The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Malam Muhammad Bello

  • Perm Sec: I’ll work with minister to achieve Buhari’s change agenda

    The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT),Mr. Christian Ohaa has indicated his readiness  to support the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello to achieve President Muhammadu Buhari’s Change Agenda.

    Ohaa disclosed this during the monthly management meeting of Heads of Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) of the FCT Administration.

    The Permanent Secretary implored directors and other senior management staff of the administration to key into the Change Agenda of the President which is hinged on zero-tolerance to corruption, excellent service delivery and improving the quality of  lives of Nigerians from all walks of life.

    According to a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Tony Odey, the Permanent Secretary said: “I’m sent here to support the Minister to drive to fruition Mr. President’s Mandate for this administration. As you are all aware the watchword of this present government is transparency and accountability and that is why all of us are here.

    “Therefore, we must prove to Mr. President that we have bought into his mandate. We will support him to succeed in his passion to bring a change to this country. We will support him so that when visitors come into city, they will have good impression about Nigerians.

    “I believe in you. I believe that together we can support Mr. President and the Minister to usher in radical change into Nigeria.

    “I present myself before you, to work with you with sincerity of purpose. To make sure we do the right thing at every given time. To make sure we are prompt even when there are emergencies. This is because all of us are here to work for the good of our people and ourselves and also for the future of our children. Let’s work in synergy. Please, don’t let me down.”

    Ohaa further remarked that the Minister shares in totality the vision and ideals of Mr. President, to reposition Nigeria on the path of rectitude in order to be an example in the comity of nations.

    “The Minister is a man of integrity. A man who is highly contented and when the head is correct, the whole body must follow.”

    The scribe maintained that he would stick to extant rules and regulations in the way and manner things are done in the Territory.

    Oahu who solicited the co-operation of the staff, promised to do his bit to improve on the human capacity and staff welfare of FCTA staff.

    He further expressed his resolve to drive vigorously policies and programmes that would enhance the lives of residents of the Territory.

    The new Permanent Secretary later inaugurated the series of Management meetings that would take place under his supervision.

     

  • Minister makes case for environment, mining communities 

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has stressed the importance of safeguards against environmental degradation and need for the welfare of host communities in the development of mines and minerals.

    Bello made this call when he declared open the executive session of the maiden National Council on Mines and Mineral Resources Development in Nigeria, holding in Abuja.

    He said, “No matter how much benefits we get eventually from the exploitation of minerals, as long as we do that at the danger of the degradation of the environment and expense of the welfare of the host communities, all these benefits will be of no use in the end.”

    The FCT minister described the solid minerals sector as the foundation for the rapid economic progress recorded in the early years of Nigeria before the discovery of oil in 1956.

    He recalled, “About 100 years ago Nigeria was a highly recognised centre of mining activities. There were active mining of Tin in Jos, Gold in Bida and Coal in Enugu.” He expressed hope in the return to the glorious days when mines and mineral were the major drivers of the national economy citing the recent discovery of the rich deposit of Nickel in Kaduna State.

    Bello, therefore, anticipated a greater future for Nigeria given the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration towards the diversification of the economy and the concerted efforts of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development towards harnessing the potentials of the sector.

    A statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the minister described the establishment of a National Council on Mining development as a dynamic institutional framework that would foster effective partnership between the Federal and State Governments as well as the host communities for a brighter future for the industry.

    In his address at the occasion, the Minister of Solid Mineral Development   Dr. Kayode Fayemi revealed that the essence of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD) is the need to improve on the engagement of stakeholders at the sub-national level, particularly the state governments and communities in order to achieve a more beneficial participation of critical stakeholder groups in the mining sector.

    The Minister also announced that the Ministry has effectively resolved the protracted litigation surrounding the ownership of Ajaokuta and NIOMCO leading to the signing of a “Modified Concession Agreement” between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Global Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd.

    The agreement, he indicated, was executed on behalf of the Federal Government by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and has consequently freed both NIOMCO and Ajaokuta Steel Company from eight years of dormancy. As a result, the ownership of Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd has reverted to the Federal Government of Nigeria. Similarly the operationalization of the Steel Company will provide needed inputs to support the infrastructure requirements of the Country and save Nigeria the $3.3 billion spent annually on the importation of steel products.

    Fayemi revealed that the sector has already achieved a 300 percent increase in revenue between 2015 and 2016, stating that as at July this year it had surpassed the entire revenue of N2 billion generated for the whole of 2016.

    The Ministry, he disclosed, has secured approval to access N30 billion from the Natural Resources Intervention Fund for promotion of the exploration of new minerals and to strengthen the regulatory capacity of his Ministry.

    His words “our goal is to build a sector that is competitive and supportive of our overall job creation and wealth generation aspirations for Nigerians.”

  • FCT vaccinates 20,000 livestock

    In a bid to boost activities in the livestock industry and ensure sanity in the handling of animal products in the Territory, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has successfully vaccinated over 20,000 livestock in the Territory.

    Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello disclosed this during the national conference on the transformation of the Nigerian livestock industry.

    He said, “Recently more than 20,000 livestock were vaccinated in a two-week intensive campaign carried out by the FCT Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat. Also, the Administration has successfully combated diseases such as Bird Flu and Army Worms.”

    Bello who was represented at the occasion by FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa further revealed that the Administration is collaborating with the Cattle Breeders in the Territory to fashion out cutting-edge solutions to the challenge of cattle rustling and illegal grazing in the city.

    The Minister in a statment issued by the Press Secretary, Permanent Secretary’s Office, Tony Odey said that as part of efforts aimed at mitigating the challenge of illegal grazing in the Territory, the Administration had already constituted a high-powered ministerial committee to fast-track the development of the four grazing reserves provided in the FCT Master Plan.

    The minister said, “The FCT Administration has proactively set up a Ministerial Committee on the development of the 4 Grazing Reserves provided for in the FCT Master Plan. Furthermore, discussion is on with Danish Company for the development of the Paikon Kore Grazing Reserve into a world class reserve as a model while provision has been made for adequate compensation to the affected farmers.”

    Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe said the conference is apt and expressed hope that it will address all the aspects of solutions required in the enhancement of livestock industry.

    Chief Ogbe further explained that President Muhammadu Buhari led government is making serious efforts to ensure that the livestock industry becomes the mainstay of the nation’s economy.

    Senate Committee Chairman on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu who also spoke during the event canvassed for policies and programmes aim at promoting the livestock industry.

  • South East crisis: Minister assures of security of lives in FCT

    South East crisis: Minister assures of security of lives in FCT

    …We are not resting on our oars, says FCT Police Commissioner

     

     

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

    Bello assured that the FCT administration has put all machinery in place to ensure security of lives 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 today in his official residence.

    The minister said: “The purpose of the meeting was to review the situation in the South East 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 used to occasion to receive update 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 cascade 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 the people of 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 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.

  • FCTA restarts work on Apo-Karshi Road

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that work has resumed on the completion of the long awaited Apo-Karshi road, even as it plans to construct another bypass that would permanently tackle traffic situation on the Abuja-Nyanya axis.

    Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello made this known during a reception organized for members of the National Defence College Course 26, who paid him a study visit at the FCDA Conference Hall.

    Respond to a question from a member of the delegation on how the FCTA intended to solve the traffic situation on Nyanya road, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibril who represented the Minister at the event said: “the Honourable Minister has given us marching orders to see to the completion of the Apo-Wasa-Karshi road, what others call Apo-Karshi road.

    “And everything is resolved. The contractor is back on site and we will ensure we work in line with the timing of the Minister who believes that the road will provide immediate relief on this axis.”

    The Minister also revealed that “procurement has already gone far” as the FCT Administration expressed determination to ensure completion of another major bypass that would pass behind Mpape, traversing Nyanya, Gitata Panda, and terminating at Gurara, in Kaduna state.

    According to the Minister, this bypass is a “dedicated dual carriageway on the Eastern carriage way that would ease traffic on the Nyanya-Karu and Kubwa expressways and make entry and exit to the nation’s capital easy.

    Speaking specifically on how the FCTA was working towards tackling issues of high pressure on facilities in the Federal Capital City, Malam Bello stated that the Satellite Towns Development Department was working hard on the provision of water, roads and facilities in three of the territory’s satellite towns of Kubwa, Bwari and Karshi.

    Leader of the National Defence College Course 26 delegation, Commodore Emmanuel Ogalla while speaking on behalf of his colleagues expressed gratitude to the Minister and the FCTA management for the warm reception accorded them, and disclosed that they were surprised seeing that so much was been done by the Administration.

    He pledged that they would make their contributions that would ensure excellence in service delivery and infrastructural development of the FCT.

    It is worthy to state that, just like National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, students of National Defence College make study tours of states of the Federation and the FCT as requirement for completion of their study.

  • Minister woos Polish investors

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has urged visiting a delegation from Poland to make Abuja the hub for Polish investment in West Africa.

    The FCT Minister made this call when organisers of the Polish-Nigeria Business and Investment Summit (PONBIS) paid him a courtesy visit.

    The Minister expressed concern that the commercial relationship between Nigeria and Poland has been so skeletal even though the country is one of the fastest growing economies in Europe today.

    The Minister cited Poland’s proficiency in the construction and heavy steel industries. His words “I think this is the right time for you to come fully into Nigeria because the government is serious about encouraging trade between Nigeria and countries like yours. I am therefore very happy that you are already liaising with the Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), which is the right organization for you to deal with because they have the expertise.”

    He unveiled the various investment opportunities in the medical field especially in equipment and medical diagnostic services while advising that Poland should facilitate cultural exchanges between them and Nigeria. Other areas, the Minister mentioned include; educational exchanges between lecturers and students, saying “You can encourage your scholars to come here on sabbatical leaves, maybe to undertake  some aspects of their studies.”

    Malam Bello highlighted the attractiveness of Abuja as an investment destination enumerating its qualities such as being the capital of a great country, its central location, well developed infrastructure and enabling investment climate.

    He informed the visitors that the Abuja’s International Airport right now operates four international flights to Europe, namely; France, Britain,  Germany and Istanbul.

    Malam Bello invited Polish Companies to come into Nigeria and to take necessary steps to generate the needed awareness especially by establishing a trade office here in conjunction with the NIPC. He urged the commercial department of the Polish Embassy to create forums for the enlightenment of interested Nigerian business men on Polish businesses.

  • ‘We’re committed to Idu industrial estate project’

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello has assured that the ongoing Idu Industrial Estate infrastructure project will be completed to boost economic activities in the FCT and create much-needed employment opportunities for the teeming residents.

    The Minister, who gave these assurances in Abuja when he paid a visit to the estate, said the administration is working out arrangements to see how the financial and other challenges faced by the contractors at the construction site can be surmounted to ensure its speedy completion.

    According to a statement issued by the Special Assistant (Media), Abubakar Sani, the minister while explaining that the Estate falls in line with the projects that the FCT Administration has resolved to give priority due the great bearing it has on the largest number of people in the FCT, said many Nigerian companies – over a hundred of them have been fully mobilized and are working daily at the estate providing jobs and generating economic activities.

    According to the Minister, “The purpose of this visit today is to see how we can quickly complete the remaining infrastructure work here in line with the administration’s desire to complete all on-going massive infrastructure projects that will have great bearing to the largest number of people and I’m very happy with what I’ve seen. The project had suffered funding setbacks over the last four years, which is understandable. But we are working out arrangements to see how these challenges can be surmounted.”

    He said: “The Idu Industrial Estate is the largest estate in Abuja, which has been under construction infrastructure wise for quite some time. But as you can see, substantial work has been done. I understand the infrastructure already done here is over 70 per cent completed”.

    The FCT Minister, however, advised residents who put up illegal settlements around the estate to start making arrangements to leave the area, in order to pave way for infrastructure development.

    Bello who noted that the illegal settlement sprang up late after the project had commenced, due to the demand for labour at the construction site, said they have been informed that they would need to leave for work to continue.

    He said, “Obviously the village and any other village within the Abuja area, once development reaches that village, it has to move. That is something that is well known, accepted by law, accepted by convention and accepted by all the citizens of the FCT because we all agree that this is going to be the centre of unity. We are developing this place for office, for residences, for markets, for industrial parks like this one.

    The FCT Minister also appealed to those who have allocations in the areas that have been fully serviced with infrastructure in the Estate to quickly commence development of these plots or risk losing them.

    “I want to use the medium of this visit to appeal to those who already have plots here that have been allocated for which infrastructure has already reached their plot, to quickly come and commence development or else, we will apply all the rules and regulations regarding the allocations given to them.

    “The beauty of allocations is that there are terms and conditions and so many companies, both local and foreign have contacted us seeking for land to develop and as an administration, each new factory that is opened here is a blessing to all of us because it brings in needed employment and economic activity,” Bello stated.

    The Idu Industrial Estate is designed to accommodate about 222 plots of industrial land. Available statistics show that out of this number, 84 plots have been fully developed, 34 on-going while owners of the remaining 104 plots are yet to commence development.

     

  • Minister inaugurates 300 housing units

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello has commissioned 300 affordable housing units and laid the foundation for the development of another 300 in Kaba District, Abuja.

    The Minister said the FCT Administration embarked on the project to give teeth to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in tackling housing deficits in the country and ensuring good shelter for all.

    He added, saying, “We started with reforming the institutional framework for housing development in the Territory with a view to making it possible for private investors to move in…because of our belief that government alone cannot provide all the houses that the people need.

    “It is interesting to note that for as low as 6, 12 or 16 million naira, young, middle or higher level officers could subscribe to houses that fit their income after an initial modest down-payment according to terms corresponding to their mortgage arrangement.

    “I am glad to note that beside the provision of houses the agency is creating jobs for a considerable number of skilled and unskilled workers. I am aware that this estate has over 700 construction professionals and artisans working here.

    “I must inform us that Abuja is a mature city now and like all mature cities, the idea of empty plots has become a far cry. Indeed, phases I to III of the city has been fully allocated while what remains of phases IV and V is all we have currently. Consequently, the FCTA is emphasizing allocations to groups and institutions as well as high-rise developments to use the few spaces remaining to benefit the greatest number”.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye who represented the Minister disclosed there was “no housing deficit in Abuja, but there is deficit in affordable housing. Go everywhere, you see estates locked up, and fanciful estates that people cannot afford to buy.

    “That is why we are doing this. One bed room is N6 million, two bed room starts from N10 to N12 million. It is affordable, with the help of the Federal Mortgage Bank that we give our civil servants loan and the Federal Government Staff Housing Loan Board is there for our civil servants to access loans and be able to afford this. So these are the kinds of things we are asking people to do, not to build houses that are not affordable”.

    On the issue of private developers taking land for mass housing and selling it, the Minister affirmed: “That has stopped. That is why the Honourable Minister has suspended mass housing allocation. We are sorting out all these, talking to developers.

    “The era of where people take land and sell is over. Now, you don’t take land and receive title. If you want to develop now, you have lease agreement for development. It is when we know that you are serious, may be up to three years that we start talking about giving you title. So everything is restructured now. It is not like before.

    Executive Director, Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board (FGSHLB), Dr. Hannatu Fika while delivering good will message noted that effective housing has multiplier effect on our economy through direct and indirect employment, adding that affordable housing has potentials including good health, reduced anxiety, depression and security”, among others.

    She further in her good will message, she revealed that that was why FGSHLB did float a “revolving loan scheme to cater for the housing needs of all interested public servants”, adding that the board has “developed a strategy to collaborate with estate developers identified by public servants themselves”.

    Acting Managing Director, Abuja Property Development Company (APDC), Mr. Yunusa Yusuf in his vote of thanks disclosed that the “commissioning of the first 300 units in APDC Capital Estate marks gradual completion of the provision of 615 housing units in phase I of the estate”.

     

     

     

     

  • Minister to council chiefs: use N684m Paris Refund to pay salaries

    Worried by the workers’ poor welfare, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Minister Malam Muhammad Bello has urged chairmen of Area Councils to use the recently received N684 million Paris Refund cash to defray the arrears of staff salaries.

    Bello gave the advice while answering questions asked by the Senate Committee on FCT during the Committee’s hearing on the Bill for the Political and Administrative Structure of FCT Area Councils.

    Asked by the Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye whether he intends to place a demand for the Paris Refund considering the N1.6 billion the Administration gave as bailout to Area Councils in the recent past, the Minister disclosed that the repayment of the bailout money given the councils was not a priority now but to see that the Area Council staff gets paid the arrears of salaries owed them.

    He also disclosed that the FCT Administration had not yet benefitted from the Paris Refund as what hit its account was meant for the Area Councils.

    In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Cosmas Uzodinma, the minister also suggested a special fund to ensure prompt payment of severance packages to Area Council political office holders.

    This he indicated could be by setting aside a percentage of the Internally Generated Revenues (IGR) of the Area Councils upon collection.

    He stressed that while he had read that FCT was to receive N1.2 Billion and N684 Million representing first and second tranches of Paris Refund, respectively, it was only on Friday last week that the second tranche hit the FCT Account, saying the Administration is yet to receive the first tranche.

    Bello invited the Committee to look into the subject of the collection of Tenement Rates in the Federal Capital City (FCC) against the background of the huge investment the FCT Administration makes in the development of infrastructure and provision of services in the Capital City.

    The Minister acknowledged the support and guidance of the Senate Committee on FCT in the efforts to provide infrastructure and services in the Territory, saying: “We look at the Area Councils as an extension of the FCT Administration, we don’t intend to ask them to refund the bailout but as the days go by we would find the ways and means around it.

    “It is however, very important that this distinguished Committee be able to really recognize the critical role of FCC, which is the 250sqkm where you find the Presidency, the Diplomatic Community and the Ministries. We have had instances where the consultants go to seal up diplomatic building, being unmindful of such international treaties like the Geneva Convention on the status of Diplomatic persons and institutions.

    “When you are looking at the political structure, we hope the Committee recognizes this unique position and even when the subject of taxes is being considered; it could be done in such a way that the FCT Internal Revenue Services is the one to handle them to avoid embarrassments.”

    The Committee Chairman, Senator Dino Melaye revealed that the Committee intends to pass the Bill on the Political and Administrative structure of FCT Area Councils into law before the end of the year, to give a permanent solution to the various areas of concern.

    He commended the parties in the suit challenging the FCT Administration and the House of Representatives on the legality or otherwise of stopping the Abuja Municipal Area Councils from collecting Tenement Rates, for withdrawing the suit. He said it was a welcome development to exhaust all avenues of dialogue.

    FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye informed the Committee of the drastic decline in the FCT Administration’s allocation from the Federation Account from N4.3 Billion  two years ago to between N1.9Billion and N2.1Billion currently.

    The Permanent Secretary lamented that with staff strength of over 28,000; FCTA’s wage bill is over N4 Billion monthly, coupled with the huge responsibilities for the provision of infrastructure and services in the Territory.

    This, he said has made it imperative for the FCT Administration to rely heavily on its Internal Revenue Generation capacity to fund these projects and services.

     

  • FCT Minister urges residents to spread messages of love, sacrifice at Easter

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has urged residents to spread the messages  of love, sacrifice, tolerance and peaceful co-existence as demonstrated by Jesus Christ in his life time.

    Bello made the call in goodwill message to Christians to mark Good Friday and Easter Monday celebration in Abuja on Thursday.

    He advised the residents, particularly Christians to use the period of  Easter  for sober reflection and strive  to emulate the exemplary life of  Christ for the good all.

    “Christ has demonstrated his love for humanity by sacrificing his life for the sins of others’’, he said.

    The minister also appealed to all residents to continue to be their brothers’ keepers, irrespective of their religious beliefs, saying that “the best in the sight of God is the most pious.’’

    He expressed delight at witnessing yet another occasion when  Christians in the territory join their counterparts  in the other parts of the World to commemorate the auspicious day in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

    Bello assured them that the FCT Administration in collaboration with the security agencies is more than ever determined to protect their  lives and property.

    He, therefore,  congratulated all  residents of the FCT as the World celebrates Easter, which marks the crucifixion and resurrection of  Jesus Christ. (