The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Capital Territory Administration

  • FCTA tackles Bwari crisis

    FCTA tackles Bwari crisis

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been meeting with stakeholders in Bwari Council Area, which was caught up in crisis late December.

    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello while addressing Bwari stakeholders at Sarkin Bwari Palace, commended them for maintaining peace thus far, noting that what was needed more was action.

    “We want to see action,” he told them. “We may have preached peace, and talked peace enough. We want you to act peace. Sustain and maintain the current peace we have in Bwari.

    Malam Bello who was represented by Secretary for Area Councils Services Secretariat, Adamu Abubakar Bappah stated this and added: “We did not celebrate Christmas because of the incidence and we have not slept since 25th December, last year, but we can see that peace has returned to Bwari”

    According to him, the Bwari peace stakeholders would also meet next week Tuesday in Esu Bwari’s palace; after which another meeting would take with the traders, shop owners and renters, possibly in the market place, while the final meeting will be held at a neutral venue within the council area.

    The Minister therefore urged the security agencies to keep keeping an eye on the principal actors, even as he tasked all the village heads to report all unusual activities within their environment, suspecting that there was something fishy they were all hiding.

    He said: “up to today, all we hear is rumours. Not even the traditional rulers can say what it is. These people have been living together peacefully for the past 30 or more years; so what is the problem now? Something must have happened!”

    Chairman, Bwari Area Council, Hon. Musa Dikko while addressing the people, disclosed that the return of peace to his council was as a result of series of meetings and unflinching support of the FCT Minister, adding that Bwari was the most peaceful in the FCT, because it was the food basket of the FCT, “which is also security because when people are hungry, there is no peace.

    Dikko also disclosed that his government was: “ensuring that the traditional institutions are properly handled to enable them handle their responsibilities effectively,” including 100 percent upgrading of Bwari chiefs’ salaries among others.

    Bwari Chairman however warned against incisive and provocative messages, adding that his council was doing its best in the area of providing relief for the affected traders in line with directives from the FCT Minister.

    On his part, the Sarkin Bwari, Muhammed Awar Musa Ijakoro II, regretted that the crisis resulted into the burning of Bwari market.

    “I wonder why such things happen because the history of Bwari involves the Gbagyi, koro, Hausa, and all the other tribes living together in peace. We married among ourselves, I wonder why such a problem happened, but it is gone now. I pray that such a thing should not happen in our midst again”.

     

  • FCTA trains 150 teachers, administrator

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Education Secretariat, has commenced a seven-day training of 150 teachers as part of preparations to takeover a secondary school to be donated by the Korean government next month.

    Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 4th level training for teachers and administrators of the Nigeria/Korea model at FCDA conference hall, last week, Education Secretary Isa Maina urged all beneficiaries of the training and all other stakeholders to take their responsibilities to the operation and maintenance of the school with utmost seriousness and professionalism.

    Maina said: “Your training is very important because you are going to form an elite corps of teachers. You are hereby called to live up to your calling as imparters of knowledge and moulder of young minds. This fourth level training will further enhance and broaden your scope of knowledge and I urge you not to misuse this opportunity and even use it as a foundation for personal improvement.

    “For the 150 of you who are being trained on ICT usage in the classroom, I implore you to endeavour to further train your colleagues who did not have the opportunity to attend this training. South Korea is one of the most technologically advanced countries and the chance to be trained by some of their most gifted minds does not come every day. Use the knowledge being acquired effectively in your duties.”

    Maina, who was represented by Director, Administration and Finance, Mrs. Eunice Ugochukwu, added: “the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has taken a personal interest in the school having visited it even during construction.”

    On the standard of the $15 million School, Maina said: “I must confess that very few, if any at all, can match the Nigeria/Korea Model School in concept, design and construction. The quality of work is simply outstanding and I am sure it is comparable with some of the very best in the country.

    “Basic education is the foundation of all formal education and it is at this stage that the educational career of a child is charted and mapped out. It is therefore essential we get it right at this level because the effects of any shortcoming at this stage might not become apparent until several years later down the road when it might be too late be remedied.”

    Mrs. Theresa Mbonu, who represented Mrs. Eunice Ugochukwu, noted Isa Maina’s commitment to the upliftment of the standard of education in the FCT and commended all departments and boards under the secretariat for always working in harmony for seamless management of the sector in the nation’s capital, adding that their contributions to the project has brought it thus far.

    The school, which will be handed over by the Korea Government to the FCT Administration next month, is expected to commence operation later in the year, by September.

  • Panic as 700 shanties, estate are to go in Lubge

    Panic as 700 shanties, estate are to go in Lubge

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to demolish no fewer than 750 shanties in Lugbe for safety of the residents.

    Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Usman Galadima during a tour of the affected areas in Lugbe, explained that the areas were not legal layouts and all the shanties did not have government allocation.

    According to Galadima, all the shanties built directly under the High Tension in Tudunwada, Peace Village, and on either sides of the electricity facility would soon be removed to pave way for Transmission Company of Nigeria to start work.

    “The distance legally allowed away from the High Tension is 25metres, plus 5metres for contingency, which makes it 30 metres,” he said.

    The Development Control boss explained that while his office had already warned the residents, it has become imperative to quickly carry out this demolition exercise due to a request from the Federal Ministry of Power for the FCTA to clear the area for it to commence construction of a 330/132/33kV substation in Lugbe (West Main).

    Galadima added that the substation was one of the major projects slated for the FCT as listed by the Federal Government as part of capital projects to be executed in 2018.

    Similarly, Diamond Acres, a major private estate under construction in Lugbe, was also given final marking immediate demolition.

    Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Coordinator, Umar Shuiabu while speaking to reporters at the project site, affirmed that the estate must give way.

    He berated its owner for being stubborn and disregarding development guidelines.

    He explained that Diamond Acres Estate was sitting directly on Ring Road 4, a major road network.

    The news of the demolition has created panic among residents of affected areas who appealed to government to tamper justice with mercy.

  • FCTA spends N2b on HIV, TB test kits

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has spent over N2 billion on the distribution of HIV and Tuberculosis test kits to health facilities in rural areas.

    The development, FCTA said, is to assist in the action plans on HIV, TB screening and testing.

    The Secretary FCT Health and Human Service Secretariate, Amanda Pam, at a news conference, said apart from scaling up the fight against the spread of HIV/ AIDS in rural areas with N2,595,220,646.00, the secretariat has also funded TB, family planning, and vaccine programmes with N15,350,845.80, N20,787,436.80 and N3,793,645,800.00.

    Mrs. Pam stated that the secretariat has also successfully integrated HIV Testing Services into the Maternal Neo-Maternal Child Health weeks.

    Her words: “The secretariat distributed HIV rapid test kits to health facilities across the six Area Councils of the FCT, successfully integrated HIV Testing Services into the May and December 2017 rounds of the MNCH weeks in the FCT, with 69 percent HTS coverage achieved among Women of Child Bearing Age.

    “ FCT logistics Management Coordinating Unit ( LMCU) successfully supported the last mile distribution ( LMD) of commodities worth N2,595,220,646.00, N15,350,842.80, N20,787,436.80, and N3,793,645,800.00 for HIV, TB, Family Planning and Vaccine programmes respectively.”

    The Deputy Director, Pharmacy Unit, Amos Aremu, explained that the sealing of some pharmaceutical firms in the nation’s capital was done to curtail the people who wanted to make profit at the expense of public health.

    She decried the delay in passing bills on health by the National Assembly.

     

  • Kuje Prison Road to be built soon

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has awarded the popular Kuje Prison Road for construction.

    The road has been abandoned for years.

    Coordinator of FCTA, Satellite Towns Development Department, (STDD), Yamao Tanko, who disclosed this during his official visit to Kuje Area Council to monitor projects, said once the 2018 budget is passed the contractor will be mobilised to site.

    He also assured the council of adequate plans to assist in evacuating filth from Kuje.

    He said, “In Kuje I think it is only few roads now that need to undergo repair and construction.

    “The Kuje Prison Road has been awarded and the contractor will soon be on site. We are just waiting for the 2018 budget. Once our budget is passed, we will mobilise the contractor to move to site. “

    “I have been told of the challenges kuje is facing about the waste. But you can see the bin here provided by the STDD, but the problem we have been having is, we wanted partnering with the Kuje Area Council by providing the bin and our truck and the council will be fueling the trucks.

    “This agreement was initiated by the past administration and the administration was not able to meet up with the fueling of the trucks that will move the bin from here to the dumping site. The head of environment of the council has assured me that the present administration is ever ready to provide fuel for the truck to aid movement of the refuse to the dumping site.  When we get back to the office we will put all arrangements in place on how our trucks will be removing this filth.”

    The STDD boss also visited the palace of the Gomo of Kuje, Alh. Haruna Jubril and the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Galadima to hint them of government projects in Kuje and how they are to be renovated or completed.

    Projects monitored by Tanko are rehabilitation of 6.5km Kuje- Gwagwalada (phase 1) road, provision of access road to Senate Staff Mass Housing, upgrading of 5km Senior Staff Quarter’s road network, and Kuje, among others.

  • FCT vaccinates 20,000 livestock

    In a bid to boost activities in the livestock industry and ensure sanity in the handling of animal products in the Territory, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has successfully vaccinated over 20,000 livestock in the Territory.

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello disclosed this during the national conference on the transformation of the Nigerian livestock industry.

    He said, “Recently more than 20,000 livestock were vaccinated in a two-week intensive campaign carried out by the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat. Also, the Administration has successfully combated diseases such as Bird Flu and Army Worms.”

    Bello who was represented at the occasion by FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa further revealed that the Administration is collaborating with the Cattle Breeders in the Territory to fashion out cutting-edge solutions to the challenge of cattle rustling and illegal grazing in the city.

    The Minister in a statment issued by the Press Secretary, Permanent Secretary’s Office, Tony Odey said that as part of efforts aimed at mitigating the challenge of illegal grazing in the Territory, the Administration had already constituted a high-powered ministerial committee to fast-track the development of the four grazing reserves provided in the FCT Master Plan.

    The minister said, “The FCT Administration has proactively set up a Ministerial Committee on the development of the 4 Grazing Reserves provided for in the FCT Master Plan. Furthermore, discussion is on with Danish Company for the development of the Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve into a world class reserve as a model while provision has been made for adequate compensation to the affected farmers.”

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe said the conference is apt and expressed hope that it will address all the aspects of solutions required in the enhancement of livestock industry.

    Chief Ogbe further explained that President Muhammadu Buhari led government is making serious efforts to ensure that the livestock industry becomes the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

    Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu who also spoke during the event canvassed for policies and programmes aim at promoting the livestock industry.

  • FCTA restarts work on Apo-Karshi Road

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that work has resumed on the completion of the long awaited Apo-Karshi road, even as it plans to construct another bypass that would permanently tackle traffic situation on the Abuja-Nyanya axis.

    Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello made this known during a reception organized for members of the National Defence College Course 26, who paid him a study visit at the FCDA Conference Hall.

    Respond to a question from a member of the delegation on how the FCTA intended to solve the traffic situation on Nyanya road, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibril who represented the Minister at the event said: “the Honourable Minister has given us marching orders to see to the completion of the Apo-Wasa-Karshi road, what others call Apo-Karshi road.

    “And everything is resolved. The contractor is back on site and we will ensure we work in line with the timing of the Minister who believes that the road will provide immediate relief on this axis.”

    The Minister also revealed that “procurement has already gone far” as the FCT Administration expressed determination to ensure completion of another major bypass that would pass behind Mpape, traversing Nyanya, Gitata Panda, and terminating at Gurara, in Kaduna state.

    According to the Minister, this bypass is a “dedicated dual carriageway on the Eastern carriage way that would ease traffic on the Nyanya-Karu and Kubwa expressways and make entry and exit to the nation’s capital easy.

    Speaking specifically on how the FCTA was working towards tackling issues of high pressure on facilities in the Federal Capital City, Malam Bello stated that the Satellite Towns Development Department was working hard on the provision of water, roads and facilities in three of the territory’s satellite towns of Kubwa, Bwari and Karshi.

    Leader of the National Defence College Course 26 delegation, Commodore Emmanuel Ogalla while speaking on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the Minister and the FCTA management for the warm reception accorded them, and disclosed that they were surprised seeing that so much was been done by the Administration.

    He pledged that they would make their contributions that would ensure excellence in service delivery and infrastructural development of the FCT.

    It is worthy to state that, just like National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, students of National Defence College make study tours of states of the Federation and the FCT as requirement for completion of their study.

  • Fed Govt, Labour clash over Perm Sec’s posting

    Crisis is gradually brewing between the Federal Government and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), over the posting of a new Permanent Secretary by the Head of Service of the Federation.

    Chairman, FCT Joint Unions Action Committee, Comrade Titus Okoro accused the office of the Head of Service of always posting junior officers to oversee the affairs of senior directors in the FCTA.

    Okoro, who briefed newsmen on the development, said the Head of Service did not follow due process, adding, “It was our plans, ab initio, to stage a peaceful protest immediately after the retirement of the immediate past FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, but after consultations with stakeholders and other union leaders, we decided to approach the issue in a more civil manner, hence, we have decided to address you to carry the message to the appropriate quarters with a view to doing the right thing.     “While we welcome our brand new Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration, we want to use this medium to draw the attention of the Head of Service of the Federation to the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004, which in practical terms abolishes the office of a Permanent Secretary in the FCT Administration, as a quasi-State of the Federation. If the Head of Service is still feigning ignorance of the law, then today’s press conference will serve as an eye opener because we trust that the caliber of media organisations represented here are capable of conveying the message to their doorsteps.”

    The union urged the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, to advise President Muhammadu Buhari on the need to revert to the Dissolution Order for effective administrative structures.

    It also called on the National Assembly to pass into law the FCT Civil Service Commission and other Bills that will enhance effective administration as applicable in other states of the federation since the 1999 constitution recognises the FCT as one of the states.

    Okoro said, “Retrospectively, Ministry of Federal Capital Territory (MFCT) gave birth to Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) via Order 1 of 2004. In summary, the Dissolution Order 1 of 2004 simply states that “the administrative and bureaucratic structure established and referred to as the Ministry of the Federal Capital Territory is hereby abolished with effect from December 31, 2004. There shall be established for the Federal Capital Territory, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Minister. The Chief of Staff shall be appointed by the Minister, and shall enjoy the conditions of service applicable to a Special Assistant in the Office of the President. The Chief of Staff shall perform the functions that a Secretary to the Government of a State customarily performs in relation to that State.   “It is instructive to note that in the exercise of the powers conferred on Mr. President by Section 299 and 302 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, and Sections 14 and 18(b) of the Federal Capital Territory Act Cap F6 Laws of Nigeria 2004 and other powers enabling Mr. President in that behalf, and with the intention to ensure the prompt, effective and efficient administration of, and delivery of services to the residents in the Federal Capital Territory, the Dissolution Order 1 was gazetted in 2005, during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration. (Please see attached document for ease of reference).

    “It is disheartening when Head of Service of the Federation post a junior officer to oversee the affairs of very Senior Directors in the FCT Administration. In our considered views, it is absolutely anti-progressive. We therefore as organized body vehemently kick against the posting of a Permanent Secretary to FCT Administration by the Service.

    “We, however, pledge as obedient servants to work with the new Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian C. Ohaa, until the Service do the needful by complying with extant laws that established the Federation Capital Territory Administration.

    “We want to re-echo in an unmistakable terms that we stand on Dissolution Order 1 of 2004.”

  • Alleged maltreatment: Govt rescues boy from parents

    An 11-year old boy, Master Chibuike Alexander Unegbu, has been  rescued from his parents and handed over to Federal Capital Territory Administration’s (FCTA) Social Development Secretariat (SDS).

    The long journey to Chibuike’s rescue commenced when a concerned resident placed a call to the FCTA Call Centre, complaining that young Chibuike’s human rights were being trampled upon by his own parents.

    According to the anonymous caller, for many years, Chibuike was being locked up in his parents’ house, with all doors padlocked whenever they were not around; adding that unlike the couple’s other two younger kids, he (Chibuike) never went out with the parents to anywhere, including church and that he was not in school.

    Investigation revealed that persistent efforts by a combined team of the Nigeria Police (Lugbe Division) and the FCT Administration who paid several unsuccessful visits to the house in Lubge to save Chibuike finally paid off last week when they met his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ifeoma Chinasa Okwu and invited them to Lugbe Police station for questioning.

    Acting Director, Gender, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Agnes Hart while speaking with newsman on the development stated that the Secretariat confirmed the allegations through the Call Centre that: “a child somewhere in Lugbe was being locked in the house without care. That he is not taken out whenever the family is going out. They don’t take the child either to church or out anywhere.”

    Mrs. Hart went on: “And we felt very concerned that this shouldn’t be happening in the FCT. This is a very serious form of abuse so we contacted the Nigeria Police in Lugbe who kept on promising us to do something about it but because we have the best interest of this child, we decided that we would bring the child and the family together.”

    She revealed that the FCT has Child Rights Act which enables it to arrest or take such cases very seriously, warning that the FCT Administration would not take such abuses lightly.

    “If you are a biological mother and you are molesting the child in anyway, we won’t take it lightly. So am sounding a note of warning to all parents, if you have intention of wanting to maltreat a child in FCT, it won’t be tolerated. We have the best interest of the child at heart. This is a clear form of abuse and we will not tolerate it in the FCT,” she warned.

    Mrs. Okorie, while responding to the allegations expressed shock and added that she and her husband was giving Chibuike and the others children the best they could without segregation.

    “Am surprised that it is termed that am neglecting my child, the child I had when I was in school. I am a proud mother and nobody loves my child more than me. It is not true at all that am neglecting my son, I love him. I got pregnant for a boy who promised to marry me while in 200 levels at the University of Ibadan, but he later denied it. I went home with the pregnancy and my mother sent me out of the house that I should take the pregnancy to the boy.

    “I took the pregnancy to Ukgiwe, Imo state, to stay with the boy’s parents for one year, where I gave birth to the boy (Chibuike). When he was six months old, I came back to stay with my Mum, because I was tired of staying in the village. I started doing jobs and I was able to save for my UTME form which I took and my name was first on the list in the English Department, Nassarawa State University,” she explained.

    While sobbing, with tears rolling down her face uncontrollably, the seven-month old pregnant Mrs Okorie disclosed: “I took him to class back then in the University, where everyone knew me and my son. I came out the best in my Department. For someone to tell me am ashamed of my son is not true at all”.

    She also revealed that when she was redeployed to Imo state from Jigawa State for her NYSC, she registered her son in Bright Way International School, Keffi, but had to take him out in the first term due to high fees which she could not afford, and “my husband was not finding things easy.”

    Mrs. Okorie had no reply when the Gender Director sought to know why she did not take the son to a public school which was affordable, instead of keeping him out of school for two terms.

    It was gathered that Chubuike Alexander Unegbu is a step son to Chinasa Okwu Okoie.

    In a related development, an abandoned five-year old child  who gave his name as Sheriff Ibrahim, was rescued and kept in the same Lubge Police Station.

    According to the police, Ibrahim was taken to the station by a roadside roasted meat seller, popularly known as maisuya, who explained that his mother bought N200 suya at his stand last week Sunday, promised to be back soon to pick him up but she never turned up.

    Anyone with information on how to reunite Sheriff Ibrahim with his parents should contact the DPO, Lugbe Police Station, Tunde K. Osuman on 08036017227 or 08056596330

  • Rural residents relish decongested road

    Rural residents relish decongested road

    There is a sigh of relief in the suburbs as a once notoriously clogged road is cleared, reports GBENGA OMOKHUNU

    Relief has come for one of their major headaches. Residents of Jikwoyi in the outlying, often neglected districts of the nation’s capital are now happy that their much-bemoaned road has received the attention of the authorities, and they can now smile. The Abuja-Nyanya-Karu-Jikwoyi Road has been decongested, thanks to a task force set up by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

    Not only Jikwoyi residents are happy; virtually everyone who plies that road is excited, and they all are praising the government for the intervention.

    Abuja Review observed during a tour of the axis that most traders, shop owners, vulcanizers, among others, who clogged up the road have had their structures removed, hence a dramatically improved flow of movement.

    It was also observed that the giant metal bins, popularly known as roro bins that were not put to proper use during our earlier visit were last time properly being utilised, indicating a clear departure from the past. There was also no refuse dump on the road median. In addition, roadside grass is also kept trim, enhancing its ambience.

    One of the residents we spoke to appreciated the work done so far by the taskforce and expressed gladness that there was huge improvement in decongestion of this road since the taskforce started work over two months ago.

    This resident who preferred anonymity, disclosed that it now takes him 30 to 40 minutes to drive to the city, unlike then when he took more than two hours to come to town and go back during peak periods in the mornings and evenings.

    Another resident of that axis, Abby Tolani who also showered praises on the Minister, Malam Musa Bello and the taskforce said, “Traffic has really improved on this Nyanya-Jikwoyi Road. There is free flow of traffic now. The FCT Minister is doing a nice job. People used to park cars their cars on the road in the guise that they wanted to shop and return, but instead, they go for their daily businesses”.

    Another person Tolu who displaced knowledge of the axis also stated that “dumping of dirt on the median has also drastically stopped, but the problem is that those going into the houses and bringing out refuse to the roadside are the ones causing the problem”.

    He pointed out a drainage pipe at a bridge by Eldit Royal Hotel, which he complained was too small and could not allow easy passage of water, thus contributing to the clogging of the road with refuse.

    He disclosed that men of the FCTA come in two or three days to empty the roro bins, advising the FCT administration to sustain the awareness campaign so that people would not return to encroach on the road.

    Martins Okoro, another resident who spoke to us, noted that the axis was “terrible, but not like before at the moment since that taskforce started work”.

    Okoro who said the environmental men came twice a week to remove the refuse claimed that some men from the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) came and collected N1000 from them but did not remove the refuse.

    He therefore urged the FCT Administration to keep it up and continue to keep the route clean, saying, “Nyanya used to be very dirty before”.

    In one of our past editions, we reported that the FCT Administration was planning to remove all the structures that contributed to the congestion of that route, even though the Minister has always insisted on a people-friendly approach in achieving the task, despite being chaired by a retired Maj. General Emmanuel Inienger.