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Tag: Kubwa

  • NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

    He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

    “The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

    “The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

    According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

    Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

    The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

    He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

    The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

    Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    “Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

    “BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

    “Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

    “I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

    Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

    NAN

  • Pastor docked for criminal intimidation

    Pastor docked for criminal intimidation

    Emeka Okpocha, a 49-year-old pastor  has been arraigned by the police on Friday in a Kubwa Grade 1 Area Court in Abuja over criminal intimidation.
     
    The defendant of Kuje, Abuja, is facing one-count charge of criminal intimidation.
     
    The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, told the court that the matter was reported by Chidimma Okpocha of Arab Road, Kubwa, Abuja, at Kubwa Police Station on December 5.
     
    He said the defendant sent an email to the complainant narrating a story of a man who gunned down his ex-wife and mother-in-law.
     
    Olanipekun said the defendant also told the complainant that whenever he thought of her, something bad would come to his mind.‎
     
    He added that the defendant also threatened the complainant’s life at her place of work ‎and home, which instilled fear in her.

    Read also: In US church, they call me DADDY SWAGGER -Trendy RCCG Pastor Adegbile

     
    The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 397 of the Penal Code.‎
    However, the pastor pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and The Judge, Mohammed Marafa, granted him bail in the sum of N500,000 with one reliable surety in like sum.
    Marafa said the surety must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and must provide means of identification and livelihood as he adjourned the case until February 28 for further hearing.
  • A groan in the suburbs

    A groan in the suburbs

    Lack of basic amenities is a constant pain in Abuja’s suburbs but add to it the seasonal torment of returning home after work on a dirt road in the night after a downpour. GRACE OBIKE reports

    What is the worst headache of the Kubwa resident returning home from work at night after a downpour? It is getting a commercial motorcycle ride to such places as Byazhin, Paze or communities bordering Bwari. In describing what residents of these areas face, a resident who gave her name simply as Kate said, “The usual fare for motorcycle operators to take you to Byazhin Across or Paze is double or triple at night and more when it rains.”

    According to her, the facial expressions of these transporters change once you ask to be taken to Across. Most of them will immediately tell you they are not going and if they decide to go, they will raise the fare to compensate for the stress of having to ride to a part of town with the worst road. In some cases even after being offered double the fare, the operators may refuse or drop the passengers off halfway.

    Byazhin is a part of Kubwa, almost bordering Bwari.

    The environment changes after the market, opening up to mighty potholes and a dusty road with sharp rocks marking the road, which sharply ends in a deep, gully-eroded valley and opens again onto an extremely dusty road that turns into traps for vehicles and motorcycles once it rains. Before you is an architectural chaos. Houses are built haphazardly, here and there and up the mountain, without a plan. This contrasts sharply with the picture of Abuja, the seat of federal power. The road is horrible.

    A resident of Across who pleaded anonymity said, “They (government officials) always come to us in the area and tell each house to contribute N1000 for the repairs of the road but after we pay, they simply pack small sand and gravel, they pour it on the road, especially around the valley, then they wait for another year, to come and ask for another money.”

    She also claims that it is the “big men” who own houses in the area that prevent the government from coming in and taking care of the road especially since most of the house owners do not have the necessary land documents.

    The worst part, however, is beyond the muddy and eroded parts of Byazhin Across, towards the road leading to Paze, a community very close to Across, which for the first time in history celebrated electricity last year when a transformer was finally donated to them by an individual.

    Paze is completely cut off from Kubwa and Abuja by a stream in which residents claim a man once drowned while trying to cross it after a heavy downpour.

    A resident of Paze, Terfa Orbunde who spoke with the Nation said, “I’ve been in this area for more than two years, there is no government presence at all in Paze, neglect is an understatement, this part of town does not look like Abuja at all.

    “When it rains, the road to Paze is almost impassable in a car, on a motorcycle or by foot; nobody is safe. Someone once drowned while crossing the stream after a heavy downpour. When it rains, especially in the evening it is impossible to get motorcycle operators that will bring you this far, you will have to walk from Kubwa, when you mention Paze, they speed away, they don’t even wait to say no and if they agree then be ready to pay double the fare.

    “The government needs to remember that there is a community here also living in what I will describe as close to the state of nature save for the electricity that was donated by a good Samaritan. This is still Abuja but when you come from Kubwa, you get to Byazhin and come towards Paze, you will think that you are in a place worse than your village.”

    Another resident Remi Adeleke talked about the experience her sister had recently. According to her, her younger sister who returned late from work last week while it was raining could not get an operator that would take her to Byazhin Across. When she realised it was getting late, she decided to walk home. Walking under the rain through muddy water, she arrived at the valley, climbed down the hill but at the bottom was too exhausted to continue uphill or turn around back where she had come from. Exhausted, she stood  stuck at the bottom, unable to continue as other people walk past ignoring her, after standing for what seemed like hours, a kind-hearted resident who saw her asked her to hop into his car and he took her to her junction.

    “She just could not move another step due to exhaustion,” Adeleke said. “Our road gets worse in the rainy season; if you don’t watch your steps, you could fall into a ditch and be lost forever.”

    The daughter of the chief of Paze, Binta Ibrahim explained that Paze does not have clean water, they always buy the water they drink and use for household chores from private borehole owners. She also said that Paze does not have a school or clinic, they have to take walk for 20 or 30 minutes to the next community.

    “Our children in secondary school go to Kubwa which is really far; we need road, clinic and schools in this community but mostly, we need water here because we pay the private borehole owners N20 to N25 for a gallon of water, we need help.”

    Assistant Coordinator, Coalition of FCT Indigenous Groups Association, Dalhatu Musa in a chat with newsmen said that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) natives no longer want a city centre minister that focuses on developing elite parts of Abuja while satellite towns and rural areas suffer.

    There are places in this FCT that you will not believe are in the FCT, you will think you are in an IDPs camp, why? Because we have a political head whose only concern is the city centre.”

  • Stakeholders to parents: Channel your wards energy towards positive impacts

    Stakeholders in education sector have urged school management and parents to help channel students’ energy toward positive programmes.

    They spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the 4th edition of the Power Forward Project organised by Exxon Mobile in conjunction with Africare, an NGO.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Power Forward Project is aimed at using the game of basketball to teach and mentor over 10,000 students from 10 secondary schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    It is also aimed at teaching secondary school students, life skills training such as leadership, respect and personal responsibility through basketball and other programmes to positively impact on them.

    Mrs Samira Jibir, Executive Director, Glisten International Academy, said that schools should as a matter of urgency, develop and orientate the minds of the students toward productivity.

    She said this would make students to be of value to themselves, their immediate society and the world at large.

    “There are so many distractions for the children which conflict with socio-cultural values of the society.

    “These range from exposure to high technology waves without control, being left at the mercy of adults’ house helps, relatives, cartoons, comprehensive sexuality education and peer group.

    “We neglect our roles as adults to guide, love and protect these children; we have failed these children.

    “We must therefore channel their energy to positive programmes like sports, for example basketball,” she said.

    Jibir commended power forward for engaging the time of the children positively, building their confidence and maximising their potential.

    Also, Mr Michael Kukigan, Business Resources Manager, ExxonMobil, said the project was meant to bring development to Nigerian youths by engaging them in what they loved doing, especially sports.

    Kukigan said the organisation, over the years, had been harnessing the talents and potential of youths, especially secondary school students, to groom them in becoming self-reliant in future.

    “The children have the talent and what we do is to focus on developing these talents.

    “We believe that beyond sports, the students need to have substance, know what it takes to get goal and leadership skills through education.

    “They also need to learn valuable lessons and understanding about public health and get education, to make life better for them and the country,” he said.

    He also said the 2017 edition of the project was targeted at reaching out to 10,000 youths in schools and vulnerable communities with life skill information.

    Mrs Victoria George, Deputy Director, FCT Secondary Education Board, stressed that popularising sports, especially basketball in the Nigerian schools would help the children to be celebrated in their life long skills.

    George noted that children were key players in leadership role in their various schools, adding that about 50 per cent of them that participated in the project were leaders in their various schools.

    She further said the project had tremendous impact on the students because it would help them turn away from social vices thereby building bridges that would foster country’s development.

    The schools represented in this edition are: Model Secondary School, Maitama, Rahinna Model College, Jikwoyi, Raberto Schools, Wuse 2, Divine Mercy Secondary School, Asokoro and Glisten International School, Jahi.

    Others are; Bicardos International School, Kubwa, Government Secondary School, Karu, Wuse, Garki and Airport.

     

  • Abuja-Kaduna rail: Passengers decry poor communication, inefficient services

    As Christians celebrate Easter, some passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna rail had complained of inadequate communication and inefficient services from personnel at the train station in Abuja.

    Some of them who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in separate interviews at the Kubwa station in Abuja said that passenger’s welfare should be paramount.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Dauda said that it was his first time of joining the train service, saying that there was need for Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) to improve on its condition and welfare of passengers and ensure proper communication channel.

    “As you can see many people are standing, they need to improve on the condition and welfare of passengers, since I came, I have not heard any announcement whether the train is delayed or how long will passengers wait.

    “There should be constant information from the management to the passengers, especially on the movement of the train,” he said.

    Toyin Idowu, another passenger, stressed the need for the station to improve on its time, communication, saying that the NRC personnel should be trained on customer’s service

    She alleged that most of the staff members were rude to passengers.

    She further commended the Federal Government for the good initiative and for reviving rail service in the country.

    He added that it has helped the poor masses a lot especially the free airport service.

    However, Mr Segun Tokunbo, also a passenger, commended the Federal Government for the good development and beautiful structure on ground but blamed the management for poor service.

    He said that the passengers were punished because there was no proper communication from the operators to the passengers which made it frustrating and disappointing.

    “It is a good development in this country but the management of the operation is actually going against the wishes of the government, what I can see here is waste of resources and punishment to the public.

    “I have been here since 7a.m and is almost noon, there is no form of communication on the arrival and departure of the train.

    “The government has done a good job but the operators need to be trained so that they don’t frustrate government’s good intention because people are discouraged, “he said.

    Responding, Abdullahi Gani, the Assistant Station Manager, Kubwa, said that due to airport closure the population has increased and they have informed the management to provide more seats which they promised would be ready within two weeks.

    He, however, said that the complaints of passengers that the personnel are rude could be based on the issue of change because the passengers expect them to leave their duty post to look for change.

    “The issue of the seat, we have channel the complain to the management and they will response in the next one to two weeks, it will be resolved,” he said.
    NAN reports that passengers were seen standing for hours without communication from the public affairs unit on the arrival and departure of the train until the train arrived by 12.44p.m.

    The station environment and toilets were neat; the reception was conducive with security agencies protecting the station.

     

  • ‎Heavy security presence at Deaconess Olawale’s service of songs

    ‎Heavy security presence at Deaconess Olawale’s service of songs

    There was heavy security presence on Friday at the service of songs of Late Deaconess Eunice Olawale.

    The entry points leading to the church, Redeemed Christian Church of God, New Life Assembly, Kubwa where the service took place witnessed great presence of security personnel.

    Men of Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp and Federal Road Safety Corp manned the major entry points leading to the church thereby preventing vehicles and motorbikes from moving.

    The husband, children and siblings of the deceased were dressed in white and appeared depressed throughout the service that lasted for close to three hours.

    The second bible reading was read by the first born of the deceased, Jessica Olawale. She read from the book of Revelations 20: 7 – 15.

    The siblings of the deceased also rendered special song titled: “My dreams will come”.

    The over 3000 capacity church was filled with family members, church members, men of God from different denomination,  friends and Christians from different churches who were present to pay their respect to the deceased.

    Deaconess Eunice Olawale was killed in the early hours of Saturday morning, 9th July while she was preaching (morning cry) in Gbazango West Community area of Kubwa, Abuja.

    Her corpse was found with her bible, megaphone and her telephone.

    The Deaconess who was born on July 23rd 1974 would have clocked 42 years on Saturday, 23rd July, 2016.

    Describing the deceased as a warrior, the officiating pastor, Pastor Caf Obasa from FCT Province II noted that the service was not to mourn but to celebrate a life of  a warrior who has gone to be with the Lord.

    The pastor who read from the books of;1 Corinthians 15: 14 – 17 and John 14: 1 – 3, Hebrews 9: 27 titled his message: “The Uncertainty of Life”.

    The pastor mentioned the things that are certain in life to include: “death, hell, heaven and judgement.

    Pastor Obasa said: Death is not the end of the believer but a passage into eternal glory. We are going to see our sister again during resurrection. She suffered pain but she is enjoying now”.

    He said the congregation should be envious of the deceased because she is already with the Lord.

  • Water supply to Kubwa to be cut off Saturday, says Minister

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello, has said public water supply to Kubwa satellite town would be cut off for 24 hours on Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Malam Hazat Sule, Chief Press Secretary to the Minister and issued to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    According to the minister, the interruption in water supply will enable the FCT Water Board carry out routine maintenance of its facilities in Kubwa.

    The minister said the maintenance would disrupt normal water supply to the entire Kubwa satellite town community for the whole day.

    He said that the maintenance work “is to ensure uninterrupted supply of water to all the residents of the satellite town.’’

    He assured that normal water supply would be restored on Sunday, April 17.

    Bello, who expressed regret over the situation, promised that the FCT administration would continue to work round the clock to make potable water available to all the residents of the territory.

    He solicited the support and understanding of the residents of the territory to enable him achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision of uninterrupted, clean and potable water supply to Abuja residents. (NAN)

  • Foursquare unveils Kubwa auditorium

    Foursquare unveils Kubwa auditorium

    Twenty-four years after building its first auditorium, the Foursquare Gospel Church, Kubwa District Headquarters has unveiled a new auditorium.

    The 1200-seater capacity church is located at 222 Bakori Road, Phase 2, Site 2, Kubwa Abuja.

    Chairman, Building Committee, Mr. Bekwele Ikpa said it took about three years and nine months before the structure was completed.

    In his opening remarkS, the Senior Pastor, Rev. Ishola Omigade said the church’s popularity as a result of its strong evangelism made it famous, necessitating a modern, bigger place of worship.

    He commended the church council for supporting the project despite initial resistance from members.

    “The original idea of the council and the rebuilding committee was that we were going to modify the old church building using the existing walls, hence the rebuilding committee. But it eventually dawned on everyone that the old foundation would not hold the magnitude of the new structure that we had in mind, so we jettisoned the idea and put up the new foundation,” Omigade said.

    Ikpa also stressed that the church council, “did not do any launching neither did we solicit for funds from members of the church. It took so long because we actually did it in phases because of children school fees.”

    Present at the event was the church General Overseer, Rev. Felix Meduoye among other men of God.

     

  • Kubwa residents seek evacuation of refuse

    Residents of Kubwa Extension III in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the environmental department of the council to evacuate the heaps of refuse in the area.
    One of the residents, Mr. Ighedosa John, a member of St. John Mary Vianney Quasi Parish, the catholic church located very close to a dumpsite, expressed disappointment at the FCT authorities for locating it so close to residential houses, worship centres and the ice block industries.
    John said the dumpsite should be relocated, after the church leadership sought in vain to get the Bwari Area Council authorities to do something on the dump.
    “I went to Bwari area council, with a letter dated July 13, I was told to come back after the Salah celebration, which I did. When I went back, I met a woman called Alhaja, who told me that this area which we are complaining about has the ministerial blessing to be used as a dumpsite.
    “I told her that where the dump site is situated is a residential area, but, she replied that there is nothing they could do about it, that they have even buried some refuse in the ground in the past.
    “We are appealing to the government to come and help us to remove this refuse from this place, because it is dangerous to the lives of people living here. The road is blocked with the refuse and cannot be accessed any longer, because of the refuse and the bad odour from it,” he said.
    Ms. Bola Aberuagba, one of the owners of the Ice Block industries located directly behind the dump site, said they are not happy with the environment hazard in the area, saying that the smell is too much for them to continue their business there, but they have no other option than to continue to pray for the government to come to their rescue.
    “We cannot even eat, because of the countless numbers of flies. During the rainy season like this, we cannot move about because, of the stinky water that comes out from it to the road and most times to our business centre, to the extent that people will find it difficult to stand and patronize us mostly when it rains.
    “Even the Catholic church at the other end is suffering seriously from the smells that come out from the refuse. When we came to this area initially, there was no dump site here, it was the mobile refuse collectors that told us that they are paying money to the area council to dump refuse here, because it is a designated dump site. We have done all we could to chase them away, but to no avail,” she said.
    Ibrahim Ibrahim, one of the mobile refuse collectors at the dump site, explained that they were initially located close to Dutse junction, a place called Ugwan-Bacha, and the land was sold for Estate to be constructed, before the leadership of council moved to the present dump site at Kubwa Extention III, because it is under a high tension.
    “We use to have people from the environmental department of Bwari area council that used to come and evacuate the refuse after it gathers for awhile, but recently, we do not know what went wrong that they allowed it to get to this level after some months. We are appealing to the council to come and evacuate the refuse for us.
    “Also, in order to survive in this challenging period, we collect rubber plates and buckets that could be recycled, and we sell them to rubber factories for them to be recycled. We do not want to chased out of this place, so that we will not loose our daily bread,” he said.

  • Kubwa Muslims defy rain, throng out for prayers

    Muslims in Kubwa, a satellite in Abuja came out in large numbers to attend the Eid el-Fitr prayers in spite of downpour in the area.

    The prayers, which held at the Eid Praying Ground, Phase 3, Kubwa, Abuja, saw a large turnout of gaily dressed Muslim faithful, most of who got drenched in the rains.

    Imam Abdurrahim Muhammad, the Chief Imam of Kubwa, in his sermon, enjoined Muslims to draw from the lessons of Ramadan and continue to live responsible lives.

    He emphasised the importance of the Zakatul Fitir, which, according to him, all Muslims are obliged to pay on behalf of themselves and members of their families.

    “The days of Ramadan were made lively through fasting and increased remembrance of Allah, while its nights were lightened through night prayers, and people retained an expected kind of behaviour.

    “ Ramadan has left us with several lessons, like truthfulness, piety, justice, patience and goodness, and all these should be retained afterwards.

    “Allah has enjoined all Muslims to observe the Zakatul Fitir at the end of Ramadan, and this is meant to increase our faith, complete or worship and perfect His favours upon us.

    “It is obligatory on Muslims to give out Zakat on behalf of himself and those under his care, including wives, children, parents, relatives and house helps.’’

    The Imam decried the spate of insurgency in the country and urged the government to take decisive steps to end the scourge.

    “Boko Haram is a major challenge to Islam and we urge government to take the necessary steps in ensuring that the menace is ended and its perpetrators and sponsors brought to book.