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Tag: FCTA

  • FCTA cautions task team on violence

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, an engineer, has cautioned the FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management to avoid any situation that will lead to violence in dealing with environmental defaulters in the city.

    He also urged them to re-dedicate themselves to the onerous task of making Abuja cleaner than before.

    Chukwu insisted that members of the team should follow the rules of engagement as applicable to the task team.

    He stated this in Abuja at an emergency meeting with the members of the task team led by its chairman, FCT Police Commissioner, Mr Wilson Inalegwu.

    This was disclosed in a press statement by Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary Muhammad Sule.

    He stated, “The FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Chukwu has charged the FCT Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management to re-dedicate itself to the onerous task of making Abuja cleaner than before.

    “ Engr. Chukwu however, urged the members to exercise caution in dealing with environmental defaulters in the city by following due process and avoid any situation that will lead to violence.

    “The Abuja city, more than ever, requires effective services and orderliness so that people can go about their lawful businesses in a very safe environment,” he stressed.

    “Engr. Chukwu reiterated that members should follow rules of engagement as applicable to the Task Team.

    ”Furthermore, the Permanent Secretary called for “self-assessment on how efficient we are delivering these services”; emphasizing, “the system must work in line with the vision of the Abuja founding fathers”.

    ”He warned, “all eyes are on us, so we must continue to do more than we were doing before” and insisted that commercial motorcyclists (Okada), street hawkers and beggars must be put-off the streets of the Federal Capital City, while KEKENAPEP restricted to designated areas.

    “Responding, the FCT Police Commissioner/Chairman of the Task Team, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu assured the Permanent Secretary of full support in the sustenance of the performance of the Task Team and in the management of the city and further announced that 51 fuel hawkers arrested by the Task Team are presently being prosecuted at the FCT Mobile Court.”

  • FCTA impounds 4,790 okada, 883 keke napep

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management has said it has impounded about 4,790 commercial motorcycles and 883 tricyclesalso known as keke napeps in the last 90 days.

    Also impounded by the task team were 645 unpainted commercial vehicles, as well as 84 illegal commercial buses during the period under review.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu disclosed this during after meeting with the chairman of the Task Team and the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu in Abuja. The release was made available by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Sule.

    According to him, 3,000 commercial sex workers had also been arrested by the Task Team and handed over to the Abuja Environment Protection Board for prosecution and subsequent rehabilitation.

    Chukwu noted that the Task Team also embarked on city cleaning activities, which culminated in the closure and removal of 52 illegal car wash sites and 83 illegal auto mechanic workshops.

    “In addition, eight illegal sand dredging and quarry sites, 205 shanties, 89 illegal markets, seven illegal car marts and 98 food vendor kiosks and furniture workshops all located in unauthorised places within the city have been closed down.

    “Similarly, a total of 2,534 street hawkers and beggars had been arrested by the FCT Administration and 102 strayed animals were removed from illegal cattle markets in Gudu and other parts of the city during the same period,” he said.

    Chukwu therefore directed the Task Team to redouble its efforts to rid the FCC of all environmental nuisances, stressing that it is not business as usual.

    He further directed all operational departments in the FCTA to be committed to ensure that their statutory responsibilities are carried out, insisting that they must be proactive in city management in line with the vision of a new Nigeria.

    He called on the residents of the FCC to be law-abiding and remain their brothers’ keepers, urging the residents to report any suspicious movements to the law enforcement agents.

  • Security: FCTA begins online tracking of buildings

    The Federal Capital Territory  (FCT) Administration through the Department of Development Control has begun the process of tracking online all on-going building developments in Abuja.

    The scheme which is known as Development Control Information System (DevCIS) and Mobile App for an on-line transfer of Site Assessment Reports (SAR) is to ensure total computerization of all the Development Control activities.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed while launching the scheme in Abuja yesterday directed that all land related departments in the Federal Capital Territory must work together to further reduce business time of developers.

    Mohammed reiterated that the closer collaboration between the Development Control; Urban & Regional Planning; Land Administration; Survey & Mapping as well as the Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS) would go a long way in fast tracking development of the entire 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The minister insisted that this collaboration has become necessary to reduce friction and man hour wasted on ironing out issues related to land application, building approval and development in the FCT; emphasising that it is a competitive world with diverse interests.

    His words: “I want you to take further steps to reduce drastically the time taken for approval of building plans and enhance monitoring of development towards bequeathing a safe, healthy and convenient city-system to the residents of the FCT and visitors alike. You are equally to ensure speedy and orderly city growth into the future.”

    The minister noted that the establishment of a wholly indigenous Development Control Information System as well as Mobile App for an on-line transfer of Site Assessment Reports, which according to him, are base-line requirements for taking decisions on the approvability or otherwise of building plans for all categories of development.

    According to a statement issued by Asst. Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, while commending the ingenuity of the staff of FCT Development Control, Senator Mohammed urged all technical and professional staff involved in this knowledge-driven and experience-sharing process to embrace the innovation with the highest sense of responsibility for an improved service delivery.

    The co-ordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Architect Reuben Okoya said that the Agency embarked on this ICT project because it would continue to play prominent and pivotal role as key enabler of reward and sustainable growth of emerging city.

    Architect Okoya restated that ICT has become an essential element of infrastructure underpinning competitive economies world over.

    In his remarks, the FCT Director of Development Control Department, Yahaya Yusuf explained that the Development Control Information System was conceptualized to capture not only the records but the entire process of registering the building plan applications, managing and approval of same through a secure ICT driven platform.

    Yusuf enunciated that the Department’s Web Portal is designed to provide developers and the entire public with a platform for online submission of applications, online tracking of progress made on the said applications, electronic payments as well as a solution for internal operations in processing the application.

    The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide; FCT Permanent Secretary, Engr. John Obinna Chukwu; FCDA Executive Secretary, Engr. Adamu Ismaila; some Mandate Secretaries, Coordinator of the Abuja Infrastructure & Investment Centre, Faruk Sani and top government functionaries of the FCT Administration also attended the occasion.

  • FCTA to domesticate investment policy

    In order to accelerate the volume of trade, investment and industrial development of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Executive Committee (EXCO) has approved the domestication of the FCT Trade and Investment Policy.

    The Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, who disclosed this, said that the EXCO gave its nod during its meeting.

    Mohammed reiterated that the overall objective of the domestication policy is to accelerate industrial development by radically increasing value added at every stage, increase total factor productivity by pursuing knowledge and skill for intensive production renewal for industries and encourage innovation.

    According to a statement issued by Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minister said in the short-term, the policy seeks to increase the number of manufacturing companies in the FCT; work on manufacturing enterprises that experience difficulties with a view to reviving those with good prospects as well as provide support services that can help manufacturers take advantage of existing opportunities for accessing funds.

    According to him, the domestication policy seeks to create new opportunities for the development of micro and small-medium enterprises; create more direct and indirect employment opportunities, apart from attracting new investments in medium and large enterprises.

    He emphasised that the EXCO also approved the facilitation of the adopted document on the domestication of Trade and Investment Policy in the FCT to the National Assembly for legislation.

    The FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke-Akinjide, FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu, FCDA Executive Secretary, Mr. Adamu Ismaila, Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, mandate secretaries and some directors attended the EXCO meeting.

  • FCTA targets N15b in fees

    FCTA targets N15b in fees

    Many have criticised the introduction of entertainment and event fee by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) but the authorities of the administration have explained that the new charges would fetch between N10b and N15b in internally-generated revenue yearly.

    According to the FCTA Director of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics, Mr. Isa Ari, who addressed reporters on the the introduction of the fee, the revenue generated through entertainment fee would be used to improve three critical social services to the FCT residents.

    “This is a task that we want to realize. We are targeting between N10 and N15 billion in the first year and this will grow by 25 per cent in the next five years. So, it is one of the major sources of internally-generated revenue for the FCT. It is a huge task because anything luxury you want to have you are going to pay five per cent of it,” he said.

    He maintained that the fee would only be levied on luxury goods as a way of taking from the rich to benefit the poor members of the city, noting that users of services such as DSTV, internet services and liquor would pay five per cent of the total cost of services they enjoy to government coffers.

    Mr. Ari hinted that the FCT Administration plans to spend the generated revenue to improve health, education and public transportation system in the nation’s capital.

    His words: “Basically, entertainment fee is there to increase the revenue of the FCT Administration. This is a revenue you find everywhere in the world; most cities of the world. And beautiful cities of the world have acknowledged the fact that this type of fee is important to keep the city moving.

    “And then we are really targeting specific areas such as education, health and public transportation to support. We felt that these are critical areas that the FCT needs support at the moment.

    “It is not essentially to stifle residents of the city. We are only saying less than eight per cent of city population controls 80 per cent of the resources and if there is no fee to share, how will those 92 per cent remaining in the city get the benefit? It is only fair that everybody should be encouraged to support entertainment fee in the FCT.

    “Before we began, we visited most cities of the world; we have researched so many cities of the world. In the US, Washington which is equivalent of Abuja, has it, if you go to Dubai or Abu Dhabi, they do the same. If you go to London, you have it. Each city of the world has its own way of collecting this levy. If you come back to Nigeria, Lagos State is collecting its fees even with all issues going to Supreme Court.”

    On whether the tax is backed by law, Mr. Ari quoted Section 11 Entertainment Act Cap. 498 Laws of the FCT Nigeria 207, Section 4 FCT Act Cap. F6 Laws of the Federation, 2004″ as the enabling law behind the five per cent entertainment fee.

    He added that the FCT Administration was only waiting for the presidential accent to the FCT Board of Inland Revenue Bill which has been passed by the National Assembly.

    “I remember our gazette is available. If you turn to Section 11 Entertainment Act Cap. 498 Laws of the FCT Nigeria 207, Section 4 FCT Act Cap. F6 laws of the Federation, 2004. If you look at the statutes of the FCT as if it is a state which is privileged by Section 299 of the Constitution, we are very capable of collecting this tax. Because of the enabling law, I appreciate the fact that some others have failed, like park and pay. Just of recent, the National Assembly, the Board of Inland Revenue Bill and its waiting accent, “ he said.

  • FCTA spends N4.4b on mass transit

    FCTA spends N4.4b on mass transit

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has said that the FCT Administration has spent N4.4 billion as intervention fund for the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO) in five years.

    Mohammed spoke during the FCT Executive Committee meeting.

    The minister recalled that the Abuja Investment Company Limited has spent N1.6 billion on similar intervention from 2007 to date, adding that a total of N6 billion has so far been spent on the transport company through the years.

    According to the statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, Senator Mohammed reiterated that with the total expenditure of N4.4 billion as intervention on the AUMTCO during his administration, the organisation should live up to the expectations of the government, particularly the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.

    Meanwhile, the FCT Executive Council has approved, in principle, new package of subsidy for the Abuja Mass Transit Corridors (Operations and Maintenance), even as it has set up a committee to streamline, formalise and structure the package for its final passage.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Obinna Chukwu, heads the 8-member committee. Other members of the committee include the Group Managing Director of Abuja Investment Company, FCT Transport Secretary, Coordinator,

    AIIC, the FCT Directors of Treasury, Monitoring and Inspection, Satellite Towns Development as well as Economic Planning, Research and Statistics who serves as secretary.

    The minister said no modern city in the developed and developing world runs a successful, seamless and efficient mass transit system without subsidising it.

    According to him, the FCT Administration will provide yearly budgetary allocations to fund provision of gas, direct fixing, subventions, subsidy on tickets; purchase of high capacity mass transit vehicles and maintenance of the operating fleet.

    He directed that all transport-related plots illegally encroached upon should be immediately recovered, deed and titled in the name of the FCT Transportation Secretariat.

    “The FCT Administration will set up necessary machinery to separate the subsidy policy options for legal declaration and administrative processes,” he said.

  • Gridlock: FCTA installs security devices

    Gridlock: FCTA installs security devices

    TO enhance traffic management and security of commuters in the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Administration has begun the installation of Control Room project.

    Its Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this after meeting with some senior officials of the FCT Transportation Secretariat.

    Senator Mohammed said the project, which is in line with the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Transportation Master Plan of the FCT, is 65 per cent completed.

    The minister reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that the right things are done to tackle head on traffic problems in the Federal Capital City.

    He revealed that the FCT Administration has upgraded 28 of the 74 traffic light installations of the old technology of incandescent light to Light Emitting Diode (LED) with solar back-up to drastically reduce traffic light problems associated with those powered by conventional electricity supply.

    According to a statement issued by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, Senator Mohammed said the 20 additional intersections have been voted for traffic light installation before the end of the year; while 1,200 additional road traffic signs of various types and sizes have been installed.

    He further said more roads have been marked in the city and they include Tafawa Balewa Way; Lome Crescent Street; F.O.Williams Street; Babangida Aliyu Street; Nouchott Street; Kashim Ibrahim Way; Sabo Ago Way; Deji Omotade Street; Wada Aliyu Street as well as Ahmadu Bello Way.

    Senator Mohammed noted that due to biometric data capture of drivers earlier embarked upon by his administration, issues of identification, safety and security is better addressed nowadays.

    The minister expressed the commitment of his administration to provide sufficient number of high capacity buses for scheduled bus transit services in and around the 8,000 square kilometers of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He emphasised that, under its Operators’ Licence Scheme, his administration has so far granted licenses to seven companies namely AUMTCO, FABREM, AUTOSTAR, NURTW, RTEIN, SECDA, TUC; while PAT and PRINTFIELD are yet to be licensed.

    The companies under the Operators’ Licence Scheme deploy an average of 216 high capacity buses and 4,250 taxis on daily basis, Senator Mohammed said.

  • FCTA needs N200bn to resettle natives

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) requires about N200 billion to compensate and resettle villages within the 250 square kilometres of  the Federal Capital City.

    The Minister of  the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed this while receiving the participants of the National Defence College, Course 23, 2014 that came on a study tour.

    Mohammed, who was represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr John Chukwu, said the administration has been innovative in tackling the infrastructural challenges in the territory.

    He emphasised that the ever-dwindling funds for infrastructural development made the FCT Administration   introduce the Abuja Land Swap policy to improve infrastructure as well as reduce the housing deficit in the Federal Capital Territory.

    Mohammed noted that in 1976 when the Federal Capital Territory was created, the government required only about N2 billion to resettle the natives although the value of N2 billion then was much.

    He reiterated that the cost of resettlement of the natives increased as a result of the increase in population of the natives.

    According to him, the population of the natives then was manageable than what obtains today as the families keep on growing.

    The minister remarked that with the introduction of the Land Swap policy, the FCT Administration is simultaneously opening up 10 new districts and proffering solution to issues of resettlement and compensation that hitherto had become knotty.

    He revealed that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan has positively impacted on the development of the entire 8,000 square kilometres of the Federal Capital Territory by changing its landscape for good.

    The leader of delegation and Director, Curriculum Programme Development of the National Defence College, Commodore Aliyu Baba Lawal, appreciated the warm reception accorded the participants.

    Commodore Lawal called for continued collaboration between the FCT Administration and the National Defence College; stressing that the administration has, for a long time, been partnering with the college.

     

     

     

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    In 1976 when the Federal Capital Territory was created, the government required only about N2 billion to resettle the natives although the value of  N2 billion then was much…The cost of resettlement of the natives increased as a result of the increase in population of the natives.

  • FCTA attracts N1.8trn to Abuja

    THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has attracted N1.8 trillion ($11 billion) worth of private capital investments to the FCT since April, 2010, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed, has said.

    He spoke while hosting a cross section of the FCT residents to a luncheon at his Life Camp official resident after paying Sallah homage to President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Asokoro Abuja.

    The areas of investment inflow, he said, include infrastructure provision through land swap, city centre, railway, housing development, commerce, hotel and tourism.

    He said his administration has been able to expand the frontiers of development in the FCT, especially through speedy provision of infrastructure.

    Senator Mohammed cited the ultra-modern Abuja International Airport Express Road and the Zuba-Kubwa-City super highway constructed by his administration as examples of his efforts to open up the nation’s capital and its satellite towns.

    According to him, the new super highways rank among the best on the continent.

    The minister emphasised that the FCTA has been able to open up the capital territory in an unprecedented manner, especially through collaboration with the private sector operators.

    He added that through the land swap initiative which he introduced two years ago, the administration is opening up about 11 districts within the next four years through injection of private capital by 15 ranking investors totaling over N700 billion.

    Also the Satellite Towns Development Agency (STDA) which he re-invented in 2012, has accelerated infrastructure development in the hitherto neglected area councils and satellite towns within the FCT in a manner that would help decongest the city centre.

    Another area of outstanding achievement by his administration, he said, was the reform of public transportation through restriction of mini-buses and provision of more modern mass transit high capacity buses.

    On security, the minister said: “Security remains a major challenge for the FCTA, stressing that the administration was developing a security protocol.

    “If you are running a business, you must provide some minimum security requirements to safeguard lives and property. These include devices like hand-held bomb detectors, closed circuit televisions and other devices which must be provided in business places of large public gathering,” he said.

    Senator Mohammed had, after prayers at the Eid Ground; Airport Road led large contingent of FCT residents to pay Sallah homage to the President at the Presidential Villa.

    Speaking at the Villa on behalf of the residents, he said he had always enjoyed the humane disposition of President Jonathan, stressing that informed residents’ crave to pay him homage during all major Christian and Muslim festivals.

    He further appreciated the President for the deep sense of responsibility and trust on him, promising to continue to extend his allegiance and gratitude to him. He maintained that no minister had held the FCT portfolio as long as he has under a democratic dispensation.

    The Chairman Senate Committee on the FCT, Senator Smart Adeyemi commended the minister for his achievements and for promoting unity of the diverse residents of the FCT.

  • FCTA to spend N334b on Jabi Lake Resort

    In its efforts to boost tourism in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in partnership with private investors, has begun the development of the ultra-modern Jabi Lake Resort in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City. The FCTA will spend the sum of over N334 billion on the project.

    The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed revealed this while receiving executive members of Nigeria Young Professionals Forum that paid him a visit.

    Senator Mohammed said the resort, when completed, would take Abuja to the next level in promoting tourism and by extension, generate the required revenue to augment budgetary allocation from the Federal Government.

    He said the Federal Government has made a lot of investments in the Federal Capital Territory by providing seed money, saying time has come for the FCT Administration to create institutions, structures in terms of legal framework to leverage on private funding by way of competition to take Abuja to the next level.

    The minister assured that the leadership of the FCT Administration is determined to set standards and benchmark on how things ought to be done for the betterment of all residents of the Territory without recourse to government funding.

    He said the FCT Administration has received marching order from President Goodluck Jonathan to build human capital and institution as well as partnership in accordance with the global best practices.

    Senator Mohammed urged the forum to use its contacts across the globe to woo investors to invest in Abuja; saying that Abuja is a haven for genuine investors.

    Conscious of the need to promote tourism, the FCT Administration gave priority to the ongoing construction of the Abuja Millennium Towers at the Central Business District where work at the site has reached an appreciable stage of completion.