the police outpost in Gwagwalada on Friday to claim ownership of the baby, added: “I told the police that I would take care of my baby if only the government would assist me with a job or a trade no matter how small,’’

    Inspector Yahaya Musa, the Police Area Command in Gwagwalada, FCT, had on Friday declined comments on the matter, saying that he was not authorised to speak to newsmen on the matter.

    Musa instead referred newsmen to the social welfare unit of the Gwagwalada Area Council for further enquiries.

    Mrs Hanatu Turu, Head of the Social Welfare Department of Gwagwalada Area Council, said that she was aware of the incident.

    She said police should be allowed to conclude their investigations.

    Abdulazeez was said to have been delivered of the baby girl on June 13 and secretly put her in a carton and took her to a nearby bush behind her house at night, where she abandoned the baby.

    A resident in the area, who pleaded anonymity, told journalists that Abdulazeez is her neighbour, adding that it was the cry of the baby that drew the attention of passers-by who later took the baby to the police outpost.