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Tag: FCTA

  • 21 heads of FCTA agencies, companies sacked

    21 heads of FCTA agencies, companies sacked

    Twenty-One heads of parastatals, agencies and government-owned companies of the FCT Administration (FCTA) have been sacked.

    Their disengagement got the nod of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, his Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, said in a statement yesterday.

    The statement ordered the affected appointees to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in their respective offices.

    The FCTA statement reads: “The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike CON, has relieved the heads of the following parastatals, agencies and government companies of the FCTA of their appointments with immediate effect.”

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    “They are: Group MD/CEO, Abuja investment Company Ltd; CEO/MD, Abuja Markets Management Ltd; MD/CEO, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company; CEO/MD, Abuja Property Development Company; CEO/MD, Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone Company; CEO/MD, Abuja Film Village International; CEO/MD, Powernoth AICL Equipment Leasing Company Ltd; MD, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation; MD, Abuja Enterprise Agency; GM, FCT Water Board; DG, FCT Emergency Management Agency and Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board.

    “Others are: “Director-General, Hospital Management Board; Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board; Director, FCT Scholarship Board;Director, FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board; Director, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board; Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center; Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme; Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department and Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council.

    “They are to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank. Appointments into the offices will be made in due course”.

  • FCTA, firm plan carnival to create jobs

    FCTA, firm plan carnival to create jobs

    The Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA), in partnership with Platinum X Art and Media Limited, is set to organise the Abuja I Believe Carnival 2023. 

    The carnival is targeted at empowering talented Nigerians in Abuja and other states.

    Convener of the Carnival and the Managing Director, Platinum X Art and Media, Omoefe Tawiyah said the carnival is not just about entertainment, it is about creating a lasting legacy that aims to promote peace, reduce crime, eliminate inequality.

    Tawiyah added that the carnival would also provide employment opportunities, increase skilled employees and improve social amenities.

    “In the midst of challenging times and hardship, it is crucial to prioritise mental health and strike a balance. There are great talents in Abuja, and I tell the musicians in Abuja that they will have a fair share of the benefits from the carnival.

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    “We are looking at drawing the attention of other people to come to FCT, it is an Abuja carnival, it is happening in the FCT, so those opportunities will be open if you are creative enough and talented enough,” he added.

    The Acting Director, Social Development Secretariat, Department of Arts and Culture, FCTA, Kayode Aiyegbusi, said: “All of us are expected to make something out of that carnival; residents of Area 10 can start planning to see how they will benefit from that carnival.’’

     if the carnival train is passing Wuse, the people in zone one should get together and think how they can get something out of it.

    “This carnival is going to be one of the items in the entertainment calendar of the FCT. In the next 10 years, with deliberate planning, Abuja, and Nigeria as a whole will make money from tourism.

    The Chairman, Advance Group Director, Ambassador Joseph Babatunde reiterated the need to develop the tourism sector in order to create business opportunities in the country.

  • FCTA to demolish illegal buildings in Abuja popular market today

    FCTA to demolish illegal buildings in Abuja popular market today

    • Victims may get alternative shops as govt holds talk with leaders

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will today demolish illegal buildings within the Area 1 Shopping Complex.

    This is as the attachment shops and other illegal constructions, and wrong parkings which made it impassable to traffic would be removed and the environment cleaned up.

    This development was arrived at by authorities of the FCT Administration (FCTA) made up of the Departments of Development Control, Security Service, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, as well as the Abuja Investments Company Limited, at a meeting with traders.

    Director, FCTA Development Control, Muktar Galadima made this known at the meeting with traders and owners of shops during the weekend.

    Galadima told the traders that the people-friendly FCT Administration decided to meet with managers of the market to reach an understanding before carrying out the exercise.

    According to him, the congested nature of the market, its unhygienic and untidy conditions, were not good for any emergency and health.

    He also said the security of lives and property was threatened.

    “The way the market is very congested and unhygienic is not good for the safety and health of the traders and customers,” Galadima said.

    He insisted that the kilishi/suya sellers would be located under one roof, parking spaces inside the market would be removed and that they should have one source of energy, instead of littering the market with generating sets, causing noise pollution.

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    He said: “God forbid, but imagine if there is any fire outbreak in this market, it will be disastrous, and rescue operations impossible.

    “As a government, we do not have to wait for that to happen before we take action.

    “Remember, we were here last year to do some clean up, but this time, it is different. We are going to remove the attachments, and create space inside the market for parking.

    “We are not happy with the traffic situation caused by activities of this market so we will sanitise it in line with the vision of the Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration in sanitising the Federal Capital Territory.”

    He called for the support of stakeholders of the market, hinting that the Administration would make arrangements to provide alternative shops for those who would be affected by the clean up.

    Speaking on behalf of the traders, Umar Uba thanked the FCT Administration for thinking it wise to meet and inform them of the plans to remove illegal structures in the market.

    Umar pledged that they would assist with the authorities in sanitising the market since it was also for their good.

  • FCTA to prosecute five over vandalism of Abuja light rail infrastructure

    FCTA to prosecute five over vandalism of Abuja light rail infrastructure

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Transport Secretariat, yesterday vowed to prosecute five suspected vandals who were arrested while vandalising facilities of the rail track of Abuja Light Rail project.

     The suspected criminals, who specialised in vandalising perimeter fences, communication cable and rail track cables, were arrested by the vigilant security personnel assigned to guard the railway facilities.

     The Mandate Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, Uboku Nyah, who visited the various sections of the vandalised rail track at Kukwuaba, said such act of sabotage from the citizenry was highly condemnable.

     Nyah wondered why residents, who the government expended so much funds on behalf to provide social infrastructure that would ameliorate their living conditions, would be involved in the act of sabotaging the effort of government.

     He vowed to ensure that appropriate authorities institute legal actions against the suspects to act as a deterrent to others.

     According to him: “over the past few days, the FCT Minister has been emphasising the importance of efficient transportation, particularly the rail transportation, in line with the vision of the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in providing cheap and safe transportation for our people. The anchor of that is on the rail transportation, which can move the people massively from one place to another, and government has invested heavily in that infrastructure.

    Read Also: FCTA arrests five over vandalization of Abuja light rail infrastructure

     “We are sad to come and see what has happened. We got this report in the office that there have been a lot of vandalism on our protective fences, tracks and communication cables. We came to see what has been happening, and we can confirm what we have seen. It is sad and very condemnable that our people that we are working for are doing this because people didn’t come from outer space to cause this level of vandalism.

    “What this means is that we have to spend double, and delay the project. We had expected that within the year that the rail services will start. But, when we came here and see that even the cables and the protective fences have been vandalised by our people, it is something that takes us back, and it is criminal for anybody to do this. This is why the Minister of FCT and government of FCT do not take it lightly, as the full weight of the law will be visited on the people.

     “Fortunately, a few of these people have been taken in, and whatever  is due legally will be done to discourage other people  from acting against the interest of the government and the people”.

    Narrating how the arrest was effected, the General Supervisor, SEGAD Security, Japhet MaiKeffi, said he and his men were on their routine patrol when they sighted the suspects digging the rail tracks to remove the armoured cables.

  • FCTA arrests five over vandalization of Abuja light rail infrastructure

    FCTA arrests five over vandalization of Abuja light rail infrastructure

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Transport Secretariat on Thursday, September 14, vowed to prosecute five suspected vandals who were arrested while vandalising facilities of the rail track of the Abuja Light Rail project.

    The suspected criminals who specialised in vandalising perimeter fences, communication cables, and rail track cables were arrested by the vigilant security personnel assigned to guard the railway facilities.

    The Mandate Secretary, Transportation Secretariat, FCTA, Uboku Nyah who visited the various sections of the vandalized rail track at Kukwuaba, said such an act of sabotage from the citizenry was highly condemnable.

    Nyah wondered why residents, whom the government expended so much funds to provide social infrastructure that would ameliorate their living conditions, would be involved in the act of sabotaging the effort of the government.

    He vowed to ensure that appropriate authorities institute legal actions against the suspects to serve as a deterrent to others.

    He said: “Over the past few days, the FCT Minister has been emphasising the importance of efficient transportation particularly rail transportation, in line with the vision of the renewed hope agenda of the President, in providing cheap and safe transportation for our people. The anchor of that is on rail transportation, which can move people massively from one place to another, and the government has invested heavily in that infrastructure.

    “We are sad to come and see what has happened. We got this report in the office that there has been a lot of vandalisation on our protective fences, tracks, and communication cables. We came to see what has been happening, and we can confirm what we have seen. It is sad and very condemnable that the people that we are working for are doing this because people didn’t come from outer space to cause this level of vandalisation.

    “What this means is that we have to spend double, and delay the project. We had expected that within the year the rail services would start. But, when we came here and saw that even the cables and the protective fences have been vandalised by our people, it is something that takes us back, and it is criminal for anybody to do this. That is why the Minister of FCT and the government of FCT don’t take it lightly, as the full weight of the law will be visited on the people.

    “Fortunately, a few of these people have been taken in, and whatever is due legally will be done to discourage other people from acting against the interest of the government and the people”.

    Narrating how the arrest was effected, the General Supervisor, SEGAD Security Japhet MaiKeffi, said he and his men were on their routine patrol when they sighted the suspects digging the rail tracks to remove the armoured cables.

    He added that his team immediately swung into action by chasing the suspected vandals who took to their heels to escape arrest that night.

    Read Also: School resumption: FCTA records 85 %, students, teachers turnout

    The lead member of the gang who gave his name as Salisu Ibrahim and spoke in Hausa language narrated that: “On our way to work(cable vandalism)in the middle of the night, we sighted a torch light from afar and we guessed it must be coming from the security personnel assigned to guard the railway facilities. Am actually a motor mechanic, but had to switch to vandalism due to lack of a job and its lucrativeness.

    “As we attempted to approach them to clear ourselves, suddenly a vehicle started chasing us and in our confused state, we took to our heels to escape from the security men.

    “We thought everything was over the next morning and decided to resume from where we stopped the previous night, but unfortunately we walked into their ambush and I was apprehended.

    “Our work is to vandalise, steal the cables, and sell and this is the fourth time I’ve been involved in the activity.”

  • School resumption: FCTA records 85% students, teachers’ turnout

    School resumption: FCTA records 85% students, teachers’ turnout

    The education secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed satisfaction with the over 85 percent resumption of secondary school students for the new academic year in the FCT.

    The acting secretary of the secretariat, Malam Abdulrazeq Leremoh, stated this in Abuja on Monday, September 11, while briefing reporters after monitoring students and teachers’ resumption in some schools within the city.

    Some of the schools visited included Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa, Model Senior, and Juniors Secondary Schools all in Maitama and Women Education Centre, Wuse.

    Others are Christabel Schools, Wuye, a non-state school and Local Education Authority (LEA) Primary School, Jahi Express, Abuja Municipal Council, and FCT.

    Leramoh said that monitoring the schools was part of the secretariat’s ritual at the beginning of every term to monitor students’ resumption and teachers’ preparedness.

    He added that the visit would also enable the secretariat to address any issue that requires urgent attention.

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    He said: “We are satisfied with the turnout of students and teachers’ level of preparedness as the new term begins. In most schools visited, we recorded more than 85 percent of students’ attendance. This is excellent for us.

    Leramoh noted that, so far, there was no issue in all the schools visited, adding that the secretariat would await reports from all schools, detailing their critical needs.

    He said that all schools would be supported based on needs, including recruitment of teachers where needed as part of regular support to schools to enable them to deliver quality education.

    While at LEA Primary School, Jahi, the acting secretary commended Venture Furniture Nigerian Ltd, for rehabilitating a classroom and toilet facilities in the school.

    He urged other organisations to work with the government to improve the quality of teaching and learning in public schools in the FCT.

    However, the director of the Department of Quality Assurance, Favour Edem-Nse, assured parents of regular school monitoring to ensure adherence to minimum standards.

    One of the students, Abiakam David of Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa, said that his target for the term was to be the best student in his class.

    David also said that he would study hard to make his parents and teachers proud.

  • Building Collapse: FCTA to conduct integrity test on old buildings

    Building Collapse: FCTA to conduct integrity test on old buildings

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said on Thursday, that it will conduct integrity tests on old buildings within the city to forestall building collapse.

    Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Development Control, FCTA, stated this in Abuja while addressing newsmen on buildings in Jabi that failed integrity tests and may likely collapse.

    Galadima said that the test, which would be conducted in partnership with professional bodies and regulatory bodies, and agencies would be carried out in Wuse 1, Garki 1, Garki 2, and Asokoro.

    He said that the old houses that would be targeted for the exercise would be mainly those above 30 years.

    The director said that the measure became necessary, following the unfortunate incident that happened in Garki village, where a two-storey building collapsed, killed two persons and injured 37 others.

    “We have agreed with our colleagues, the professional and regulatory bodies and agencies to identify some structures within the city and conduct integrity tests on them.

    “The goal is to avert unforeseen circumstances like building collapse that may occur due to structural defects.

    “I have discussed with my colleagues and we will soon be going to the field for the exercise, particularly in Garki 1, Garki 2, Wuse 1 and Asokoro,” he said.

    He explained that the areas were targeted because they were mainly developed by private individuals with houses standing for over 30 years.

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    Galadima said that most of the officers that supervised buildings in the areas were out of service, “and we don’t know the level of supervision then.

    “We want to be sure that the structures can stand the test of time,” he said.

    The director, however, said that not every building that failed the integrity test would be demolished.

    He said that sometimes the consultants would give room for remedial measures for the building to stand.

    Galadima  emphasised that structures that failed integrity tests and beyond remedy will be removed.

    He urged people to comply with building regulations as provided by relevant acts and laws.

    On the buildings located on Plot 643 Cadastral Zone Bo4, Jabi District, he said that the integrity test revealed that the building may collapse.

    He said that after the failed test, the occupants of the four single-storey buildings on the plot were asked to vacate the buildings for their safety but refused to do so.

    “It is disturbing that in spite professional warnings, the people are still occupying the house, even going further to obtain an order of the Court to stop us from vacating them.

    “Our concern is the safety of the individual and their properties that is why we are calling on the public to desist from such acts.

    “Once a structure has been tested and confirmed to be deficient, people should comply and vacate the structure because anything can happen,” he said.

    On the court order, Galadima said that the department would consult the legal secretariat to decide on the next line of action.

    During a visit to the affected buildings, Mr Abdulrazak Alao, Deputy Director, Building Inspectorate, North, said that the occupants were served a vacation notice on Aug. 21.

    “We also invited them for a stakeholders` meeting to carry them along in the entire process but they refused to cooperate with us.

    “Only for us to get here today (Thursday) and saw a Court Order pasted on the gate of the house, restraining us from carrying further action.

    “We have carried out a scientific investigation called the Smith harmer test that indicated that the building is weak and could collapse.

    “The buildings have decayed, soaked and weak. I want it to be on record that the building is very unfit for human habitation and might collapse any day,” he said.

    Mr Mustapha Suleiman, one of the occupants of the buildings,    appealed for the meeting to be rescheduled to Friday and it was granted.

    (NAN) 

  • Insecurity: FCTA demolishes hoodlums’, drug dealers’ den in Asokoro

    Insecurity: FCTA demolishes hoodlums’, drug dealers’ den in Asokoro

    Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday, August 29, demolished an illegal market popularly called Kasuan-Dere, a suspected hideout for hoodlums and drug dealers.

    Speaking after the demolition, the director FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima said the market on Hassan Musa Katsina Street, near Kpaduma II in Asokoro Extension was becoming a threat to the residents and passerby.

    He noted that the place had been turned into an area that criminals activities are carried out despite the relentless efforts of the Administration to sanitize the place.

    Galadima said miscreants’ operation in the area was also affecting the aesthetic quality of the entire environment and must not be allowed to continue.

    He said: “We had demolished the place about three times but the nuisances continue, this time around we are doing it for the last time and it must stay, we need to sanitize the place and enhance the aesthetic quality of the environment.

    “It is also part of the current Administration’s policy of sanitizing the city, this is one area we are starting the exercise. The area has so much to do with security threat, information available to us revealed that there are some miscreants, drug dealers and many other men of the underworld.

    Read Also: FCTA pulls down multimillion duplex over infractions

    “The operation will help us get rid of the hoodlums and drug dealers that have taken over the place”.

    Contributing, the secretary FCTA command and control, Peter Olumuji, said the area has been a source of concern to the residents because of the vices that have been taking place.

    Olumuji said: “After the cleaning, we will put measures in place to ensure that we have a pin down point here, it will help people to pass here at any time without fear of attack, the exercise is going to be sustained. The combined team of the task force will be on a standby to ensure that nothing affects the people.”

    The village head of Kpaduma, Bitrus Yakubu commended the FCT Administration for coming to rescue them from hoodlums.

    He said: “The place has been here for over twenty years but today it has gone down for our good. We are very happy as a community because with the clearing of the area the residents we have peace of mind.”

  • FCTA pulls down multimillion duplex over infractions

    FCTA pulls down multimillion duplex over infractions

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday demolished a fully completed multimillion naira duplex for building in an unapproved plot of land.

    The building located at Plot 226 Cad Zone A02 Wuse 1, Wuse, Zone 6 District, was said to belong to His Royal Highness Oba Oyebade Lipede, but was fraudulently taken over by Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Kamba and Alhaji Ademu Teku, who illegally constructed the duplex against all warnings.

    Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said his team had to carry out extensive investigation to ascertain the original owner of the plot, given varying claims that were being put forth by the parties.

    According to him, the administration would not consider the status of any defaulting developer, once development rules and regulations were violated.

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    He said: “We demolished the duplex because somebody built without valid title and building plan approval on someone else’s land. Investigation revealed that the developer is not the owner of the plot that is why we had to remove the building.”

    “We allowed the building to this stage before demolishing it, because we had to follow all the processes. He was served all the notices to stop work, but being a recalcitrant developer, he continued without heeding to the notices we served.

    “After our investigation we ascertained the original allottee, so we have to remove it. We are going to consult the legal department to know the next action against the developer.”

  • FCTA takes inventory of undeveloped plots

    Preparatory to the planned  revocation of land in Phases I, II and III in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has taken inventory of the undeveloped plots.

    FCT Director of Land Administration Adamu Jibrin Hussaini stated this during a visit by postgraduate students of Sustainable Urban Development of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

    The director recalled that adverts were placed in three dailies in line with the FCT Executive Committee’s  approval that the Department of Land Administration kicks off the process of revoking titles of undeveloped plots.

    According to him, the department  announced this on July 31, warning allottees  that have been serviced with infrastructure to develop them or  face revocation within three months of the publication.

    He said by that publication, the affected allottees had been reminded that failure to carry out improvement or development of such plot) contravenes the terms of Rights of Occupancy accepted by such allottees as well as the provision of Section 28(5) (a & b) of the Land Use Act N0. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    Hussaini said the Authority had taken  inventory of such undeveloped plots but was awaiting the expiration of the grace period.