Tag: Wike

…FCT land allottees to get title documents in two weeks

As of December 31, 2024, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has signed a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O), according to a statement by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, on Tuesday.

This figure is 2,919 fewer than the total number of C-of-O certificates printed and signed by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the 13-year period from 2010 to 2023.

Olayinka also stated that once the necessary payments are made, land allottees can now receive their C-of-O within two weeks.

He said: “One of the reasons land allottees do not find it compelling to pay for their C-of-O is because when they pay, they wait for years. But in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, that has changed now.

“Even uploading of necessary information to show when a C-of-O is collected as well as details on the collector that used to take months, is now done within 72 hours”.

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Giving details of C-of-O produced and signed in the FCT in the last 15 years, the Minister’s spokesman said; “From May 2010 to May 2015, a total of 5,655 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed. 

“From May 2015 to May 2019, a total of 1,174 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed, while 1,571 were done between May 2019 and May 2023.

“Meanwhile, from May 2023 that President Tinubu assumed office till December 31, 2024, a total of 5,481 Certificates of Occupancy were produced and signed by the FCT minister.

“Also, in the next few weeks, land allottees whose C-of-O are ready for collection will begin to receive auto-generated SMS because it has been discovered that most of them don’t even know that their title documents are ready.”

Residents of Saburi, in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed their support for FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for spearheading significant developments in their community, including the construction of a major access road. 

The residents highlighted that the poor state of the road had previously caused serious security challenges and economic hardships.

They also commended the minister for approving a police station and a hospital for the community, both of which are currently under construction. 

These remarks were made during an independent inspection of ongoing projects in the territory and their impact on benefiting communities. 

Wike inaugurated the construction of the 5-kilometre access road on January 21 last year, connecting Saburi 1 and 2 to the Dei Dei International Market. The project, which links the Murtala Mohammed Expressway to the market, was designed to alleviate the community’s struggles, particularly during the rainy season. 

The Village Head of Saburi, Alhaji Muhammad Yamawo, described the developments as transformative and expressed gratitude on behalf of the community.

He said: “This road is like someone who has never gotten married; when he finally does, he feels like the whole world belongs to him.

“We have suffered greatly due to the absence of a good road in Saburi, but we are happy that Wike has finally wiped our tears.”

One of the residents, Mr. Emmanuel Ogboh, a shop owner, said that businesses in the area have turned around due to increased vehicular movement since the construction of the road.

Also, Mrs. Justina Ocheche, who sells bean cakes, said her business has been thriving since the completion of the road.

Ocheche noted that the poor state of the road had crippled her business due to heavy dust during the dry season and mud during the rainy season, making her Akara business unhygienic.

“However, since Wike’s intervention, there is no more dust or mud. People are now moving freely, and our patronage has significantly increased.

“God will bless Wike even in the coming generations because of what he has done for us in Saburi and Dei Dei,” she said.

She, however, called for a stable electricity supply in the area, stating that the community sometimes goes for two weeks without water due to erratic electricity supply.

Read Also: Review policies for Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda – Okechukwu tells economic team

A furniture maker, Mr. Nicholas Emmanuel, stated that the dust emanating from the poor road was not good for business, particularly for furniture, but now the situation is different.

“Now the dust is gone, and so is our catarrh. We thank God that the minister remembered us in Saburi, and we pray that God will keep him to continue the good work he has started,” he explained.

For Mr. Akin Akinwande, a car wash owner in the community, the road network has been a game changer for his business.

“Before, you could barely see 20 cars passing through the community in a day, but now more than 100 ply this road daily.

“This is good for our businesses, and we thank Wike and President Bola Tinubu for it,” he said.

On his part, Mr. Emeka Oduma, a truck driver, said: “I am very impressed with what Wike has done for us in this village. I am happy, and everybody is happy that our minister is doing a good job.

“I have been in Saburi 1 for not less than 10 years now, and the road was very, very terrible. Thank God for Wike, who is setting a good example for others to follow.

Oduma urged the minister not to rest on his laurels and to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the FCT.

Residents of Saburi I and II communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council, have described the recently constructed road in the community initiated by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, as a “game changer.”

Some of the residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, that the road project had significantly improved socio-economic activities in the area.

NAN correspondent alongside other members of the Ministers’ Press Corps, visited the  community to assess the impact of road projects on FCT communities.

NAN recalled that Wike had on Jan. 21, 2024, inaugurated the construction of a 5-kilometre access road, connecting Saburi 1 and 11 and Dei Dei International Market.

The minister had said that the road, from Murtala Mohammed Expressway to Dei DeI International Market, was designed to ease the suffering of the people, particularly during the wet season.

The residents told NAN that the road had improved their businesses and triggered enormous socio-economic activities and other developmental strides in the area.

One of the residents, Mr Emmanuel Ogboh, a shop owner, said that businesses in the community had improved owing to the increased vehicular movement since the construction of the road.

The visibly excited Ogboh thanked Wike for extending his developmental agenda to Saburi community.

Also, Mrs Justina Ocheche, who sells beans cake, popularly known as Akara, said that her business had improved since the completion of the road.

Ocheche said that when the road was not completed her akara business suffered due to heavy dust particularly during the dry season and mud during the raining season.

“However, since Wike happened, there is no more dust or mud; people are now moving freely and we are experiencing significant patronage.

“God will bless Wike and his generation yet unborn because of what he did for us in Saburi and Dei Dei,” She said.

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The akara seller, however, called on the FTC administration to tackle the epileptic electricity and portable water supply in the community.

“Sometimes this community stays two weeks without water supply due to epileptic power supply,”she decried.

Village Head of Saburi, Alhaji Muhammad Yamawo

A furniture maker, Mr Nicholas Emmanuel, said that the dust that before now emanated from the road had affected furniture business in the community.

He explained that furniture  made of fabrics accumulates dust, making it unattractive to prospective buyers.

He added that residents were always putting on nose masks to protect them from the dust and prevent catarrh.

“Now the dust is over and so is our catarrh.

“We thank God that the minister remembered us in Saburi and we pray that God will keep him to continue the good work he has started,”he prayed.

For Mr Akin Akinwande, a car wash owner in the community, said that the road network was a game changer for his business.

“Before now, you barely see 20 cars pass through this community in a day, but now more than 100 ply this road daily.

“This is good for our businesses and we thank Wike and President Bola Tinubu for this gesture,” he said.

Mr Emeka Oduma, a truck driver, said “I am very impressed with what Wike did for us in this village; I am happy and everybody is happy that our minister is doing a good job.

“I have been in Saburi 1 for close to 10 years and the road was in terrible state, but thank God for Wike who is setting a good example for others to follow,”he said.

Describing Wike as a “good man” , Oduma urged the minister to continue with the good works by opening more roads in rural communities of the FCT.

The Village Head of Saburi, Alhaji Muhammad Yamawo, who could not hide his joy, described the road project as its “new bride.”

“This road is like someone who has never gotten married and when he finally does, he feels like the whole world belongs to him.

“We have suffered a lot due to the absence of a good road in Saburi, but we are happy that Wike has finally wiped our tears,” he said.

The village head also commended the minister for the ongoing construction of a Police Station and a hospital in the community.

NAN reports that the 5-kilometre Saburi to Dei Dei road is among several road projects awarded by the Wike-led FCT Administration in rural communities across the six area councils of the territory.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has vowed that the 50 individuals detained for vandalising manhole covers on Abuja’s roads would face prosecution.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Monday, the Nigerian Police Command in the FCT announced the detention of 50 suspected vandals, who were caught with 25 manhole covers and solar streetlights.

Reacting to the development, Wike said that the detained suspects would face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, the minister emphasised that no criminal would be spared.

Read Also: I won’t apologise to Odili, Wike vows

He assured that the FCT Administration would ensure that all buyers and users of the stolen manhole covers and other public infrastructure would be apprehended.

The culprits, he said, would be prosecuted for economic sabotage and for endangering the lives of Nigerians.

Wike described the detention of the 50 suspected vandals as a demonstration of the FCTA’s zero-tolerance policy toward criminal activities, particularly the vandalisation of public amenities.

He commended security agencies for their prompt and decisive actions, calling their collaborative efforts “fantastic.”

“This is an assurance to the residents of the FCT that their lives and property are secure,” he stated.

The minister also lauded Nigerians for showing patriotism by speaking out against vandalism, emphasising that the protection of public amenities was a collective responsibility.

He urged residents of the FCT to continue using social media positively, as demonstrated by one individual who alerted authorities about the stolen manhole covers.

He pledged that the Administration would act swiftly on similar incidents in the future.

“Those stealing and buying amenities meant for the use of Nigerians are Nigerians themselves.

“They live among us, and they are known. It is, therefore, important that patriotic Nigerians begin to expose them before they carry out their criminal acts,” Wike said.

(NAN)

• Accuses predecessor of disobeying  Tinubu on Rivers peace deal

• Lampoons Secondus, Meeba, Opara, others

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister  Nyesom Wike yesterday dismissed  as untenable calls by some Rivers State elders for him to apologise to a former governor  of the state, Sir. Peter Odili, over his recent remarks on him.

Wike said he had done nothing wrong and vowed to resist bullying by anyone.

The minister who spoke during a new year luncheon he organised at his country home in Obio-Akpor for friends and associates, said all he did was to point out that the  statement Odili made against him ought not to have been made by an elder statesman.

“They said elders said I should apologise. Apologise for what?”  he said.

“I said that I heard and I read that somebody who should be our elder statesman said this thing today and said a different thing tomorrow and I said no. No elder statesman should say that and the elder statesman didn’t say I didn’t say so. If he had said he didn’t say that I would have apologised. But he didn’t deny the statement.

“I didn’t abuse anybody. I said our elder statesman was the one telling people the kind of mansion and castle I built for him. I didn’t say I say so. It is not me who said it. It is the man who is supposed to be an elder statesman that said so. You are the one going about telling people what I did.”

At the luncheon, a film clip  of previous statements of Odili eulogizing  Wike was played for the audience.

In one instance, Odili suggested that if it were within his power he would have supported Wike for a third term.

Wike said: “Based on the documentary you have watched; is there anywhere they said my family this or that. So where did I want to convert Rivers state to my personal estate?

“When my father is doing something wrong, should I not say papa this is not what you said yesterday. Is that to make him cry? I ran election for local government in 1999, and since then till now I have never lost election. Nobody whom I supported has ever lost election.”

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Wike accused  Odili of disobeying Tinubu on the Rivers peace deal and recalled how he personally drafted Fubara into the governorship race and worked for him to win the election.

He said: “They said I should apologise; for what? That there is no law that said their daughter should not, but I said as an elder statesman, should you have given what belongs to your nephew to your daughter?

“Did I say that there is a law that said that your daughter should not be something? But you said somebody converting Rivers State to his personal estate. It’s not correct, the man who is converting Rivers State to personal estate is you and to crown it up, you are now the general overseer.

“I didn’t say anything wrong, so you cannot kill me for what I didn’t say. Tinubu is not like you. If you are a good person Tinubu called Rivers people.As an elder statesman he wanted you to make peace, but you came home. Ordinarily,what you should  have done was to call Mr. President back and tell him how you have tried to implement some of them, is there any way we can do the rest? Rather you disobeyed.”

Wike said it was unbelievable to hear Governor  Siminalayi Fubara  say there was no real person with him (Wike)and wondered if the governor was referring to the same people that had sleepless night to make him governor.

The minister mocked Fubara for referring to Uche Secondus, Senator Lee Meeba, Austine Opara, Abiye Sekibo and Celestine Omehia as the real Rivers people.

He claimed these were those who had vowed that he would never be governor of the state.

Wike recalled how he once brokered peace between Odili and some of the people now hailing him as their leader.

“All of them never saw Dr Peter Odili, until one day in my house through a bus; they never knew where I was going to.

“We drove to Odili’ s house. When we got there, he (Omehia) came down, Odili saw him and was angry. But I pleaded he should not be angry that what had happened  had happened, that we should work as a team.

“I pleaded with him to forgive everyone, that we had taken him as our leader. He was not happy. Today, I am seeing all of them saying our revered leader; who is a revered leader now? You are now calling Odili your revered leader.

“If you follow my political history, it has never been easy; I have been charged for murder, for armed robbery just because of politics. There is nothing I have not passed through in my life. But I know at the end of the day we will overcome.

“Leadership is not easy, somebody said no face here, that is an insult. Look at a former Ambassador to South-Korea, former ambassador who produced a governor is not a face. Who are the faces: Omehia, Abiye, Secondus, these are persons who said he would  not be governor, they are now faces?

“You didn’t want to be a governor, but somebody bought a form for you and said come fill it, bring it, go, you will be. You are saying that it will be well with such people. If it is the will of God, let thy will be done.”

Wike insisted that he had no regrets supporting President Bola Tinubu and recalled how his opponents collected money from former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar   in 2023 but failed.

He said: “I have no regret  supporting Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to win election. All these ones making noise, they told Atiku, we will fight him. How can people who came out and said Fubara cannot be governor, he cannot talk before the public, today are now the ones saying we are with you in  2007.

Also speaking, a former Secretary to the Rivers State  Government, Senator  Magnus Abe, said  politicians milling around  Governor Fubara were  doing so for personal gains and to alienate  Wike.

“Nobody is with Governor Fubara because they love Rivers State or Governor Fubara. They are with him because they see him as a means to achieve their political goal — to bring down the FCT Minister,” he said.

He  added:“In the last election, everyone in Rivers State did anti-party. With all due respect, I too did anti-party. I did not allow the SDP candidate to come and campaign here, and when he came to my house, I made it clear I was with Tinubu. Oga (Wike), you too did anti-party.

“You were very clear that you were with Tinubu, not the PDP presidential candidate. The current governor (Fubara) also did anti-party; he was with you and did not support the PDP presidential candidate,” Abe stated.

“The PDP leaders supporting Fubara today didn’t support the PDP governorship candidate, Governor Fubara. They supported the APC candidate. Likewise, the APC leaders did not support their presidential candidate but backed the PDP presidential candidate. So, everyone did anti-party, but the only one people keep talking about is the one done by Nyesom Wike, and that’s because he succeeded, and others failed.

“These politicians are pursuing their own interests. If tomorrow, you are no longer able to advance their agenda — to bring down Wike — they will abandon you and move on to someone else. My advice to you, sir, is to know that these people are not with you out of love for Rivers State. Those who truly love Rivers State will show it through their actions, not by plotting to bring down Wike.”

Former Edo State governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole described  Wike as a valuable minister and thanked the PDP  for  “giving us Nyesom Wike to help us fix Abuja.”

Crowd of persons from Ekpeye Kingdom,  including members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have declared support for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Chief Nyesom Wike, in the ongoing crisis in Rivers State. 

They made their stand known on Thursday when a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, hosted executive members of the PDP and the APC in Ahoada East at Ochigba Town.

Nwuche expressed gratitude to party members for their tireless efforts in mobilising the community for the end-of-year thanksgiving and a civic reception for Wike.

Nwuche commended them for their extraordinary courage and steadfastness despite the challenges caused by the ongoing crisis in Rivers. 

He said it was unusual for people to continue waxing strong after working to install a government without getting any recognition or reward.  

He said: “Many of you have shown remarkable dedication and perseverance, staying committed to the party’s ideals despite the difficulties.  It’s not easy to keep faith when it seems like the odds are against you, but you have done just that.”

Nwuche emphasised the importance of consistency and perseverance, stressing that growth and progress required staying committed to a cause. 

He encouraged party members to remain steadfast in their support for Wike insisting that Wike stood out among other governors  in leaving lasting legacies in Ekpeye Kingdom.

He said Wike’s administration brought over 18 projects to Ekpeye land, including the Campus of Rivers State University in Ahoada, the Ahoada-Omoku road and the Ochigba Road, which he said was initially awarded by Amaechi’s government but abandoned until Wike’s intervention.

Nwuche also commended Wike for empowering a company in Ahoada, which created jobs for over 1000 youths in the region. 

He noted that the company built a yard, trained youths in various skills and procured an Alsphat plant, saying the previous administration made efforts to bring industries and businesses to the Ahoada zone of the state by providing people with a means of livelihood.

He regretted that the project was eventually abandoned because of politics, and small mindedness of the present administration. 

He said: “Coming to the governors of this state, I have known all of them, from Ada George, up to Amaechi before Wike, I know them one on one. Let me ask you, sincerely, have there been any development you can point to in Ekpeye land before Wike’s time? 

“Just point to one, we had other governors here, we had Ada George, we had Peter Odili, Amaechi, point to one development. We had other governors before Wike. None of them left any legacy in Ekpeye, no development, no road projects, no water projects, no electrification, nothing”.

 Nwuche advised leaders to have a large heart and not use their offices to witch-hunt Rivers sons and daughters. 

He praised Wike for his ability to forgive and empower people, citing the example of Senator Magnus Abe, who opposed Wike but has now joined him.

He said: ” You do not abandon project because you didn’t award them, or because those who sponsored the company are not with you. You should think about the state, when you do that you demarket the state, empowerment is about giving people money, it is about planting industries, bringing in businesses that they can find a means of livelihood directly from. 

“So, that is why, you see, I am supporting Wike hundred per cent. Because many of them who were in power as governors used their offices to witch hunt Rivers sons and daughters. I have borne the brunt of their witch hunt, many of you are aware of that. One of them, when he was minister,  a company we bought had a project with NPA he cancelled it. 

“That company would have employed people from here and Rivers State. So, all I will advise is that those, who are expected to lead, should have a large heart. If you are parochial, or small minded, you can’t be a leader.  And that is why I like Wike. People who were in APC  who opposed Wike have now joined him, because he forgives. People like Abe are now with Wike because he forgives, and have a large heart and able to empower people.

“Under this past governors that I mentioned before Wike, mention one Ekpeye billionaire that they made. Mention one person. So Ekpeye has no billionaires? They were governors for how many years, a few of them four trillion passed through their hands in four years but  they could not build one person in Ekpeye. Till today, until Wike came. So, please let us look at people who mean well for the masses and follow them”.

The Special Guest of Honour and former Council Chairman of Ahoada-West, Hope Ikriko revealed that despite having grievances with former Governors of Rivers State, they would exercise restraint.

Ikiriko noted that the Ahoada PDP and APC party faithful had defied the impression that only those in government could reap benefits observing that some members of the PDP and APC were looking “far better” than those, who had defected to other parties.

He also corrected an impression by a former Chairman of ONELGA, who claimed that Wike asked them to submit letterhead documents authorising the withdrawal of N20million monthly from their allocation.

Describing the claims as a “blatant lie”

Ikiriko advised the crowd to remain steadfast and patient, saying that Wike’s leadership was organic and would continue to inspire loyalty. 

He praised Wike for protecting everyone, regardless of party affiliation, and for standing up for the truth.

He said: “Let me conclude by correcting an impression that one of my former colleagues made recently on social media. The former Chairman ONELGA,  who said the former governor asked us to submit letterhead paper and asked us to sign authorising him to take N20million from our allocation every monthly, that is a blatant lie! 

“Nothing of such happened.  On that note, let me advise you, whatever you are seeing today will fizzle out. We cannot advise anyone of you to take issues with any elder in the state and begin to insult people. 

“There are several and better ways to defend your leader and stand by your leader. And that is why we are standing by him. We have things to say to all the former governors but wisdom demands that we listen when it is not your place to speak.”