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Tag: Federal Capital Territory (FCT)

  • Beauty queen advocates stiff penalties against sexual abuse of minors

    Miss Faith Philip, the former Miss Gbagy, in Bwari, FCT, has urged the Federal Government to introduce stiff penalties against culprits of  sexual abuse of the girl child, to reduce such crime in the society.

    Philip, a 2015/2016-Gbagy-beauty- queen, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Bwari, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
    She said that the call had become imperative because child rape and child abandonment had become prevalent in the area.

    According to her, hardly a day passes without such negative development being reported in the media.

    “Even the courts, often described as the last hope of the common man, are daily inundated with cases of rape of minors.

    “Sexual abuse of the girl child is on the increase; government must establish stiff penalties against anyone caught abusing the girl child sexually, to serve as deterrents for others.”

    Philip blamed the development on poor funding of the girl- child education, which hindered the teaching of female children on preventive measures against sexual abuse.

    She identified early marriage, poor sanitation and shortage of female teachers as some of the factors militating against the girl-child’s development in the community.

    The beauty queen urged government to put measures in place to improve the girl-child education, and to tackle the various problems associated with sexual abuse.

    “To be able to tackle issues that surround the abuse of the girl child, government should remove barriers hindering the continuation of education after such girls had been delivered of their babies.

    “Government must also provide incentives for the girl child that will motivate them to complete their primary and secondary education,’’ Philip said.

  • FCT residents decry improper handling of refuse by contractors

    FCT residents decry improper handling of refuse by contractors

    Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have criticised waste management contractors for their shoddy way of handling of waste evacuation and disposal across the territory.

    The residents, who spoke with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday in separate interviews, insisted that the evacuation of refuse ought to be carried out in a manner that would enhance the cleanliness of the surroundings.

    Mr Augustine Madu, an estate agent, particularly bemoaned the manner in which the waste management contractors littered the roads with garbage during waste evacuation processes, while blocking the roads with trucks.

    “The whole idea of evacuating refuse is to keep the environment clean but what some of these contractors do is to handle the waste evacuation in a messy way.

    “They forgot the whole essence of their service and think only of the money that would accrue from it.

    “I think that the primary idea behind the exercise is environmental cleanliness; the contractors should understand this before looking at the monetary benefits.

    “More attention should be given to the satellite towns where the population is concentrated, while the generation of waste is more,’’ he said.

    Another resident, Mrs Mabel Akande, a teacher, nonetheless, criticised some residents for dumping their garbage arbitrarily, without any regard for the use of refuse dustbins.

    “Now, we can say that we are trying to improve because for those of us living in the city centre, our refuse can be collected right from spaces in front of our homes.

    “However, the manner in which we dump our refuse is one thing and the habit of those collecting the refuse is another.

    “I think the authorities in charge of the environment should monitor closely all the refuse collection processes within the FCT,” she said.

    Mrs Helen Olabisi, an environmentalist, urged the FCT Administration (FCTA) to introduce some measures that would ensure proper evacuation of refuse in the territory.

    “Our society is such that people are not moved by what goes around them; look at the climate change issue, people seem not to know that their activities are partly responsible the change.

    “What I think those in charge should do is to make sure proper measures are put in place to enforce discipline and compliance to environmental rules.

    “Have we not forgotten simple hygiene principles because Ebola is no more? We should start learning how to imbibe personal cleanliness wherever we are,’’ she said.

    However, Mr Hassan Sule, a lawyer, complained of alleged insensitivity on the part of those handling the evacuation of refuse in the territory.

    “It is not right for the contractors to block the roads with the evacuation trucks; it also improper for them to use open trucks to evacuate refuse, thereby giving room for the refuse to flutter about.

    “I think the FCTA should be serious about this. You can see that Abuja is not as clean as it should be; a drive through Karu, Jikwoyi and Kurudu and some other places portrays how dirty we are.

    “Honestly, we need to worry about the filthy nature of our environment, especially during the rainy season.

    “All the dumpsites are oozing out unpleasant smell which is capable of provoking an epidemic,’’ he said.

    Mr Murktar Ahmed, Head, Communication and Outreach Unit, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said that the board would press the waste management contractors to promote sanitation in all their activities.

    He said that the board engaged the contractors to ensure the prompt evacuation of waste in the FCT, adding that they should, however, carry out their assignment in an appropriate manner.

  • Reps probe Abuja Investment Company over un-remitted N2bn Proceeds

    Reps probe Abuja Investment Company over un-remitted N2bn Proceeds

    The House of Representatives Wednesday mandated its committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to investigate the activities of the Abuja Investment Company Limited (AICL) with a view of exposing an alleged diversion of funds and inefficiency.

    The AICL management is alleged to have diverted proceeds worth N2 Billion from 13 subsidiaries and affiliates which led to the recent dissolution of the management team by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.

    The resolution of the House was sequel to the passage of a motion by two members, Shehu Aliyu Musa and Nkole Ndukwe with the title: “Call for the investigation of the activities of Abuja Investment Company Limited on non-remittance of over N2 billion proceeds to Federal Capital
    Territory.”

    While moving the motion Ndukwe said that despite rapid growth in investments, “the company, which is wholly owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA), is not remitting the required revenue to the FCT treasury.”

    The lawmaker further states that “with over $100 million currently under its management, AICL has grown to become a world class investment firm with diversified subsidiaries and affiliates.”

    He gave the names of the subsidiaries and affiliates companies as: Abuja Property Develop Company Limited (AIPDC) with 100 percent shareholding; Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited ( AUMTCO) with 100 percent shareholding; Abuja Market Management Limited ( AMML) with 95 percent shareholding; Abuja Technology Village Free Zone ( ATVFZ) with 51 percent shareholding; Abuja Film Village Ltd with 50 percent shareholding; Gas Farm Project with 50 percent shareholding; and Abuja Leasing Company ( ALC) with 20 percent shareholding.

    Others are:  Power North AICL Equipment Leasing Company with 20 percent shareholding; American Hospital with 20 percent shareholding, ASO Savings and Loans with 10  percent shareholding; Abuja Power Company Ltd with 10 percent shareholding; Capital Hotels ( Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja) with 6.51 percent shareholding, and Abuja Downtown Mall with 5 percent shareholding.

    When the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara called for a voice vote on the motion, it scaled through without dissent.

    It was thereafter referred to the House Committee on Federal Capital Territory for investigation on the alleged diversion of funds and the committee was given three weeks to report back to the House for further legislative action.

  • We have pending appeal against Justice Ademola’s acquittal – AGF

    We have pending appeal against Justice Ademola’s acquittal – AGF

    The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) said Thursday that it has pending appeal against the April 5 ruling by Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) acquitting Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, his wife and a lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN).

    Justice Okeke had, in the ruling, upheld the no-case submission by Justice Ademola and his co-defendants, charged with corruption related offences.

    Justice Ademola has since resumed duties following last week’s directive by the National Judicial Council (NJC) that judges, suspended owing to their investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS), should resume duties.

    In a statement Thursday, Special Assistant to the President on Prosecution, but attached to the office of the AGF, Okoi Obono-Obla said the impression being created with the NJC’s recall of the suspended judges was that it was unaware of a pending appeal against Justice Ademola’s acquittal.

    Obono-Obla said: “I want to debunk the false impression created in some sections of the media that the NJC was not aware or that there was no appeal filed by the Office of the Honourable Attorney General of the Federation against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja dated the 5th April, 2017 in Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others which discharged and acquitted the defendants.

    “Nothing can be further from the truth. Indeed, the office of the Honourable General of the Federation filed notices of appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja over his ruling discharging and acquitting the three defendants on the 7th April, 2017.

    “Accordingly, the Court of Appeal pursuant to Order 8 Rule 2 (a) of the Court of Appeal Rules has invited Counsel to the Appellant (the Federal Republic of Nigeria) and the Respondents to attend Court on the 6th June 2017 to reconcile documents for record of appeal.

    “I therefore state without fear of contradiction that the appeal against the ruling of Honourable Justice Jude Okeke of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja discharging and acquitting the defendants Charge No. CR/21/2016 between Federal Republic of Nigeria versus Adeniyi Francis Adetokunbo Ademola and two others is pending before the Court of Appeal.”

     

  • Justice Ademola resumes duties

    Justice Ademola resumes duties

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja resumed duties Wednesday in line with a recent directive by the National Judicial Council (NJC) directing six suspended judges to resume duties.

    The judges were those suspended last year following their investigation by the Department of State Services (DSS) on allegations of corruption.

    They include Justices Ademola (of the Federal High Court), John Okoro (of the Supreme Court), Hydiazira A. Nganjiwa (Federal High Court), Musa H. Kurya (Federal High Court) and  Agbadu James Fishim (National Industrial Court of Nigeria).

    Of the six judges, The Nation has been able to confirm Justice Ademola”s resumption. He sat at exactly 9.30am and has been sitting since then, attending to cases.

    One of the early callers in Justice Ademola’s court this morning was Joe Agi (SAN), whose case was taken first.

    Agi stood trial with Justice Ademola in the alleged corruption case brought against them, including the judge’s wife, before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which freed the defendants on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove its case.

    The prosecution said it has since appealed the judgment of the High Court of the FCT.

    Meanwhile Justice Babatunde Quadri (also of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will rule on July 7 on an application by Agi seeking the return of the case involving former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido to Justice Ademola.

    Lamido, who is being tried with seven others, including his two sons and five firms on 27-count charge, is accused of engaging abuse of office and money laundering involving about N1.3billion.

    They were being tried before Justice Ademola until the judge’s suspension late last year, following which the Chief judge of the Federal High Court; Justice Ibrahim Auta transferred the case to Justice Quadri.

    Rather than allow the trial to start afresh before the new judge, Agi queried the transfer of the case and asked that it be returned to Justice Ademola for the trial to continue, a request the prosecution objected to.

  • Make skills training compulsory for corps members – NYSC

    Make skills training compulsory for corps members – NYSC

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has urged the Federal Government to make its Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) compulsory for all corps members in the country.

    Mrs Chinyere Ekwe, Head of SAED in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) office of NYSC, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Saturday.

    She said that making the training compulsory to all corps members would increase the number of youths trained in various skills targeted at growth and development of the nation.

    Ekwe explained that SAED was introduced by the scheme to enable corps members to learn and develop one or more skills for self-reliance.

    According to her, the initiative was introduced to support Federal Government’s efforts at addressing unemployment in the country, but presently, it is not compulsory for the corps members.

    “This defeats the aim of introducing the programme, because if more youths participate in skills training, more youths will become self-employed, self-reliant and employers of labour

    “If more youths are trained, they will in turn train many others, but in a situation where this programme is not compulsory for them, you find that a lot of them may show lackadaisical attitude towards it.

    “I also think that there is need to reduce the training fee to a minimal rate so that more corps members can participate.

    “The FCT Coordinator, Mr Salawu Abdulrazak, has tried to bring down the training fee to N10, 000 for six-month training and for corps members can to pay in installments.

    “If more is done to support the corps members by bringing down the fee, it will encourage more of them to join,” Ekwe said.

    She also urged the government to support the scheme with provision of materials, saying that training large number of corps members yearly in various skills without materials was a major challenge to the scheme.

    According to her, right now in the camp, hands-on training is free, but there are no materials for corps members to use in the training. We also do not have well-equipped skills centres in the area councils.

    Ekwe commended the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for its effort in providing an ICT center at the orientation camp for training of corps members.

    She urged serving corps members to make use of the opportunity to learn one or more skills in order to become skillful, self-reliant and productive.

    She said that emphasis on certificate was waning in Nigeria, adding that it was therefore why learning a skill or more had become necessary.

    “You will be empowering yourself and other youths by doing this”.

    The NYSC official said that many corps members who had passed through the programme had established businesses, adding that SAED’s partners had also continued to support corps members with start-up capital.

    She said that partners like Bank of Industry (BoI) gave corps members loan as much as N2 million, while the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also had a loan scheme that could give N3 million to a corps member.

  • Revenue: Kuje Area Council begins property evaluation

    Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has commenced the assessment of properties, in an effort to boost its revenue, the Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Galadima, has said.

    Galadima said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kuje on Friday that the council needed the cooperation and understanding of residents for the project to succeed.

    “As I speak, we have achieved about 70 percent of the entire assessment exercise and when completed, it will be published for claims and objections.

    “The revenue that will come from tenement rates will give the council substantial funds that will complement allocation from the Federation Account,” he said.

    Galadima said the current revenue collections from daily ticketing, mobile advertisement, shops and market stalls were not enough to fund development in the area.

    He said his administration inherited a revenue collection structure that was characterised by serious leakages and untapped potentialities.

    The chairman said to complement the shortfall in revenue, his administration attempted to harmonise revenue collection and block all leakages.

    He said the effort was sabotaged by some of the council’s revenue collectors and some residents, who were benefiting from the leakages.

    The council chief said his administration had re-strategised and perfected the revenue collection process, adding that the strategy had was already yielding results.

  • FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    FG to pay N2 billion Ecological fund each to 19 states, FCT

    …NEC to review Land Use Act

     

    The National Economic Council (NEC) next month may approve payment of N2 billion each from the Ecological Funds to 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the NEC meeting chaired by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, said that the disbursement is part of recommendations of his committee’s interim report submitted to NEC on Thursday.

    Stressing that the recommendation was to ensure fairness to states that were not given anything when former President Goodluck Jonathan shared N2 billion each to People’s Democratic Party (PDP) controlled states from the Ecological Funds.

    According to him, his 11-man committee, which comprised of governors, Minister of Finance and some permanent secretaries, will submit the final report during NEC meeting in June, where NEC will decide on the recommendation.

    The committee, he said, was asked to look at the operations and management of the one per cent which the Federal Government shares.

    He said “The committee established beyond all doubts that in 2013, the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan gave N2 billion to certain states of the federation but excluded other states.

    “The states that got it were all PDP states and states of other parties that were sympathetic to the PDP like Labour Party in Ondo and APGA in Anambra State. 19 states and the FCT did not get the N2 billion from the Ecological Fund.

    “These states are Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Borno, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kwara and Lagos.

    “Others are Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory

    “So essentially what President Goodluck Jonathan did was to take N2 billion each from the Ecological fund and give to some PDP states. Any PDP state that was not his friend like Kano and Kwara didn’t get. And all the other opposition party, like no ACN state got anything, no ANPP state got anything.

    “This, the committee of the council consider discriminatory and recommended that the 19 states and the FCT that did not get the N2 billion in 2013 be given N2 billion each to level the playing field.

    “Thereafter very clear criteria for accessing the fund will be recommended to the council for the consideration of the federal government,” he said.

    According to him, there is a Presidential directive that the Ecological Fund office must maintain a balance of N20 billion out of the present N33.6 billion in the Ecological Fund.

    This, he said, is to cater for any emergency or any natural disaster requiring intervention.

    From the total money in the fund, he said that the balance of about N13 billion will be available for distribution to the states that were discriminated against.

    “As I said, 19 states and the FCT making it 20, so it isn’t enough to give them N2 billion each.” he added

    He went on “So what we did was to give an interim report on how the entire ecological fund has been utilized from May 2010 till date. And we realize that a lot of the deployment of the funds was based on discretion of the President and there is need to establish very clear criteria for the use of the 65 per cent of the federal government share among the states of the federation.

    “But the committee recommended to make partial payment to these states that were discriminated against by President Jonathan. Council defied decision on that until we submit out final report which will be submitted to NEC in the meeting of June.

    “The council appreciated the enormous work the committee did and particularly appreciated the permanent secretary of the Ecological Fund office for providing detailed information about the operations of the Fund.” he stated

    He pointed out that the N2 billion each given to the states by the former President was purely on discretionary basis and not on any identified Ecological problem or any project request.

    According to him, it was given to favoured states not based on criteria or any request based on emergency.

    “It was just a handout to favoured states and other states that were not so favoured were discriminated against.

    “So our committee recommended that to level the playing field every state be treated equally, the federal government should give those states that did not get.

    “My state got because my state was governed by the PDP and was very friendly with Jonathan. In my state the amount was used to do some Ecological projects but in some states the money simply vanished. But in my state, it didn’t vanish. The projects were done, we are looking into those projects because the prices did not look right, the quality in one or two cases is not the best but some projects were done.

    “So we are saying in fairness the other states that did not get this N2 billion on discretionary basis should be done. This is why President Buhari is here to right the wrongs of the past,” he said.

    Bauchi Governor, Mohammed Abubakar said that the Council received the report of an Ad-Hoc committee set up by NEC to study the report of the Presidential Technical Committee of the Land Use Act regulations.

    He said “The presidential committee submitted its report on 26th of September last year. As a result of that the Nigeria Governors Forum set up its own committee comprising Surveyor General of the states of the federation of Nigeria to study that report of the presidential technical committee and come up with recommendations.

    “So when NEC received the report of the committee, an adhoc committee of six was set up with myself as chairman to study both the report of the technical committee and report of the Forum of Surveyor general of the federation and then compare the two reports and make recommendations to council.

    “The reason for setting up the technical committee at the onset was because of the encumbrances being faced in the interpretations given in the Land use Act over time from the time of promulgation in 1978 to date.

    “So the adhoc committee studied the two reports and made recommendations to council.

    “The main basis of the recommendation was the observance of true federalism. You know despite the various interpretations and comments made about the Land Use Act as a unitary law, actually the Land Use Act for the first time is one Act of the federal government that has made a categorical statement with respect to federalism by conferring control over land in the governors of the states and not a unitary system where the federal government will now control land. So this was what the adhoc committee had in mind when it was making its recommendations along with the presidential committee.

    “So at the end of the day all the recommendations that tended to temper with the powers of the governors over control of lands in the state were expunged from the report of the presidential technical committee.

    “Council finally received the report of the adhoc committee favourablly, in fact Council gave another assignment to that ad committee with a view to looking at areas of conflict in the Land Use Act and the minerals Act. There are situations whereby companies will come to Abuja to the Mining Casdastal and obtain license to prospect for minerals in the state. And the go and immediately commence prospecting without minding the fact that it been granted to some other people by governors who have control over land with certificates of occupancy. So this led to a lot of conflicts. So council has extended the life of this adhoc committee to look into this with a view to making recommendations.

    Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha said that the Council also reviewed many money issues as it affects the nation.

    He said “We were made to understand from the office of the Accountant General that the excess crude account as at May 24th stands at $2.3 billion. Council also reviewed the discrepancies in figures and we have said that the Accountant General will go to look at it and at the next meeting he will brief the council appropriately.

    “As regards the loan support what is called the budget support facility for states which is suppose to come to an end by the end of this month, council was concerned about the fact that we are gradually coming out of recession and if this budgetary support ceases at the end of May, it might create some lapses in our bid to stabilize the economy. So council resolved that the budgetary support be extended to enable states catch up with the economy challenges of the moment.

    “The good news is that we have been reliably informed that crude production at Forcados terminal will soon commence and this will in any small way help the  economy and the stabilization of the economy and for us to get out of recession as quickly as possible.

    “But the highlight of the whole discussion today’s was a special commendation that the Council made on the Acting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who we have all resolved to call a systems stabilizer given the fact that Mr. President is on medical vacation, the system is still as smooth as it has always been. So, we commended the Acting President for a job well done.”

    He maintained that the Paris Club refund was not a free money, but money owed state governments.

     

  • ‘FACA spends N3bn on anti-retroviral drugs annually’

    ‘FACA spends N3bn on anti-retroviral drugs annually’

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Agency for Control of HIV/AIDS (FACA) said on Thursday it spends about N3 billion annually on Anti-Retroviral drugs (ARV) for HIV patients in the territory.

    The agency Project Manager,  Dr. Uche Okoro, stated this in Abuja.

    Okoro explained that about 60,000 people living with HIV were receiving ARV in FCT and N50, 000 was spent on each of them per annum.

    He said that the FCT had a total of 100,000 patients that were accessing care in various centres pointing out that with new policy on test and treat, other persons living with disease would be added to 60,000 receiving anti-retroviral drugs.

    According to him, there used to observed some procedures before a patient could be enlisted among those taking ARV but henceforth all HIV patients under the agency’s care would be receiving anti-retroviral drugs.

    The project manager also disclosed that majority of these patients were on first line drugs, while very few of them were receiving second and third line drugs which were more expensive and scarce than first line drugs.

    He regretted gradual withdrawal of support by some development partners, saying that government had no choice than to take ownership of the programme.

    He noted that people living with HIV were accessing their drugs in 134 centres while 230 centres conduct testing and counselling across the territory.

    Okoro said that the agency had scaled up their reach and expanded it to get to so many people living with the disease in FCT.

    NAN

  • Decentralisation of voting unconstitutional – INEC

    Decentralisation of voting unconstitutional – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday said the call by Nigerians for decentralisation of voting was unconstitutional.

    Mrs. Ndidi Okafor, Deputy Director, Public Relations, INEC, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that it was not possible to register in one place and vote in another.

    Okafor said that the law establishing the commission did not give it power to allow decentralisation of voting, adding that it would be illegal to embark on such idea.

    “It is a legal matter; it has nothing to do with the internal administration of the commission. The Electoral Act says vote where you register.

    “So, you must endeavour to ensure that where you register is where you have to vote because on Election Day, movement is restricted and that is why the law says ‘go and vote where you registered’.

    “As long as that law remains and has not been amended, there is nothing the commission can do to allow decentralisation of voting.

    “All INEC needs to do is to appeal that Nigerians be law-abiding and register close to where they live for easy access to polling centres during elections.

    “Election is a national project guided by the laws of the land, the Constitution and the electoral Act; so I appeal that we should respect and obey the law,’’ she said.

    Okafor said that all Nigerians could do for now was to start lobbying for a change of the law to meet their request.

    She, however, encouraged those that had moved from where the registered to go to the continuous voter registration centre in their area councils to transfer their votes to their present location.

    She said INEC had provided an electoral product called “transfer of documentation’’ for Nigerians to transfer their votes, inter-state or intra-state as they wished.

    Okafor said that in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CRV), INEC made provision for three main electoral products.

    She said that the products were fresh registration, which was opened only to those who just turned 18, those not registered before, or persons with temporary voter card, but names not in the voter register.

    According to her, persons in these three categories can now access fresh registration and INEC officers are on ground to help them.

    Okafor said that the voter registration was progressing smoothly, adding that INEC would soon seek ways to decentralise the process so as to capture every area.