By Philip Yatai

The Directorate of Road Transport Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced demolition of shops, eateries, and other illegal structures in taxi ranks across the capital city, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the demolition started with Area 3 and Banex Junction Taxi Ranks in Abuja on Friday.

In Area 3 Taxi Rank, the DTRS team, supported by security agencies, demolished car wash, mechanic workshop, cinema house, and eateries among others, operating within the ranks.

At Banex Junction Taxi Rank, the taxis were not using the ranks because they had been taken over by miscreants who use the space to sell hard drugs, including adulterated fuel and diesel.

Mrs Deborah Osho, the Head of Operations, DRTS, who led the team, explained that the measure was to give room for more taxis to operate within the ranks.

This, according to her, will discourage illegal taxi parks across the city on grounds that there is no enough space in the taxi ranks.

She added that the move would also address the menace of “one chance” operators, who took advantage of the illegal parks to perpetuate their evil deeds.

She pointed out that most of the taxi ranks were not being used for taxi operations but criminals’ hideout, selling hard drugs.

Osho explained that the decision to demolish and clear the taxi ranks of illegal structures was reached after a meeting with transport stakeholders on the need for a cleaner and serene environment in the FCT.

She added that “on Monday, the DRTS invited stakeholders in the transportation sector for a meeting, and one of the resolutions was to clear the taxi ranks for taxis to operate inside the ranks.

“We have equally handed over a space around Eagle Square for taxi operators to use as temporary, to stop the menace of illegal parks around the Federal Secretariat.

“We are prepared to clean all taxi ranks in 2024, to ensure that motorists board taxis inside the taxi ranks and not outside.

“This in the long run, will address the menace of `one chance’ in the city.”

Dr Peter Olumuji, the Secretary, Command and Control Centre, Department of Security Service, FCTA, said “one chance” happens when people do not have a secured taxi rank to board vehicles.

“After going round with DRTS officials, we noticed that most of the taxi ranks were occupied by people that were not meant to be there.

“But as we clear these illegal structures, more vehicles will be coming into the ranks so that commuters will be able to board safe and secured taxis to their various destinations.

“This is a joint effort that will continue.”

Olumuji said that to sustain the clean taxi ranks operations, there was need for more personnel for DRTS and vehicular assets to move to every nuke and cranny of the city.

He added that the Department of Development Control also needs more wheel loaders and caterpillars for clearance operations.

He expressed confidence that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, would provide the manpower and logistics needed to keep the capital city clean and serene.

Commenting on the development, Mr Richard Siso, the Deputy Chairman, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, described the joint effort as the best for transport operators so far.

He said “this is what we have been asking government to help us do; we thank God that government has listened to us and has come out to clear the parks for us. We are in full support.”

Also, Mr Oladipupo Ebijuni, the Chairman and Director, Enforcement, Painted Abuja Taxi, said “we are very happy with what is happening here. I want to assure DRTS of our full support.” (NAN)

Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has intensified its dry season sensitisation campaign to ensure zero loss of lives and properties throughout the dry season in FCT.

Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, stated this during a one-day dry season sensitisation campaign at Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Secretariat, in Abuja on Thursday.

Wenegieme said that the sensitisation campaign is to avert common disasters during the dry season across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

She identified fire outbreaks as one of the major disasters that happen within the dry season period in markets, public places, offices and residential areas.

“The numerous fire incidents associated with dry season constitute a huge challenge as one of the calamities common at this period of the year.

“Over the years, we have always witnessed fire incidents in markets or plazas, especially in January.

“Wildfires are also very common during the dry season due to poor handling of fire.

“Other common disasters during the dry season include outbreak and spread of diseases and accidents, among others,” the director said.

She explained that intensification of the campaign was in line with the directive of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, and FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

The director explained that the campaign was to sensitise residents against negative attitudes and practices that could lead to disasters during the dry season.

According to her, the goal is to ensure there is no loss of lives and properties throughout the dry season.

She said that the agency began the dry season sensitisation in November 2023, beginning with the palaces of traditional leaders, their members of councils and other community structures.

She said that FEMA has decided to extend the campaign to the six area councils, beginning with AMAC, targeting the chairman and members of his cabinet, including representatives from different communities in the council.

In his remarks, the AMAC Chairman, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, said that the council had prioritised emergency management and expressed commitment to sensitise residents of the council.

Maikalangu, who was represented by the Council Secretary, Mr Jafaru Gwagwa, assured FEMA that the council would put every necessary measure in place to ensure that the information reached the grassroots. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in collaboration with the West Africa Automobile Services L.td., have launched Automobile Safety kits to promote safe driving practices in the country.

The Executive National President of RTEAN, Alhaji Musa Maitakobi, while launching the initiative on Thursday in Abuja, reiterated the commitment of the association to fostering a safe environment for all motorists.

He was represented by the association’s Deputy National President Administration, Amb. Mohammed Abubakar.

Maitakobi said the aims of the initiative was to encourage car owners and drivers to equip their vehicles with comprehensive safety kits.

He said that the association was determined to educate individuals about the essential components that contribute to a well equipped safety kits.

Maitakobi also said that the initiative was expected to promote safe driving practices, and responsible ownership by emphasising the importance of preventive measures.

He called on the public to join hands with the association in making a difference by ensuring that every vehicle on the road has a well-equipped safety kits.

” We can minimise the impact of unforeseen circumstances and accidents, ultimately leading to a safer community and a brighter future for all.

” The launch of this initiative is a significant milestone for us. We are confident that by making these safety kits easily accessible to all vehicles owners, both private, state and Federal Government.

” We can make a substantial impact on protecting lives and enhancing the overall safety kit consist of essential items.

” The items are reflective vests, traffic cones, safety helmet and warning triangles to increase visibility and alert other drivers in case of breakdown of accidents.

” First aid supplies, including bandage, antiseptics and wound dressing items to provide immediate care in case of injury.”

He emphasised that the primary mission of the association was to ensure the safety and well-being of its community members.

” This is in line with the United Nations and government policies in prevention and taking care of accident victims.

” The safety kits will be available in all our branches across the state, local as well as our chapels at a cheaper and affordable price.”

In his remark, the Chief Executive Officer, West Africa Automobile Services Ltd., Ahmed Hafez said that safely was not a privilege but fundamental rights.

” Every individual boarding a vehicle should have the assurance that their journey will be safe.

” Our cooperation with RTEAN marked a significant strive toward ensuring the safety of their 16 million members spread across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).”

The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Malam Ahmed Habib commended the association for the initiative.

” I want to behalf of NEMA commend the organizers of this safety initiative. I look at you from the disaster management point of view as being very proactive.

” Some injuries are preventable during accidents if we used the right safety kits. This initiative will go a long way to reduce the severity of injuries and death arising from road crashes accidents,” he said.

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, stressed the need for every motorist to have automobile safety kits.

Represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Ahmed Alhassan, Egbetokun said ” We will partner with the association to ensure that every motorist have safety kits.

” We will deepen partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) and other relevant agencies to ensure that every motorist maintain this safety kits.” (NAN)(www.nannews)

Edited By Joseph Edeh

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has concluded plans to introduce Bus Rapid Transportation System to ease transportation challenges in the federal capital, Abuja.

The Director, Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Dr Abdulateef Bello, made this known during an engagement with stakeholders in Abuja on Monday.

Bello added that the administration had equally concluded plans to bring in buses that use Compressed Natural Gas, to solve the problems of mass transit in Abuja.

He urged the stakeholders to key into the policy that would make a difference in the Abuja transportation ecosystem.

According to him, the buses when acquired and deployed to different routes, will take care of the rickety vehicles and taxis that have been constituting nuisances on Abuja roads.

The director also disclosed that plans have been concluded to reclaim the 46 Taxi Ranks in the territory to reorganise the ranks for licensed operators.

He explained that the need to standardise the transportation system in Abuja became necessary, considering that the city was fast evolving.

“Abuja cannot be left without an organised transportation system that will meet the needs of all citizens,” he stressed.

One of the stakeholders, Dr Abubakar Sadiq, Chairman, RTEIN Mass Transit, who applauded the development, urged the Administration to consider critical players in the transportation sector.  (NAN)

Edited by Deji Abdulwahab

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Dr Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, has charged members of staff of the ministry to redouble their efforts to meet up with President Tinubu’s target of poverty reduction in the country.

Edu made the call on Thursday in a statement issued to newsmen by her media aide, Mr Rasheed Olanrewaju, in Abuja.

The statement added that the minister was addressing staff of the ministry on her New Year first day in office.

She said the task of taking millions of Nigerians out of poverty was a collective responsibility that must be achieved through hard work and dedication to duty.

The minister also urged humanitarian stakeholders to ensure a renewed commitment and support to lift the vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty index by 2030 in line with SDGs target.

The statement reported the minister as saying that the president was committed to eradicating poverty and reducing humanitarian challenges before the end of his administration.

“What is most important is that we must draw out our goals and we must be focused to achieve them.

“We must be transparent and accountable in our dealings, and we must prioritise the welfare of the poor people in all our intervention programmes, so we need to work as a team.

“We need to be more innovative in our approach, and we need to be committed to work,” the statement added.

Edu assured Nigerians of the determination to work assiduously to meet the presidential mandate on poverty alleviation.

“Even during the Christmas and New Year break, we were out there bringing succor to the poor and vulnerable people across the country.

” In December last year, we achieved more milestones in the Conditional Cash Transfer because we paid an additional 532,000 persons following in-person verification.

“We initiated a Renewed Hope Shelter for Poor and IDPs.

“We also trained 500 rural people in vocational skills acquisition in Adamawa State as well as the Renewed Hope Grant for vulnerable groups in Cross River State and some other states.

“We also paid N- Power enrollees one month’s stipends out of the backlogs of their money, pending recovery of their funds removed from the account.

“We were also in Plateau State to condole and offer emergency response and succour to communities affected by the Christmas eve massacre.” (NAN).

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the Ministry of Finance has released N50 billion to the FCT to finance ongoing capital projects.

The amount, according to the minister, is 50 per cent of FCT’s N100 billion 2023 supplementary budget, approved by the National Assembly.

Wike made the announcement, after an inspection tour of some ongoing projects in the FCT, in Abuja on Thursday.

The minister said that he has directed the Permanent Secretary to immediately make payments to the contractors handling projects in FCT.

“I am happy to announce to you that the Ministry of Finance has released 50 per cent of the national supplementary budget.

“That in a way, has given us that hope that the contractors will be paid anytime from now.

“We have also gotten assent to the FCT Statutory Budget, which again, has given us hope that no project will be left uncompleted as promised.

“As you can see, these are quality projects, which we are very satisfied with.

“We believe that the arrangements made by the contractors will enable us to commission the projects to celebrate Mr President’s one year in office,” he said.

He commended the residents of Abuja for their support, while assuring them that there was no promise made that would not be fulfilled, stressing that a promise made would be fulfilled.

He expressed confidence that the projects would be delivered on schedule, saying “we are quite hopeful; we are quite convinced that they would keep to the time scheduled as agreed.

“We are happy with what we have seen, and we will continue to do things to the satisfaction of the residents of Abuja and assure them that the renewed hope agenda is not a mere talk.”

“So, it is a promise and a promise kept.”

Wike acknowledged some challenges at the course of delivering the projects, adding, however, that the challenges were surmountable.

He added that with the kind of support from President Bola Tinubu, there were no challenges that would not be surmountable.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wike inspected the Outer Southern Expressway, which stretched from A.A Rano, through Deeper Life Junction, SARS, Apo roundabout to Wasa District.

The road is being constructed by China Geo-Engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited.

Wike also inspected the Northern N-20 Expressway in Jahi District being constructed by Gilmor Construction firm, and the Vice President’s residence being constructed by Julius Berger.

The Area Manager, CGC Nigeria Ltd., Yong Hong, assured the minister that the Outer Southern Expressway would be delivered before May.

Similarly, the representative of Julius Berger, Mr Oliver Berger, said that the team were on site for the past two months and have done a lot of work on the VP residence project.

“We have done a lot of cleaning inside and outside.

“As you can see a lot of infrastructural work has happened; earth work around the fence line has been done, sewage and other trenches have been done.

“All the procurement processes have commenced already and from the preparation point of view we are in a good position to turn all our plans and procurement activities into action,” he said. (NAN)

Ekemini Ladejobi