The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

  • Keep trust or quit, Buhari tells public officials

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Katsina warned public officials, particularly those elected and appointed into office, that they must keep public trust or leave.

    The President spoke at the palace of Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir, as he arrived to an epic reception in his hometown for the grand finale of the APC presidential campaign rally before the elections on Saturday.

    The President had earlier visited all the other 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President said “Those who betray the people’s trust, we will not spare them, they would be fished out and dealt with.”

    President Buhari told the Emir and members of the Emirate Council that the promises he made before his election in 2015 have been met, adding with certainty that all he needed was a second term and would not ask for more.

    “There is hope in the future of this great country,” the President said, appealing to all Nigerians to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.

    The President highlighted his administration’s achievements in infrastructure development including improved power supply, as well as empowering artisans, craftsmen, tailors, barbers and battery chargers to increase output and better their own lives.

    “The local production of rice and the increased agricultural production have helped the country to achieve food self-sufficiency,” he said.

    Read also: Oyo speaker condemns Akala’s son’s defection to ADP

    The President thanked the people of his home state for the “unprecedented” turnout of men and women from both rural and urban areas and the intensity of support shown by them.

    The President said it was humbling to see a mammoth crowd line the streets of Katsina and fill the Karakanda Stadium to see and listen to him give a scorecard of his stewardship in the last three and half years.

    In his remarks, the Emir of Katsina noted that the massive support, enthusiastic following and the hero’s welcome received by the President was a clear testimony of the people’s approval for his leadership, personality and integrity.

    He said no other major political figure in Nigeria was anywhere near the President in popular acceptance, adding that honesty can never be defeated.

    The Emir pledged 100 percent Katsina support to the President’s re-election.

  • PDP fumes over denial of access to campaign venue

    The decision by the authorities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to deny the Presidential Campaign Council of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) the use of its facilities for political rally, has heightened the animosity between the main opposition party and President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The PDP had booked and paid for the use of the Old Parade Ground, located in the Garki District in the capital city a few days ago, for the purpose of holding the party’s presidential campaign rally, originally billed to hold on Saturday.

    However, 24 hours before the scheduled event, the authorities of the FCT, managers of the facility, informed the leadership of the PDP that the Old Parade Group would no longer be available for the use of the party.

    This has forced the PDP to shift the proposed rally and await approval from the authorities of the FCT for another date, which was yet to be determined as of Saturday.

    At a media briefing in Abuja Saturday, the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused President Muhammadu Buhari of being behind the party’s travails.

    Ologbondiyan said the action signified a morbid fear of the rising profile of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar by President Muhammadu Buhari and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).

    According to him, the shutout was part of the last kicks of a dying horse, which he said the Buhari Presidency now represents.

    The PDP spokesman said, “It is part of the plot by the frustrated President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to drag the PDP and the people’s candidate to their low level of frustration in order to enmesh the coming election into crisis so as to achieve their self-succession bid.

    “We invite the world to note that this latest assault against the people’s candidate is also borne out of direct ill-will and hatred against him by President Muhammadu Buhari as well as his handlers, who have sought all ways to drag him down, since they realized that Nigerians have reached a consensus on Atiku Abubakar, as the next President of our country.

    Read Also: Mass defection hits Akwa Ibom PDP

    “Atiku Abubakar, being a true democrat and statesman has decided to go with the people in their collective quest to rescue our nation from the vengeful, divisive, violent prone, insensitive, completely incompetent and inherently corrupt Buhari administration”.

    The main opposition party cautioned President Buhari and the APC, saying that with the level of consensus Atiku enjoys throughout the country and even across the world, any assault on him is a direct assault on the overall aspiration and sensibilities of Nigerians as a whole.

    The PDP spokesman declared that the more the Buhari Presidency attacks the ‘people’s candidate’, the more his support base among Nigerians expands.

    Ologbondiyan warned that any further attack on PDP campaign will attract very dire response from Nigerians, who he said, look up to Atiku to salvage nation from the social, economic and political despondency, which he said President Buhari has plunged the country into.

    “From reports reaching us, it is not also out of place for the Buhari Presidency and the APC to use this measure to test the will of Nigerians as precursor to their rigging plots.

    “We want to place on record, once again that any attempt to rig the February 16 election will be vehemently resisted by Nigerians, across board, who have reached a consensus to rescue their nation from the stranglehold of the Buhari Presidency.

    “In any case, let it be known to President Buhari and the APC that the PDP and the people’s candidate will definitely hold our Presidential mega rally in Abuja irrespective of any further encumbrance they may attempt to foist.

    “Nigeria belongs to all of us and nobody can stop us from exercising our constitutionally guaranteed right of holding our rally in the FCT or any other part of our country for that matter”, Ologbondiyan declared.

    Asked why the PDP did not apply to use the much bigger and spacious Eagle Square, located close to the federal secretariat, Ologbondiyan said the party had applied for the facility but that the FCT authorities said the venue was not available for use.

     

  • SDP crisis: I can’t be Duke’s running mate in 2019 election – Gana

    The embattled former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana on Saturday disclosed that he is in the Social Democratic Party (SDP), to win the forthcoming 2019 presidential election and not to be running mate to former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke. 

    Gana, at the unveiling of his campaign programme tagged ‘SWIFT’ said the leadership of SDP would not want to take the decision of him accepting to become running mate to Duke, if the party wants to win election. 

    The development is following the judgment of a Federal Capital Territory (FCT), high Court in Maitama a week ago declaring Jerry Gana, the winner of the presidential primary election of the SDP conducted on October 6 this year.

    The party had declared a former Governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, winner of the election and its flag bearer for the 2019 presidential election. 

    Duke at the primary polled 812 votes, while Gana had 611. 

    Gana who was not satisfied with the outcome of the primary went to court seeking to be declared the winner in line with the zoning and rotation formula of the party’s constitution.  

    He promised to unity Nigeria and also obey the rule of law if he wins the presidential election in 2019. 

    His words: “I do not mind at all but, the party will definitely want a strategy, that is a winning strategy. Let us be very realistic the South South have just concluded a turn of the presidency during former President Goodluck Jonathan, if Nigerians are to be real they will know that it is too soon to have a presidential candidate running for an election from that zone. 

    Read Also: Gana loses out as SDP affirms Duke as presidential candidate

    “The other zones of Nigeria would also want to have the vote, so if you want to win election the party will not do that. But if they want to just play politics they would do that. I am not for that I am for winning election.”

    Gana vowed that securing Nigeria and its people will be the primary responsibility of his administration if elected. 

    He said: “we have identified unresolved conflicts, realities of injustice, prebendalism, ethno-religious crises, kidnapping, militancy, banditry, armed criminality, defective state structure and failure of governance. These have resulted in the negative backlashes and security challenges in our nation. Accordingly, we shall strengthen security of life and property to facilitate a qualitative development of the nation; reconcile the Nigerian peoples for better harmony, understanding and unity; and restructure the Federation for prosperity, equity and progress.

    “We cannot continue to live in denial that we are not a crisis-torn, conflict triggered and deeply divided people and expect the same people to build a progressive nation. The reality is that the country is at war with itself. We should take advantage of our heterogeneous nature, exploit the strength and synergy of our diversity to build a strong, united and progressive Nigeria. This is possible! It can be done! And we are determined to do it! Unfortunately, we have emphasized our differences and promoted the things that divide us, rather than those things that unite us. These matters have become sources of tension within and amongst the various peoples of Nigeria.”

  • Only 35 per cent of infrastructure developed in Abuja – Minister

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammed Bello has revealed that only 35% of Abuja’s infrastructure has been developed.

    Bello said that the FCT was projected for 3.1 million population when fully built within a projected 25 years period.

    He added that Abuja presently Abuja is the 4th largest city in the Country and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with over 2.75 million population squeezed within just two phases of the planned five phases.

    Speaking at the 2018 edition of the commemoration of the movement of seat of government from Lagos tp Abuja, he said that it has been 42 years since its creation and 27 years after the movement from Lagos.

    The Minister who was represented by Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engineer Umar Gambo Jibrin, urged everyone to see Abuja as a national heritage.

    His words “42 years since its creation and 27 years after the movement from Lagos, Abuja indeed, has come of age. It has surpassed Logos as the destination for foreign direct investments. It has become a major aviation and conference hub for West Africa. We have also inaugurated a modern light rail transport system that is the first of its kind in the sub-region and FCT, indeed, has become the melting pot of Nigeria that it was conceived to be.

    “However, the city’s demographic expansion has proceeded beyond the protected growth plan when the city was founded. FCT was projected for 3.1 million population when fully built within a projected 25 years period. According to the National Population Commission, Abuja presently is the 4th largest city in the Country and one of the fastest growing cities in Africa with over 2.75 million population squeezed within just two phases of the planned five phases. Three more phases are waiting on the wings. Presently only  about 35 percent of the infrastructure is developed within the developed two phases.

    Read Also: 70m Nigerians need housing, says Minister

    “On this note I, therefore, urge all of us to see Abuja as our national heritage and join hands to protect it. This is because so much hes been invested in the building of the new capital -infrastructure, public utilities, institutions etc. Today, however, we are confronted with a new set of challenges, namely; vandalism of public utilities like manhole covers, bridge railings, transformers and streetlight poles and components, transformers as well as plain acts of sabotage and disobedience to rules that make for orderly living.”

    Executive Head, Editorial Board, The Guardian newspaper, Mr Martins Oloja who was the keynote speaker of the occasion, stated that Abuja has been an orphan of some sort.

    His words, “Abuja has been an orphan of some sort perhaps because of near absence of democracy in its governance processes. All the 36 states’ governors are elected but the ‘militicians’ who gave us this constitution made Abuja just a part of the Office of the President, no thanks to Sections 299-302 of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Even the original inhabitants who have been agonizing without organizing well about unfulfilled promises since 1976, could not remember Abuja @ 40 and I said so in February 2016.”

  • 2019: We’re monitoring campaign closely – INEC

    …Expresses satisfaction so far

    ..Vow to arrest, prosecute perpetrator of Kwara violence

    The Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) has said that it is closely monitoring the ongoing campaign by various political parties and candidates ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    The Campaign for the 2019 Presidential election officially commenced on Sunday 13 November 2018 as provided for by the Electoral Act.

    Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mahmood Yakubu, made the disclosure Wednesday during the meeting of INEC management team with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) from the 26 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Read Also:INEC Chair to Nigerians: we ‘ll conduct credible poll

    Yakubu in his opening remark said the commission was happy with the trend of the campaign, which has been on policies rather than personalities; hoping that the trend will continue that way.

    “The Commission is committed to closely monitoring the campaigns pursuant to our statutory mandate and to ensure compliance with the extant laws and regulations. We are pleased that the focus in the last few days since the commencement of the campaigns has been on policies rather than personalities. We sincerely hope it remains this way,” he said.

    The INEC boss who also used the opportunity to react to the Kwara state bye-election at the weekend, said vowed that the commission will arrest and prosecute those involved in the attack on its staff and destruction of electoral materials in the Kwara state at the weekend.

    Yakubu also said the commission will work with the security agencies to fish out the perpetrators.

    He said: “On a sad note, the Commission lost four (4) members of staff in Kogi State and one (1) in Edo State to road accidents last week. Similarly, two (2) of our staff survived road accidents in Katsina State during the bye-election last weekend and one (1) election duty staff suffered a head injury following attack by hoodlums who destroyed election materials at a polling unit in Kwara State.

    “We are deeply saddened by these incidents. While we pray for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and wish the injured a speedy recovery, we will work with the security agencies to ensure the arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on our staff and vandalisation of election materials. ”

    Speaking on the window for political parties to substitute their candidates ahead of the 2019 elections, Yakubu said, “For Governorship and State Assembly elections, the submission of nomination forms closed on 2nd November 2018 while the last day for substitution and withdrawal of candidates is 1th December 2018.”

    He also reiterated that the Area Council elections in FCT will hold on March 2, 2019, along with the governorship and state Assembly elections.

    He also disclosed that the list of candidates for elections will be published in its Federal Capital Territory office and also at the six Area Councils on Wednesday, 21st November, 2018.

    Speaking on the meeting with RECs he said the meeting will provide opportunity for the electoral body to review the progress on collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

    He said, “At today’s meeting, we will also discuss with the RECs the progress made on the collection of outstanding Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by citizens as well as new modalities for a more efficient administration of the collection process. Similarly, the meeting will consider the recruitment and training of election duty staff, discuss the on-going review of the framework for voting by Internally Displaced Persons (lDPs), explore additional assistive measures in support of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the electoral process, examine additional ways to safeguard the sanctity of the ballot against the menace of vote-buying at polling units, appraise issues relating to electoral logistics and generally assess facilities and preparations for the General Election. “

  • 2019: Don’t let politicians use you – Religious leaders tells youths

    Religious leaders from across the country have called on youths to beware of being tools in the hands of politicians during the 2019 polls.

    The leaders are reminding youths all over of how same politicians usually use and dump them after making them risk themselves and pay them with drinks and drugs.

    Christian Association of Nigerian (CAN) chairman Bwari Area Council Rev. Thomos Nachie, said that anyone with good intentions for a person cannot give them drugs that will destroy their lives.

    Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, at a one day national forum with religious leaders on faith for social and behaviour change initiative held by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), he said that youths must refuse to be used as tools.

    Nachie who represented the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) CAN chairman added that youths must shine their eyes during this period.

    His words, “As a Christian, the fact is that we will continue to tell youths the risk of making themselves available as political thugs, most of the time we now that after being used, they are dumped. Our youths must come to realize that they must not be tools in the hand of politicians, who do not have good intentions for them, anyone with good intentions for you cannot give you drugs that will destroy your life.

    “Our youths must shine their eyes and stop giving themselves cheaply to politicians to be used to disrupt the peace of our nation and our politicians have to know that we are all answerable to the creator and it is clear that whatever we sow, we shall reap. If they cannot use their children to do such evil and not pay.”

    Read Also: Buhari to politicians: don’t set Nigeria ablaze

    Director/Chief Imam Al-Habibiyyah academy/Islamic society, Imam Fuad Adeyemi said that Nigerian youths have to realise that they too can attain the status of whatever politician trying to use them and refuse to be used because allowing themselves to be killed or sent to jail will kill their dreams.

    His said, “Now that the election is close by, religious leaders should understand their roles as representatives of God and his prophets, it is their job to represent all segments of their societies. It is important we make our youths understand that if God spares their lives they too can be what that politician is but if they destroy their lives or maim themselves it means their hope is dashed, they should understand that if a good youth becomes a leader tomorrow, they should have what they can refer to as focal point of where I’m I going to? How I’m I going to get to where I am going to? What are the things that will hinder my progress. One of the things that will prevent you is problems before, during and after the election. They need to realize that killing themselves or destroying themselves because of election ia not worth it.”

    Director General NOA, Dr Garba Abari said that the faith for social and behaviour change initiative ia a brain child of UNICEF.

    His words, ” The Faith for Social and Behaviour Change Initiative is the brain child of UNICEF. It is a strategic initiative that prioritizes the potential of religious leaders to lead social change processes through religious teachings and practices, by creating an open communication and support atmosphere about developmental initiatives such as exclusive breastfeeding, disease prevention, immunization, handwashing, nutrition, latrine use, personal hygiene, education, child protection and health-seeking behaviours.”

  • 2019: FCT youths task politicians on job creation

    Some youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have called on politicians, especially the Area Council Chairmen in FCT, to create employment opportunities for the unemployed youths in the territory.

    The youths, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, said that the creation of job opportunities by politicians would reduce social vices in the area.

    Mr Daniel Yaro, a resident of Dagiri community in Gwagwalada, stressed the need for every area council administration to develop employment programmes that would engage the youths.

    “Engaging youths as thugs during campaigns increases crimes, as they will be used and dumped by the politicians.

    “It is only during elections that many politicians engage youths to do unorthodox jobs.

    “The youths should be engaged in productive ventures, this will help in reducing crime in all the FCT area councils,” Yaro said.

    Read Also: Rising youth unemployment worrisome, says Fed Govt

    Ms Sarah Kaka, a resident of Kuje Area Council, called on the council chairmen to adequately fund youth empowerment initiatives in order to tackle unemployment.

    She also identified the popular Kuje forest as a good location for tourism development in the country if properly funded and handled by professionals.

    “The Kuje forest is a good relaxation area that can be used for tourism development in the country”.

    Kaka urged the government to focus attention on how to adequately engage youths in the country.

    Mr Timothy Sunday, a resident of Abaji Area Council, emphasized the need for the council chairmen to empower the youths to enable them become self-employed.

    According to Sunday, the idea of taking bank loans to start business was not encouraging, as the interest rate was too high for a beginner.

  • NAICOM issues guidelines for State Insurance Producer

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Tuesday released operational guidelines for State Insurance Producer (SIP) across the 36 states of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The SIP whose key responsibility includes facilitating the sale of the compulsory classes of insurance within the state jurisdiction and all classes for its principal’s insurance, is also an agency of a state government licensed by NAICOM to provide intermediary services as defined by the guideline issued by the commission and also remunerated as by the provisions of the guideline.

    According to the Commissioner for Insurance, Alhaji Mohammed Kari, the policy is expected to take off on January 01, 2019.

    The guideline reads: “The State Government shall be responsible for all the acts, commissions and omissions of its appointed Insurance officer and every other staff in its employment acting on insurance related issues.

    Read Also: NAICOM to release state insurance policy guideline next week

    “Any disputes arising between a State Insurance Producer and an Insurer or a client, or any other person either in the course of its engagement as an intermediary or otherwise may be referred to the Commission by the person so affected; and upon receipt of the complaint or representation, the Commission shall conduct an enquiry or an inspection or an investigation on the complaint or the representation as may be necessary.”

    “Once licensed to operate by the commission, the SIP shall enter into Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) as may be sanctioned by NAICOM, with approved insurance companies in its jurisdiction for the purposes of placement and management of insurance business within a state,” Kari said.

    The NAICOM boss explained that while the SIP will be empowered to penalize defaulters according to the laws of the States, it will equally maintain proper records of individuals and organisations bound by the requirements of the compulsory classes of insurance and monitoring the compliance.

    The apex insurance sector regulator has promised to open 20 new branch offices across the states of the federation for strict management and enhancement of insurance penetration.

    This according to it, will not only deepen insurance penetration, but also assist the government in meeting its objectives and expectations with regards to the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) in the areas of job creation, poverty prevention and confidence in the face of risk.

  • FG panel uncovers land fraud in Abuja

    The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) said it has uncovered fraudulent practices in land allocation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The panel said the Federal Government has lost huge funds to the fraudulent practices where parcels of land are allocated for mass housing projects without the necessary payments made.

    Read Also:Two NECO officials suspended for alleged N400m fraud

    SPIP said findings by its investigative team revealed that, as at June this year, over 300 parcels of land were allocated for mass housing projects, but that 79 per cent of the beneficiaries “have not complied with statutory requirements and payments.”

    SPIP Chairman, Okoi Obono-Obla disclosed these during a visit to the Minister of the FCT, where he sought the Minister’s support for his panel’s planned public hearing on the issue.

    Obono-Obla said: “It may interest you to know that the panel is here to discuss issues concerning fraudulent leasing of land for mass housing development resulting in the non-payment of rates and fees amounting to billions of naira.

    “The panel, in the course of discharging its mandate, received intelligence on fraudulent leasing of land for mass housing development which has resulted in non-payment of rates and fees amounting to billions of naira.

    “Analysis of documents collected and collated in the course of investigation activities revealed as follows: As at June, 2018 over 300 mass housing lands were leased to developers.

    “Only 252 developers leased mass housing lands have reported and documented with the Department of Mass Housing. Only 71 sites have been inspected.

    “Only 64 developers have completed and signed lease agreements. 79% of the developers that benefited from Mass Housing Land leases have not complied with statutory requirements and payments.

    “From 2010 to June, 2018, the total fees collected amounted to N1, 086, 750, 000 only. This falls far short of the amount that ought to have been realised by the FCT.

    “Moving forward and in consonance with the Recovery of Public Property (Special Provisions) Act, 2004, the non-compliance of the beneficiaries of mass housing leases to statutory requirement is an act of economic adversity.

    “Therefore there is the need to recover the outstanding public funds,” Obono-Obla said.

  • 2019: Major shakeup in FCT as minister appoints interim heads

    … Six political officer holders resign 

     

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has posted some senior officers to oversee some agencies, it was learnt on Wednesday. 

    The development is due to the vacation of positions by some political office holders who are seeking political offices in the forthcoming 2019 general elections. 

    The appointments, the minister said became necessary in order not to leave any vacuum in the operations of the affected Agencies.

    Accordingly, the Chief of Staff, Malam Muhammad Bashir Mai Bornu, is to oversee the activities of the Transportation Secretariat while Dr. Aminu Mohammadu Mai, General Manager of the FCT Hospital Services Management Board, would be in charge of the Health and Human Services Secretariat.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Assistant (Media) to FCT Minister, Abubakar Sani, Mr. Sunny Monedafe, Board Member I, Secondary Education Board, is now to oversee the affairs of the Board while Malam Bashir Muhammad, Director, FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, is to superintend over the Social Development Secretariat.

    Also, Mr. Chika Alexander Nwatu, Special Assistant on Community Relations would continue in that capacity with additional responsibility over Abuja North while Dr. Bala Mohammed Liman, Senior Special Assistant on Finance and Economic Matters would oversee the Education Secretariat.

    Read Also: Flood ravages FCT communities, kills 3

    It would be recalled that the minister had issued a strong directive that they should first resign before going ahead with their political ambitions. 

    This strong directive, which was contained in a circular PS/FCTA/589, dated 38th August, 2018, was made available to Executive Secretary, FCDA, Chief of State to the FCT Minister, Secretaries of Mandate Secretariats and Senior Special Assistants for onward circulation to the entire workforce. 

    It was also made available to all Directors in the FCTA and FCDA, Special Advisers (Community Relations), Special Assistants, Heads of FCT parastatals and agencies. 

    Findings revealed that a lot of political office holders were nursing the ambition to contest for an office in the forthcoming 2019 general elections, but they have not made their intentions publicly known.

    Many are according to sources considering the options before taking final decisions. 

    The circular which was personally signed by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Sir Christian Ohaa, reads in parts: “You may wish to note that in compliance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2010, (as amended), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued the Timetable and  Schedule of Activities for the conduct of the 2019 General Elections

    “Consequently, the Honourable Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has directed political appointees and other employees in the Federal Capital Territory Administration who wish to seek elective positions to formerly resign from their current positions to enable them pursue their political  ambitions.”

    It also directed thus: “Those affected are expected to handover all government property in their custody to the Permanent Secretary, upon the submission of their letters of resignation.”