The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

States rule out borrowing to bridge funding gap

State governments have ruled out borrowing to bridge funding gaps currently incapacitating from meeting their basic financial obligations.

Addressing journalists at the end of the monthly Federation Account Allocation Committee Meeting (FAAC) meeting in Abuja, Chairman of the Finance Commissioners forum, Mr Mahmood Yunusa of Adamawa state disclosed that “states are not looking at borrowing to augment the funding gaps.”

State governments, he said, are now looking at cutting costs and working closely with the federal government to increase non-oil revenue particularly Value Added tax (VAT), withholding tax and stamp duty so that at the end of the day, states will make more money.”

Earlier, Accountant General of the Federation Mr. Idris Ahmed disclosed that “the total revenue distributable for the month of September including VAT was N558.082 billion.

From this amount, the federal government pocketed N234.286 billion, states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) got, N152.739 billion, local governments’ councils received N114.918 billion. Oil mineral producing states got an additional N40.216 billion under the 13% derivation principle.

Idris Ahmed noted that gross statutory revenue of N423.961 billion received for the month was lower than the N550.992 billion received in the previous month by N127.023 billion.

The AGF noted that “there was significant increase in revenue from export sales of $176.4 million due to an increase in crude oil production by 4.12 million barrels. However, the average price of crude oil decreased from $50.44 to $46.29 per barrel.”

Idris Ahmed added that “activities resumed at Forcados Terminal for the first time since February 2016. There were shut-ins and shut-downs at Terminals for maintenance and repairs.”

Oil royalty he said recorded significant increase in the month under review but there was considerable decline decline in revenue from company’s Income tax, petroleum profit tax, import duty and VAT.”

It was also revealed that the balance in the Excess Crude Account (ECA) still stands at $2.309 billion while the balance in the excess account stands at $68 million as at 20th October, 2017.

October 24, 2017
Southeast crisis: Minister guarantees security in FCT

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has appealed to FCT residents to go about their business without any fear of molestation.

Bello assured that the FCT administration has taken every measure to ensure the security of life and property in Abuja.

He gave the assurance in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma after an emergency meeting of the FCT Security Committee which took place in his official residence.

The minister said, “The purpose of the meeting was to review the situation in the Southeast and its implication for the residents of the FCT as a Centre of Unity. We are properly briefed, and the whole idea is to ensure that FCT remains as peaceful as it has always been. We also occasionally receive updates on the situation of law and order in all the Area Councils and satellite towns. From all the reports we received FCT is peaceful.

“It is very clear that from what we read from the social media and some other electronic media, there are some people out there who clearly want to create trouble in this country. Obviously, government would not allow this to happen and certainly, in the FCT, we would not allow that to happen. That is why I am calling on all residents to ignore any negative report they read on the social media platforms that tend towards disunity, disaffection and targeted clearly towards trying to create trouble.”

Bello further said: “In the FCT, all the ethnic groups, religions and creeds are fully represented and live harmoniously. The laws of the land are very clear and anyone trying to foment trouble would be dealt with according to law. To this effect all the security agencies have been placed on heightened alert.”

He appealed to all FCT residents, especially those from the South East to live peacefully, to carry on with their lawful businesses without any fear and to discountenance the antics of some people out there who clearly want to create trouble.”

He stressed, “The Administration will not shirk it responsibility for the protection of lives and property in the FCT” while enjoining all the traditional rulers and chairmen to take the outcome of the deliberations to the Area Councils and grassroots communities. He also harped on the necessity for all residents to be alert to the happenings around the neighborhood as security is a collective responsibility.

He thanked residents of the FCT for their peaceful and calm nature urging them to continue to remain law abiding.

The new FCT Commissioner of Police, Malam Abubakar Sadiq Bello announced that security agencies have put in place measures to collaborate and work together to ensure peace and order as well as the exchange of intelligence in the Territory.

He said this had already with the show of force conducted on Friday.

Similarly, he disclosed that arrangement is in place for both visibility policing and intelligence gathering and sharing with other sister agencies. “We are well prepared to stop any threat,” He assured.

In a message to Christians at the end of the meeting, the FCT Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Jonah Samson enjoined all Pastors and believers to preach and pursue peace and to ensure that we encourage people to live together in harmony.

He charged all Christians to stay away from trouble and to pray for our nation, so that it would be a better place especially as we approach the independence anniversary celebration, adding that love is paramount.

September 26, 2017
DHQ cautions military pensioners against protest

The Defence Headquarters Wednesday cautioned military pensioners against embarking on any form of protest that may lead to the breach of peace in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and its environs.

The military pensioners are advised to get a legal permit from the police before embarking on such protest.

According to a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Major General John Enenche, the pensioners were advised to seek redress through appropriate channels in solving problems relating to the payment of their pension.

The statement reads: “The Defence Headquarters has been informed of the planned protest tagged “LIBERATION” by a group of military pensioners, on 13 September 2017, in Abuja.

“In this regard, the group is advised to get the legal permit from the Nigerian Police before embarking on such an exercise.

“This is to forestall any breakdown of law, order and breach of the peace.

“Objectively, the Defence Headquarters hereby advice the group of military pensioners involved in this plan, to desist and remain law abiding.

“The group is further adjured to explore the available channels of seeking redress through the appropriate organs/establishments of ex-servicemen and Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“This is for the information and necessary action of all military pensioners. It is equally for the awareness of the general public”.

September 13, 2017
Ministry of Transportation pilots bicycle riding in FCT

Ministry of Transportation says the National Council on Transportation has approved the commencement of a ‘bicycle riding’ project, as a means of transportation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi told newsmen at the end of the National Council on Transportation on Monday in Sokoto.

He said that the introduction of bicycles as a means of transportation would reduce congestion on the road and also improve the health of the riders.

“National Council on Transportation is a policy making Council, if nothing else; we approved that we should do a pilot project on bicycle riding in FCT.
“This is because Abuja is the only city that has facility for bicycle riding.

“For other states who want to do it, we must provide facility before they can proceed with it; we want to separate them from the roads because some motorists are impatient.

“So, we decided that we do it in Abuja because if you check, nearly all the roads in Abuja, there are lanes for bicycle.

“Any other state that wants to go ahead can do that but they must provide lanes for bicycle so that we do not have numerous accidents,” he said.

He said that using bicycles as a means of transportation was not new adding that countries including in China, UK and others already using it.

Amaechi, who described the project as an investment, said it would also help in exercise and reduction in the number of passengers using other forms of transportation including cars within the cities.

Commenting on other project, he said that the ongoing rail projects would really boost the economy.

According to him, the Lagos-Ibadan railway construction would need about 150,000 workers before its completion.

“Construction alone that is going on between Lagos-Ibadan would really boost the economy.

“The railway work that is going on there will need about 150,000 workers and when it is done, the business it would generate would help employ people.”

September 5, 2017
Tonto Dike, others hold audition for youths talent hunt show

Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and other celebrities on Friday took part in the audition for the talent hunt show Unleash Your Talent 2017, with over 200 youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two days audition from Aug. 17 to Aug. 18, is to discover, develop and empower young Nigerian talents in singing, dancing and acting.

The “Unleash Your Talent 2017” show is an initiative of the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF), an NGO that empowers youths and the less privileged towards realising their potential.

Tonto Dikeh, who coordinated the team of judges for the audition, told NAN that the Abuja event was a part of a nation-wide audition holding simultaneously in eight zones across the country.

“This audition is for aspiring contestants here in Abuja, and it is as well taking place in Lagos, Ibadan, Nasarawa, Bauchi, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Ekiti.

“Entrance is free with the age limit of 18 to 35 years, and if you said you got talent then come and unleash it.

“This Unleash Your Talent 2017 initiative is line with the ACTDF objective to empower and engage Nigerian youths, so they can contribute their quota to nation building,” she said.

According to Dikeh, the audition team is looking for passionate and talented youths who are poised to come to the limelight in the entertainment industry.

She said that at the end of the audition, selected contestants from Abuja would then slug it with other zones until the final winner emerges.

She further said that the grand finale is scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers on Sept. 1.

Some of the contestants who spoke with NAN said they were looking for platforms to develop and express their talents and the Unleash Your Talent 2017 was a timely opportunity.

Miss Belinda Ezeofor, a lawyer said she decided to pursue a career in acting because of her flair and passion for it.

“Acting has been my interest from childhood, even before I went to the university to study law. I, therefore, see this programme as an opportunity to fulfil my dream.

“I will put in my best in this audition to enable me to make it to the final stage,” she expressed.

Tina and Rita Mathew, identical twins and graduates of Theatre Arts, commended the ACTDF for bringing the talent hunt audition to Abuja.

“It is our dreams to grow in the acting profession and become celebrities, and a platform such as this will bring out the best in us towards realising the dream,” Tina said.

The panel of judges at the Abuja audition has seasoned actors, filmmakers and showbiz managers including Chinwe Eboh, El Deino and Olubunmi Fagbuyiro, a talent and brand management consultant.

Other members of the team are movie director Marx Adden and the Chief Whip of the Abuja chapter of the Actors Guild of Nigeria Oluwafemi Iwajomo.

NAN reports that organisers of the event had earlier said that each winner in dancing, singing and acting, respectively at the grand finale will get contracts worth one million naira and other cash prizes.

They will also be slated to join the ACTDF leadership on a trip to New York for the UN Summit holding later in September.

While the first and second runners up of the respective categories will also be rewarded with juicy contracts and cash prizes to enable them to thrive as young artistes.

August 18, 2017
Save us from multiple taxation, hotel owners tell Senate

Proprietors of hotels in the country Thursday asked the Senate to save them from the burden of multiple taxation placed on them by states and local government councils.

The hoteliers made the call while making their submissions before the Senate Committee on Culture and Tourism on a bill to amend Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) Act 2004 to Nigeria Tourism Development Authority ( NTDA) bill 2017.

They supported the move by the Senate to empower NTDA to harmonize all tax collections by states and local councils.

Mr. Olafemi Adenisimi Eegbodofo who spoke on behalf of his colleagues noted that the Supreme Court ruling of 2013, empowering state and local government councils to collect such levies being an item on the residual list of the 1999 constitution, not less than 15 different bodies in the states have been collecting different range of taxes from hotel owners.

“This to us is suffocating and killing because the multiple taxation has landed many of us in very uncomfortable position business wise as regards paying workers’ salaries and even remaining in business.”

As Eegbodofo was making his submission, he suddenly lost consciousness and had to be revived by other stakeholders on the table with him.

The development forced the Committee chairman, Senator Mathew Urhoghide to stop Eegbodofo from continuing with his presentation.

The Committee Chairman subsequently called on the President, Hotel Owners’ Forum, Abuja, Dr Chike Ezeudeh to make his submission.

Ezeudeh in his contribution also lamented the effect of multiple taxation on hotels in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja

According to him, “taxation in the FCT is even more killing than what are being experienced in the states going by 30 different levies slammed on them by both the FCT and host Area Councils.

He said; “My brother from Ondo state said one of the levies his hotel paid yearly to the multiple tax collectors in the state is N7.5 million but that is more like a chicken change here in FCT, as we are charged N29m, N20m, N15m on yearly basis by the various multiple tax collectors .

” This is the more reason why we are kicking against the 1% per room levy proposed in the new bill but strongly supported the move by this committee to empower NTDA as sole collector of taxes from hotels in the country.”

Senator Urhogide in his address noted that investment in tourism is particularly important for Nigeria due to dwindling government revenue and economic contraction as a result of the drastic fall in crude oil prices and with the vision to be rated among the top 20 economies of the world by 2020.

He said that the NTDC Act since its enactment, has not gone through any form of review or amendment, despite having passed through several years of socio-political and economic changes and characterized with so many inadequacies and shortcomings .

August 17, 2017
Osinbajo approves appointment of 21 new federal permanent secretaries

The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the appointment of 21 new Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.

Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, announced this in a statement by Mr Haruna Imrana, Director, Communications in the office on Thursday in Abuja.

The permanent secretaries are Ehuria Ekeoma (Abia State); Akpan Sunday (Akwa Ibom); Anagbogu Nkiruka (Anambra); Walson-Jack Esther (Bayelsa); Gekpe Isu(Cross River); Aliboh Lawrence (Delta) and Uwaifo Clement ( Edo).

Others are Folayan Olaniyi (Ekiti state); Osuji Marcellinus (Imo); Mu’azu Abdulkadir (Kaduna); Sulaiman Lawal (Kano); Abdullahi Mashi (Katsina State); Adebiyi Adekunle, (Lagos); Ibrahim Wen, (NasarawaS tate); Odewale Olajide (Ogun) and Adesola Olusade (Ondo State).

The rest are Adekunle Adeyemi,( Oyo state); Nabasu Bako, (Plateau); Ekaro Chukwumuebobo,( Rivers); Umar Bello, (Sokoto State) and Aduda Tanimu from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The statement added that their portfolios would be announced in due course.

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that 300 candidates from ministries, departments and agencies of the federal government, sat for the examinations meant to fill 20 vacant positions of federal permanent secretaries.

The candidates went through three levels of examination, including relevant public service and policy issues, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) assessment test and oral interview, within one week.

August 10, 2017
FCT bus conductors support establishment of conductors’ association nationwide

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) bus conductors on Thursday expressed readiness to dignify their job and support the establishment of Bus Conductor Association of Nigeria (BCAN) nationwide.

The conductors insisted that the establishment of the association would checkmate the activities of touts and dignify their job.

Some of them who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews said that forming an association for conductors was a good initiative.

A conductor, Monday Aliyu said that in FCT, the services of conductors were mostly in the motor parks, adding that touts had already taken over their business.

He said that the activities of those touts in the name of conductors had made so many commercial drivers to avoid picking passengers at the motor parks instead they would pick passengers along the road.

“Having a conductors association is a very good idea. The Lagos government is already supporting them and it will be very nice if it is operational in Abuja.

“There are no conductors like that in Abuja, only few in the parks and they are called ‘agbaro’.

“So if the association will register and organise the conductors in a way that no touts will be able to operate again, it will be great,’’ he said.

Another conductor, Ishola Kareem said that the idea of making bus conducting formal was a welcome development.

Kareem, however, said the establishment of the association would also help to reduce crime and criminality, usually perpetrated by the “bad eggs’’ or touts.

NAN reports that BCAN members have undergone series of training under the Lagos State Government and the association was officially affiliated with Trade Union Congress (TUC) on April 27.

The Lagos State Government planned to launch the wearing of uniforms, name tags and badges to enforce decorum and ensure safety of duly registered members and members of the public.

The official launching of BCAN Lagos chapter will be held on Thursday Aug. 3 in Lagos.

August 3, 2017
FCT residents laud INEC for 16 additional CVR centres

Residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for creating additional 16 centres for ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in the territory.

The residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the new centres would ease the suffering people were experiencing going to the only centre at Karu for the exercise, saying it was a welcomed gesture.

According to Mr Sunday Musa, a teacher, before now the CVR centres were difficult to access; I live in Gwarinpa but had to come all the way to Karu to register. It is not easy going there due to traffic.

“I am glad that 16 additional centres were added to the FCT; it will at least, ease the process.

“With these new centres, I am sure that so many people will be interested in the exercise because the process has been made easy,” Musa said.

Mr Maryam Idris, a trader, said that it took her three days of going to the centre in Karu before she succeeded in registering.

Idris said that the long wait on the queue deterred many people from registering, adding that the additional centres would solve the problem of queuing for long periods to register.

She commended INEC for the CVR, adding that it the process was smooth because there was no correction to be made on her details.

A civil servant, Mr Hakeem Suleiman, told NAN that he could not register during the first quarter exercise in spite of being at the centre five times.

He attributed the problem to long queues occasioned by existence of only one centre, saying “that was how I could not register till the first phase ended, but I am glad for the additional centres.

“This means that I can freely walk in and register and leave without the stress of standing under the sun for hours.

“INEC kept to its promise of adding centres for the exercise and I am glad to be benefiting from it.”

A student, Mr Jonah Lekwot, who was at the venue to correct his registration details, said that he was glad there was an opening to do that.

This, he said, was possible because people had the opportunity of correcting mistakes made during registration.

Earlier, Mrs Ndidi Okafor, Head, Voter Education and Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Liaison, INEC, FCT, said that the new registration centres had increased the number to 22 in the territory.

Okafor explained that the new centres were created in response to demand by residents in the area “to ease the harsh experiences they encounter in trying to get to the area councils, especially the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)’’.

She urged residents to collect their permanent voter cards and to check for correctness of their data and other issues for claims and objections.

August 1, 2017
FCTA partners UN-Habitat, AfDB on urban renewal projects in selected settlements

Some core indigenous settlements communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been selected for urban renewal projects under a soft loan arrangement from African Development Bank (AfDB) and UN-Habitat.

The Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Umar Jibrin said this while speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.

The projects according to the Executive Secretary, has been given a new impetus by the present FCT Administration under the leadership of Malam Muhammad Bello.

Jibrin said the settlements include Jikwoyi, Dutsen Alhaji, Gwagwalada and Kuje.

The minister said the move was a demonstration of the Administration’s resolve to complete viable ongoing projects in the FCT, thereby shifting emphasis on the development of satellite towns.

According to him, this will go a long way in opening up the grassroots of the Territory to make them places where people can live, work and raise their children.

Also speaking, the Director, Satellite Town Development Department, (STDD), Victoria Imande said that FCT Administration had submitted proposals which were acceptable to the African Development Bank (ADB) and UN-Habitat.

“As a result, a substantial part of the pre qualification conditions have been met which include project identification, detailing of scope of work and identification of major problems.

“Under the arrangement, FCT is shopping for a 300 million dollars syndicated loan by both institutions at an interest rate of between one to 1.5 per cent.

“The facility would be channeled to addressing the dearth of modern infrastructure among poor communities,’’ she added.

According to Imande, more than over one million people have been projected to benefit from the life improvement projects which include facilities to be provided such as tap water, electricity, roads, sewage and other basic utilities.

“The Administration is working with the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), consultants to the international agencies to ensure due diligence in the procurement process.’’

She stated that NIAF was already working on the development of the concept note, environmental and social management framework and tentative scope of the project.

July 12, 2017