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Tag: Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA)

  • FCTA approves N995m for digital education 

    FCTA approves N995m for digital education 

    …250 tonnes of fertiliser for farmers 

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Executive Council has approved ₦995 million for the purchase of over 1,000 laptops for senior secondary schools in Abuja.

    Addressing reporters after the council’s 10th meeting, chaired by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, on Monday, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Education Secretariat, Danlami Hayyo, stated that the laptops would enhance students’ preparation for WAEC, NECO, and JAMB exams.

    Hayyo emphasized the need for students to shift from traditional learning methods to digital education, adding that the initiative aims to transition FCT schools from conventional classroom teaching to a more modern, media-based education system.

    Hayyo said: “The Executive Council of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has approved the procurement and distribution of over 1,000 laptops to senior secondary schools.

    “FCT schools will now transform to digital education system, we will now move from normal teaching and learning class room to media education system of learning”

    Read Also: Tinubu pledges to improve Nigerians’ living standards 

    On his part, the Mandate secretary for FCT Agriculture and Rural Development (ARDS), Lawan Geidam, also disclosed that the council approved the procurement and distribution of 250 metric tunnes of fertiliser to farmers in FCT.

    He said the tonnes will include NPK, Urea with tonnes of liquid fertiliser to be distributed to farmers across the six area councils for dry season farming.

    Lawan said: “The council today at the 10th meeting, has given approval for the procurement of 250 metric tonnes of fertiliser for dry season farming in the territory”

    The Executive Council meeting was attended by Minister of State for FCT, Mariya Mahmoud, Coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and Mandate secretaries of the various secretariats.

  • Senate okays N243.4bn FCT budget

    The Senate, on Tuesday, approved a sum of N243.4 billion for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) budget for 2019 Fiscal Year.

    The approval followed the consideration of a Bill for an Act to authorise the issue from the Account of the FCTA Consolidated Revenue Fund presented by Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan in Abuja.

    Moving the motion, Lawan said out of the total budget, N55.3 billion was appropriated for personnel costs; N57.6 billion for overhead cost while the balance of N130.7 billion was budgeted for capital projects.

    According to him, the budget is for the service of the FCT for the financial year commencing from Jan. 1 and ending Dec. 31.

    Read Also: Senate endorses $266m loan for Niger

    The lawmaker noted that the overall performance of the FCT 2018 statutory allocation was 61 per cent, adding that “’most of the projects executed by the FCTA/FCDA were still ongoing due to overbearing ineptitude of getting Due Process Certificates on time.”

    He said the committee further observed that new and ongoing projects were not sufficiently funded due to delay in the release of funds, occasioned by bureaucratic bottlenecks.

    When the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who presided over the plenary put the motion on a voice vote, the lawmakers unanimously adopted it.

    The bill, which was given accelerated hearing by the Senate, eventually passed second and third readings.

    NAN

  • Six-man committee probes woman’s death at hospital

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Miss Kafayat Abdul-Azeez at Asokoro Hospital about two weeks ago.

    The six-member committee headed by Dr. Evans Onyekele, Director, Medical and Diagnositics, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) is to, among other things, thoroughly investigate the detailed management of the deceased and determine its adequacy or otherwise.

    Also, the committee is mandated to determine any evidence of negligence in her management on the part of any members of the team that managed her, as well as recommend appropriate sanctions where necessary on any staff found negligent.

    According to the HHSS Director of Adminstration and Finance (DAF), Alhaji Abdulraheem A. Musa who formally inaugurated the committee on behalf of the HHSS Secretary, Adamu Bappah, the committee has two weeks to submit its report.

    Read also: Court remands woman for alleged manslaughter

    Bappah added that the committee is to recommend necessary measures to address any significant fallout from the investigation to forestall similar occurrences in the future; and make any recommendations, which in the view of the committee would enhance the quality of care provided in FCT hospitals.

    Responding, chairman of the committee thanked the Secretariat for deeming it necessary to investigate the unfortunate incident.

    He assured the FCTA of the committee’s commitment to carry out its terms of reference within the stipulated two weeks’ timeframe.

  • Fadama office trains 3,510 farmers in FCT

    Alhaji Abdullahi Salisu, the Coordinator, FCT Fadama III Additional Financing Project Office, has trained 3,510 farmers across FCT through its capacity building component.

    Salisu said this on Wednesday in Gwagwalada at the inauguration of distribution of farm inputs to production groups in FCT for the 2018 farming season.

    He said the office had facilitated the implementation of 133 business plans out of the 333 prepared by production groups along three value chains, cassava, Rice and Sorghum.

    The Coordinator said the office had also provided funding support as well as technical backstopping and mentoring to Fogbe Production Cluster to encourage community-based rice seed production.

    According to him, under this support, two production groups were able to cultivate 20 hectares of Faro 44 Foundation Seed under the supervision of the National Seed Council.

    “I am indeed excited that the Faro 44 Rice Foundation Seed we are distributing to our farmers today is a product of the Fogbe Community-Based Rice Seed Production Project,” he said.

    He said the objective of Fadama III Additional Financing Project was to move farmers from subsistence to commercial production through ramping up of production across three selected staple crops supported by the project.

    Salisu said the attainment of commercial farming was anchored on deployment as well as adoption of modern agricultural technologies and best practices.

    He said the FCT Fadama III Additional Financing Office had facilitated the acquisition of quality inputs at the right time and at competitive prices to enable farmers make necessary preparations in good time.

    In his remark, Mr Nzekwe IfeanyiChukwu, Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ) said the event was a millstone towards the development of agriculture in the FCT.

    He commended the Fadama III Additional Financing Project in the FCT for its achievements in capacity building for farmers and distribution of inputs.

    Ifeanyichukwu pledged the commitment of the FCTA to advance agriculture in the FCT, adding that the administration was committed towards the advancement of agriculture.

    “This administration is working tirelessly towards ensuring the provision of farm inputs, linkages to sources of credit and markets as well as the provision of enabling environment for farmers in the FCT,” he said.

    He commended the National Fadama Coordination Office ( NFCO ) for the Fadama Graduate Unemployed Youth and Women Agroprenuer Support (Fadama GUYS) Scheme initiative.

    He said the initiative would create employment opportunities for the teeming unemployed graduate youths in the country.

    He, therefore, called on the NFCO to expedite action in the disbursement of funds to the selected beneficiaries to ensure timely preparations for the 2018 cropping season.

    NAN

  • FCT records fresh case of Lassa fever

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ) says it has recorded a fresh case of Lassa fever in the territory, bringing the number of confirmed cases to three within three months.

    Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director of Public Health in the Health and Human Services Secretariat in FCT, disclosed this to our correspondent on Friday in Abuja.

    We recall that one of the two victims of the confirmed cases earlier recorded at Bwari Area Council of the FCT died sometime in January.

    Okoroukwu explained that the new confirmed case was recorded in Abuja Municipal Area Council and the patient was already recovering.

    “The new case was confirmed just last Wednesday and we thank God the patient is doing well in the hospital.

    “The patient reported early and the doctor’s alertness to detect the suspected case before confirmation in the laboratory has helped to manage the situation,” he said.

    The director urged residents of FCT not to panic over the development but to rather take their personal and environmental hygiene seriously.

    Okoroukwu urged the residents to imbibe the habit of regular washing of hands, keep their environment clean and dispose their domestic waste to avoid rats.

    He called on Nigerians to promptly report any suspected case of fever to the nearest hospital because fever was one of the symptoms of Lassa-fever.

    NAN

  • FCTA threatens to revoke undeveloped plots

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ) has threatened to revoke all undeveloped plots in the FCT, especially those within layouts where infrastructure has been provided.

    The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC ) Coordinator, Umar Shuaibu, issued the warning during clearing of the Abuja airport road corridor on Thursday in Abuja.

    He advised owners of plots on both sides of the road to choose between either developing their plots or having them revoked by the Administration.

    According to him, we are hereby, once again, sending a strong message to owners of plots of land in Abuja, especially in places where infrastructure have been provided.

    “They should come out and develop their property, because failure to do so will have those plots revoked by the administration.

    “It is their responsibility to clear all dirt in and around their plots.

    “We are not the ones to do it for them. All property developers who are given allocations across the territory should also develop them as a matter of urgency,’’ he ordered.

    Shuaibu said if the owners cannot develop their plots, it means they do not have capacity to do so, “so we will go ahead and revoke those plots and allocate them to those who are willing and able to develop them.’’

    The coordinator said the administration will not continue to waste resources meant for other equally important ventures on cleaning of some of the places for the plots owners.

    He said the exercise was part of restoring the beauty of the Airport road, similar to what it used to be before the rehabilitation and expansion to the current 10-lane expressway.

    Shuaibu said whatever the administration will do to make the important road beautiful, they will do it.

    “The Minister is very concerned that we keep this expressway beautiful, and that is exactly what we are going to do and will continue to do.

    “It is not just this road, it is a major gateway into the city, and we do not want it to be an eyesore for both our visitors and residents.

    “We are making sure that the entire city is kept clean at all times.” he said.

    The coordinator said it is AMMC’s task to clean up both sides of the road from the city gate up to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, and also to maintain its cleanliness.
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    According to him, we will do a pin down, where security personnel will be stationed around for surveillance, preventing the return of dirt to these places.

    Shuaibu also stressed the possibility of planting trees and flowers on both sides of the expressway, as the corridors were being cleared.

    The coordinator assured residents that in the cleaning process, bushes would be cleared, grounds level, illegal car wash spots, mechanic workshops, abandoned cars and bad tires will be removed.

    NAN

  • Lassa fever claims one life in Abuja 

    Lassa fever claims one life in Abuja 

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday confirmed the death of one person in the two cases of Lassa fever recorded in the territory.

    Dr Humphrey Okoroukwu, the Director of Public Health in Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCT, confirmed this in an interview in Abuja.

    Okoroukwu explained that the other victim has been treated and discharged from the hospital, adding that two cases were recorded at Bwari Area Council of the FCT.

    He said that though, before the laboratory confirmation, they were placed on treatment but one of the victims could not make it.

    “Once we have any suspected case, we commence treatment immediately before the laboratory result comes out,” he said.

    The director urged the residents of FCT not to panic over the development but rather take their personal and environmental hygiene seriously.

    Okoroukwu urged residents to imbibe regular washing of hands, keep their environment clean and dispose their domestic waste to avoid rats.

    Read Also: NMA educates market women on Lassa fever in Osun

    NAN

  • FCTA, ITF to collaborate on skills development

    FCTA, ITF to collaborate on skills development

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA ), has expressed its readiness to collaborate with the Industrial Training Fund ( ITF ) to train youths in the territory on necessary entrepreneurial and vocational skills.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said this when the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of ITF, Sir Joseph Ari paid him a courtesy visit on Friday in Abuja.

    “We are ready to partner with ITF to reduce unemployment in the Territory by ensuring that our youths acquire the necessary skills that would make them self-employed and employers of labour.

    “This is especially very important now that there is so much influx of people from every part of the country into the Territory,’’ he said.

    According to him, this is in a bid to curtail the rate of unemployment in the territory and the country in general.

    The minister, represented by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Chinyeaka Ohaa lauded the enormous contributions of the ITF in repositioning the nation’s economy on the path of sustainable growth and development.

    “We know that ITF is one of the foremost institutions that have helped Nigeria’s economy tremendously.

    “In fact, your role is even more critical now that we are having unemployment issues,’’ he added.

    Earlier, Ari, the ITF director-general, said that given the position of FCT as the gateway of Nigeria, the agency believed in partnership with FCTA.

    “This partnership particularly in the area of skills acquisition will assist immensely to achieve the dream of President Muhammadu Buhari, to empower young people with requisite skills.

    “We are here to synergise with FCTA being the gateway of Nigeria to achieve the dream of Buhari which is hinged on empowering people with skills in different areas,’’ he explained.

    The ITF boss further said that the agency had keyed into the policy of Federal Government on the “Ease of Doing Business and other international trends.

    NAN

  • N67b Utako market remodeling

    N67b Utako market remodeling

    N67 billion remodeling of the Utako Market has sparked protest among traders who fear their shops will be taken away from them upon the completion of the project.

    This has forced the FCTA to assure the angry and apprehensive traders that there are no plans to throw them out of their shops.

    Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mr. Christian Ohaa urged the traders and shop owners to return to the negotiating table to make room for amicable resolution of issues generated by the remodeling project.

    The upgrade of the market is an initiative of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) authorities.

    Ohaa made the appeal in a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Traders, as well as Utako Market Traders Association, in his office.

    Ohaa gave strong assurances to the traders that no one would shortchange them or take away their shops unduly in the course of the remodeling exercise.

    The meeting was convened in reaction to the protest staged by the concerned traders at the FCTA Secretariat, alleging that the exercise was a ploy to take their shops away from them.

    According to a statement issued by the FCT Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the Permanent Secretary expressed concern over the way and manner the traders pulled out from earlier negotiations and urged them to return to the negotiating table and to express their grievances with an open mind as stakeholders in the Abuja project.

    He said, “We are committed to ensuring justice and due process. The developers have assured us that no one will lose his shop and we hold him to their words and will not superintend over injustice.

    “This is government of change, committed to moving Nigeria forward. Abuja is the city of unity, as envisioned by our founding fathers and a home for every Nigerian.”

    Ohaa urged the traders to consider the interest of all parties in the project by allowing work to go on, explaining that he had visited the market and observed that business activities and construction work could go on simultaneously. FCTA, he stated would ensure security of lives in all places, including the markets, churches and mosques at all times, especially during festive season.

    He further requested the whole team, comprising the FCT and national leaders of the Association as well as Ohanaeze and others to visit the market for firsthand information on the state of affairs and to report back to him.

    The representative of the developer, Engr. Rabiu Sa’id, at the occasion gave assurances to the shop owners that they would all get their shops even before commencement of sale of the new shops to the public.

    Sa’id also revealed that the remodeling would provide 2100 shops, three times more than the existing shops, in addition to a 1500-space multi-level car park.

    He said: “No traders will lose his shop. We will spend N67billion to develop the market, and we have not sold any shop. We will not sell any shop until everybody that has a shop there gets his shop. The issue of short-changing anyone does not arise, at all.”

    The Chairman, Utako Market Traders Association, Austin Onwuamado expressed happiness over the outcome of the meeting while appealing that the traders interest be protected by the government during and after the construction exercise. He pleaded that most of the traders obtained loans to acquire the shops and the goods in them.

    He also appealed to the developers to temporary halt further development activities on the site to allow them sell during the yuletide season, an appeal which did not meet the acceptance of other stakeholders.

     

  • FCT Nursing School hails old student for donating books

    FCT Nursing School hails old student for donating books

    Authorities of the Federal Capital territory (FCT) Nursing School in Abuja have tasked the school’s former students to learn to give back to the school to enable it effectively deliver on its mandate to present and future students.

    The Director of Nursing Services, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Mrs. O. I. Onakwue, Assistant Director, Nursing and School Principal, James Lakareks and Chief Nursing Tutor, Yakubu Abdulganiyu said assistance from old students would help in providing necessary learning materials in the school.

    They spoke at a well-attended event held in the school in honour of an outstanding ex-student, Adeniyi Ade Adeleye, who was in the institution to donate books worth millions of naira in support of the school’s library.

    Adeleye, who was in the school between 2001 and 2004, but now lectures at the Central Queensland University in Australia, was filed with emotion by the show of appreciation by the school’s officials and students.

    He told a gathering of students and officials, at the school’s hall, that the donation, made possible with the assistance of Pearson Australia and Mrs. Sharon Stack, was his way of giving back to the school and saying thank you, not only to the school authorities by the country.

    He added: “It is also intended to show appreciation for what I benefited from this institution. We should try to show appreciation for every little benefit that we get, not just as students, but as individuals, as families and as community. “

    Remembering his days in the school, Adeleye urged the students to imbibe the spirit of hard work, and not waste their time on frivolities, but always remember that their future depends on their commitment to school works.

    He thanked the school’s officials for their good works in grooming the students and urged the students to be committed to the Nursing profession at graduation, because nurses make the largest workforce in healthcare anywhere in the world and are instrumental to the success of any healthcare system.

    (From Left) Abdulganiyu, Lakareks, Adeleye, Mrs Onakwue and Lawan Abana (Chief Nursing Tutor)… with some of the donated books.
    (From Left) Abdulganiyu, Lakareks, Adeleye, Mrs Onakwue and Lawan Abana (Chief Nursing Tutor)… with some of the donated books.

    Mrs Onakwue, who was the school’s Vice Principal when Adeneye was a student, said the ex-student has made it a tradition to support his alma mater, having made similar book donations twice before now.

    She noted that Adeleye was the first ex-student to make such donation to the school. She urged the school’s students’ union to work with the school’s alumni to enable the institution benefit more from their assistance.

    Lakareks noted that Adeleye started the practice, of donating to the school, years ago and has not relented. “This is a welcome initiative and we are very proud of him,” Lakaraks said. He urged other past students to emulate Adeleye.

    Abdulganiyu, who spoke in similar vein, urged the students to emulate Adeleye and not to be distracted, but to “know where you come from, where you want to be. The choice of what you become is your choice. It is in your hand.”

    Also at the event was the Principal, FCT School of Midwifery, Hajia Binta Dambata and other senior officials of the School of Nursing.