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  • Bwari, Gwagwalada to get new bus terminals – Wike 

    Bwari, Gwagwalada to get new bus terminals – Wike 

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has announced the intention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to establish new bus terminals in the Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils to enhance transportation in the FCT.

    Wike stated this on Saturday, during an inspection of the extensive renovation of the International Conference Centre (ICC) and the upgrading of the Ushafa, War College, and Army Checkpoint roads in Bwari Area Council.

    Speaking to reporters after the inspection, Wike emphasised that the new bus terminals in the satellite towns, when established, will complement existing facilities in the city centre, significantly improving transportation for residents. 

    He also highlighted the crucial role the terminals will play in addressing the menace of car robbery, commonly known as “one chance.”

    The Minister said: “We have agreed that we are going to establish one bus terminal in Gwagwalada and one in Bwari. This will ensure that people can safely and securely travel from Bwari and Gwagwalada to various parts of the city, including Mabushi, Kugbo, and the Central Business District bus terminal. By providing these designated terminals, we aim to eliminate the problem of ‘one chance’ and ensure the safety of commuters”.

    Wike reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to bridging the infrastructural gaps in the FCT, emphasizing that the focus of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” extends beyond the city centre to include the development of satellite towns. 

    He highlighted the ongoing 12-kilometer road project linking the entire Ushafa area and the ongoing dualization of the Kuje-Gwagwalada road as testaments to this commitment.

    Read Also: Wike, Fubara supporters clash at town hall meeting in Port Harcourt

    “The government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu is particularly concerned about and paying attention to the satellite towns,” the Minister affirmed, adding that rural transformation is key to the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President.

    Wike also stressed that the significant upgrade of the International Conference Centre, aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to provide Nigerians with world-class facilities.

    The Minister also emphasised the long-term benefits of infrastructure developments in the FCT, stating that it will reduce travel times from the satellite towns to the city, encourage people to reside within the satellite towns thereby decongesting the city.  

    He said the essence of Providing basic amenities in the satellite towns is to curb rural-to-urban migration, which, he said, is mostly driven by the lack of infrastructure in the rural area.

    “It will be a different thing, and people will no longer be compelled to live in the cities,” the Minister said.

  • Earthquake: FG acquires sensitivity device to monitor earth movement in Abuja, others

    The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development has acquired and installed high sensitivity seismometers and tilet meters for monitoring and detecting earth movements and earthquake in parts of the country.

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Bawa Bwari Abubakar, disclosed this on Thursday when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to defend his ministry’s 2019 budget.

    Abubakar, who said that the earth movement monitoring device was acquired as part of the measures to address the country’s geological security, explained the device was installed at the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) premises, Gwagwalada, Bwari and Kaduna.

    The Minister said that the effort was accelerated in response to the recent persistent earth tremors experienced in the country most especially around Abuja.

    He said that the proactive measure became necessary to predict, detect and monitor earth movement and earthquake related activities.

    He listed insufficient and untimely release of funds, direct intervention by states in the management of mineral resources, multiple taxation by states and local governments and inadequate geological data as some of the challenges facing the mining sector.

    The minister also listed limited supporting infrastructure, insecurity of mine fields especially in Zamfara, Kaduna, Plateau and North East and illegal mining and community challenges.

    He noted that there was no doubt the mining sector could do better if leakages were blocked.

    The committee chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, asked the minister to furnish the committee with detailed breakdown of the budget.

    The committee believed that the revenue capacity of the sector should be raised for the country to benefit.

    The committee also said that steps should be taken to position the sector to take its pride of place in the scheme of things in the country.

    The ministry proposed N20, 480,057,749 as its budget estimate for 2019.

    Out of the amount the sum of N8,559,365,940 is for personnel cost, N1,726,419,857 is for overhead while N10,194,271,952 is for capital projects.

  • Large voter turnout in Gwagwalada, Kwali Area council

    There was a high voter turnout in both the Gwagwalada and Kwali Area council as the electorate came out in the large number to exercise their franchise in a relatively peaceful exercise.

    Although security was relaxed, people went about peacefully as there was free movement of people within the suburb of the two local governments with the major roads also devoid of high security presence.

    Driving through the two Area Councils for over two hours, security barricade on the roads were only noticed in two places within the Gwagwalada Area Council, with one police sergeant subjecting this reporter to thorough search even with the INEC media accreditation kits visibly displayed.

    In most of the polling units visited, voter turnout was impressive with the security men having little or nothing to do with the crowd control as the electorate stayed on the queue waiting patiently under the scorching sun to cast their vote.

    In some of the places visited, electoral materials and electoral officers were on ground as early as 8.00am, and voting started in earnest and by 1.55pm, voting had been concluded in some places.

    It was noticed that in most of the primary schools being used, several polling units were created to ensure a smooth and fast process while others were overcrowded.

    As at 9.15 am, some electoral officers who had collected their materials were seen hanging around the Gado Nasko Primary School in the Phase One area of the Gwagwalada Area Council with security personnel and without vehicles to convey them to their places of assignment.

    In Kwali, The Nation noticed a group of youths rushing towards a particular direction and upon enquiry, was told that money was being shared in that direction, but this could not be confirmed as none of them came back with any money.

    A member representing Abuja South Federal Constituency, Hon. ZakariAngulu, who voted at the Dobi LEA Primary School at about 9.45am, commended INEC for the smooth organisation of the exercise and expressed hope that the exercise will be smooth throughout the country.

    The lawmaker, who is the candidate of the APC for the constituency, however, complained about the number of polling units in the area and asked INEC to consider creating more polling units after the current exercise.

    Chairman, Association of Local Government of Nigeria FCT Chapter and Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Joseph Shazim, who voted at about 9.00am, complained about the slow process of the exercise in his area council, pointing out that if the pace remain slow, many of the voters may not be able to cast their vote because of the large voter turnout.

    Etsu of Kwali, Alhaji Shaban Audu Nizazo (III), praised the electorate for coming out enmasse to exercise their franchise in a peaceful atmosphere, but said he was confident that the turnout would have been more if the exercise had not been shifted.

    The traditional ruler also expressed confidence that the turnout of voters would be more during the Area Council elections scheduled to hold alongside the governorship and House of Assembly election on March 9.

    On his part, Chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Mustapha Adamu, said he was confident that the APC will come out of the process as the victor.

    Adamu commended INEC for the peaceful nature of the exercise and appealed to them to ensure that the remaining election remains equally peaceful.

  • Motorists in FCT want roads repaired

    Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory have called on the Area Council Chairmen to repair roads to reduce road accidents and ensure ease vehicular movement.

    The motorists, who made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, described the situation of most roads in the territory as worrisome.

    According to them, the deplorable state of roads in some communities had caused accident, hardship and difficulty for human and vehicular movement in the area.

    Mr Sunday Kaka, a motorist in Gwagwalada, said that the road along old Kutunku area had been dotted with potholes, ditches and culverts, adding it was verge of collapse.

    The negative development, he noted, had made it difficult for vehicular movement.

    “The bad roads in the area damage our vehicles and make us to constantly spend money in repairing them.

    Read Also: FCT Police nabs four ‘One Chance’ suspects

    “The road to abattoir area is also in a bad condition and is making meat business difficult for operators in area,” he said.

    Mr Isuwa Wodi, another motorist in Kuje Area Council, said the linking Kuje and Gwagwalada had always been a problem for a very long time, either in the rainy or dry season.

    He said that: “Every administration will come and promise that contract has been awarded to fix the road and yet nothing is done.

    “This year, several churches have done some charity works by pouring sand and gravel in an effort to smoothen the road for easy access.

    “We are appealing to the area council administration to fix dilapidated roads, to ease movement in the area.”

    Responding, the Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Abdulahi Galadima, assured residents of area that efforts were being made to rehabilitate the township roads for easy access.

    Galadima, said that the council was working with the FCTA administration to ensure that the road linking Kuje and Gwagwalada is repaired.

  • Gwagwalada community decries outrageous electricity bills

    Residents of Kutunku Community in Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, on Wednesday decried outrageous electricity bills in spite epileptic power supply by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

    Some of the residents, who spoke in separate interviews with our reporters, described the development as worrisome.

    According to them, issuing outrageous bills in spite epileptic power supply has hindered economic activities and social life in the area.

    Mr Joseph Gado, a resident of the area, said that electricity consumers in the community were given high bill bills in spite poor electricity supply.

    “The power supply is not more than twice in a week, and at the end of the month they will bring outrageous bills for us to pay.

    “How can AEDC be bringing between N7, 000 and N9,000 to a two-bedroom flat in a month when the supply is not stable.

    “We are being forced to pay for electricity we never consumed; this is extortion, we demand for transparency in the billing methodology,” Gado said.

    Mr Musa Bala, a landlord in the area, said all the electric poles, cables and other electricity facilities situated along New Kutunku Road that supplied the community were due for replacement.

    “Virtually all the transformers are dilapidated and can no longer continue to cope with the load on them.

    “From our feasibility study, more than 5,000  houses in Kutunku use one transformer, which is grossly inadequate,” he said.

    Mrs Sarah Tukurah, another resident of the community, urged AEDC management to install prepaid meters in all houses in the area.

    “The power supply is normally late at night, when everyone is asleep, and at the end of the month one will be given outrageous bills.

    Read Also: Gwagwalada shines at NECO awards

    “We want AEDC management to provide us with prepared meters so that we can have the value of our money,’’ she said.

    Respondind, Mr Fadipe Oyebode, the General Manager, Corporate Communications, AEDC, Abuja,  said the company did not bill its customers arbitrarily.

    “We bill according to the energy delivered and it is surprising to hear some of our customers complain about outrageous billings and shortage of power supply,” he said.

    Oyebode urged electricity consumers in the area to report cases of dilapidated equipment at AEDC’s Customer Care Offices nearest to them.

     

  • Association tasks meat sellers on hygiene

    The Chairman, Traders Association, Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Ifeanyi Ikpacha, has called on meat sellers and abattoir operators to embrace good hygiene practices by providing healthy meat to consumers.

    Ikpacha made this call in Gwagwalada on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after a sensitisation programme on ‘Food handling and Sanitation’ for traders in the area.

    According to him, the association is also saddled with the responsibility to ensure the preparation of healthy food items to consumers in the area for a healthy living.

    “The sensitisation is aimed at helping the meat sellers and traders take proactive steps to curtail unhealthy habits of food handling and ensure a clean environment.

    “The association has also been sensitising the traders and residents on the dangers of indiscriminate disposal of refuse.

    “We tell them to make the unkempt shops and environment clean to enhance environmental cleanliness and promote a healthy living.

    “They should consider its health implications on human lives and also know that indiscriminate dumping of refuse can increase flooding in the city as well,” he said.

    However, he explained that the association had vowed to ensure that consumers always purchase healthy food items while food sellers embrace hygiene.

    The chairman advised traders to always keep their dustbins tight and cover them at all times as debris from uncovered dustbins might drop into the gutters.

    Besides, he urged the traders to always clean the gutters and canals in their immediate environment for the good health of the citizens.

  • ‘No shooting in Kwali during truck drivers protest’

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory, said there was no incident of shooting at Dabi village in Kwali Area Council during protest by truck drivers along Abuja-Lokoja highway.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the protest was sparked by the alleged shooting of the tyres of Dangote truck by some policemen on Wednesday morning at Kwali.

    It was also alleged that policemen shot at one of the truck drivers who had blocked the highway to protest the alleged action of the policemen.

    Read Also: Cholera Kills 11, 40 hospitalised in Kano

    However, the command spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, told NAN that “there was no incident of shooting in the area and nobody was shot at“ during the protest.

    Manzah said that the road had been cleared following the intervention of the Police Area Commander in Gwagwalada and the Kwali Divisional Police Officer.

    “We have been able to clear the road with the intervention of the area commander and the DPO of Kwali,“he said.

    NAN reports that the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had earlier in a statement confirmed the blockade of the Abuja-Lokoja highway at Kwali by the truck drivers.

    The FRSC advised members of the public to always adopt legal and legitimate means to register their protest instead of taking the law into their hands.

  • Engage in agriculture, FCT FADAMA coordinator urges youths

    Mr Usman Adangara, the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ), Fadama Development Project coordinator, has called on the youth to engage in farming so as to support the government’s efforts towards economic development.

    Adangara made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Gwagwalada, FCT on Saturday.

    He said farming is a rewarding and lucrative profession; that is why the youth should be encouraged to engage in crop growing.

    “Farming is also a source of livelihood for many people in this country and should be given adequate attention for economic development.

    “Agriculture contributes to national revenue, food production, employment opportunity, foreign exchange and food security.

    Read Also: FCTA trains staff in computer basics

    “I urge the youths in this country to embrace farming so that they can be self -employed and reliant,” he said.

    He also advised youths to key into livestock farming describing it as an important area of agriculture critical to the nation’s economic development.

    The coordinator called on the Federal Government to provide soft loans to farmers to enhance agricultural production in the country.

    The coordinator said the Fadama project was committed to boosting agricultural activities through training, technical assistance, addition financing and support for farmers across the FCT.

    Adangara added that the project also aims to increase income for farmers, agro-processors, create better forum for conflict resolution and crisis management which are conditions for peaceful coexistence.

    NAN

  • Sales boy docked for alleged N400,000 fraud

    Sales boy docked for alleged N400,000 fraud

    The Police on Thursday arraigned a 21-year-old sales boy, Ejeh Christian, in a Karmo Grade 1 Area Court, Abuja, for alleged N400,000 fraud.

    Christian, a sales boy at Amosco Rapid Investment, Gwagwalada, Abuja, and resides at Kuje Road, Gwagwalada, is standing trial on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him.

    Read Also: Sales boy arraigned for alleged theft

    The prosecutor, Florence Avhioboh, told the court that one Amodu Godwin, of same address with the defendant, reported the matter at the Utako Police Station, Abuja, on Feb. 3.

    The complainant said on that same date, he entrusted the defendant with N400,000 to buy some cell phones, which he failed to do.

    Avhioboh said that the offences contravened Sections 348 and 288 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, granted the defendant N50,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

    He ordered that the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

  • Avoid giving birth at home, expert advises pregnant women

    Avoid giving birth at home, expert advises pregnant women

    A public health physician, Dr Shehu Martins, on Monday advised pregnant women to avoid giving birth at home, saying it can lead to serious complications.

    Martins, who works St. Mary’s Hospital, Gwagwalada, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Gwagwalada.

    The physician said that though, every mother has the right to choose where she wants to be delivered of her baby, “it is important to consider the risks associated with home child birth’’.

    According to him, the dangers associated with home delivery are much depending on the presentation as at the time the woman is deliver of her baby.

    “If a woman has high blood pressure, diabetes, among other ailments, the risk could be more.

    “For example, if a woman is hypertensive and she doesn’t know, there can be complication of convulsion and the person attending to her may not know how to handle the situation.

    “In first time pregnancy, complication from obstructed labour to foetal distress cannot be monitored at home and when she continues pushing, it can lead to vaginal fistula.

    “Vaginal fistula is when there is a leakage of urine from the bladder without the woman knowing due to poor management of child labour.

    “This prolong labour can lead to death of the baby before she gets to the hospital,’’ he explained.

    The physician, therefore, advised that every delivery should be monitored in the hospital, saying “a poorly assisted home birth can lead to serious complications’’.

    READ ALSO: Vaccination : Zamfara targets 3.2 million for Yellow fever

    He said that if a woman prefers to deliver at home, a skilled attendant or medical expert should be involved to handle any emergency situation.

    Martins warned that a traditional birth attendant should not be allowed to handle real complications from child birth.

    NAN