By Philip Yatai

The Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has constructed 108 classrooms and rehabilitated 277 others in 2023.

The Mandate Secretary of the secretariat, Dr Danlami Hayyo, said this during the secretariat’s 17th end-of-year media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.

Hayyo added that 64 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilets, 11 boreholes, seven school fences, one administration block and 1 laboratory were also constructed during the period.

He also said that four laboratories, four administration blocks, three boreholes and a girls’ hostel were equally rehabilitated within the outgoing year.

He equally said that school furniture and instructional materials were supplied to Universal Basic Education (UBEB) schools, while 15 boreholes were constructed at primary and junior secondary schools.

He further said that two toilets were constructed in two Junior Secondary Schools, while educational support school bags and learning materials were provided to eight Junior secondary schools.

“We also expanded the Zonal Offices of the Department of Quality Assurance from seven to 12 and repaired eight utility vehicles for effective monitoring and evaluation.

“Also, a 150-capacity hall and digital literacy programme were inaugurated in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils, while laboratories and books for libraries were provided to schools,” he said.

On tertiary institutions, the mandate secretary said that the secretariat completed the construction of a 600-capacity Computer-Based Test Centre at the College of Education, Zuba, among other successes.

He stressed that the FCT Administration was not leaving any stone unturned in the improvement and provision of adequate infrastructure.

“We will continue to provide classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and recreational spaces to nurture well-rounded, successful students and ensure the efficacy of the educational delivery system,” he added.

On capacity building, Hayyo said that continuous capacity building of teachers and management staff was crucial for ensuring a high-quality and effective educational system.

He argued that capacity building enhances teaching quality, students’ performance, and professional development, and encourages innovative teaching techniques as well as incorporating new curriculum approaches among other benefits.

He said that to this end, the secretariat had facilitated a series of training sessions for teachers and management staff within the year under review.

The education secretary disclosed that some of the teachers were trained in Early Childhood Care Development Education, while 85 health teachers and others were trained in nutrition and food in the Annual Operation Plan.

He also said that 6,042 girls and women were trained in accelerated literacy in collaboration with European and UNESCO.

“Free CBT training was also conducted for 1,268 youths while 199 out-of-school children and 55 women were trained on shoemaking, paint production, decorations, hijab making, snacks and traditional henna skill acquisition.

“Similarly, 70 women were trained in digital entrepreneurship in partnership with Dream Divas Touch, while 30 youths were equally trained in web application design.

Hayyo further said that the education secretariat had put in place a motivation mechanism to encourage, inspire and incentivise individual staff to perform better, achieve goals and excel in their schedules.

On sports development, the mandate secretary said that the secretariat had made the FCTA proud through the various outstanding achievements and awards received within the year.

Other achievements within the year according to the mandate secretary included the disbursement of the 1st trenches of the School-Based Management Committee-School Improvement grant to 32 benefitting schools across the FCT.

He added that a Technology Incubation Centre Solar Hub was also certified in Karu, while an Automobile Diagnostic Centre and a Robotics Centre for Schools were established within the year.

He identified inadequate qualified teachers and a shortage of funds to implement capital projects as some of the challenges in 2023 and expressed hope for better performance in 2024.

“We express our profound gratitude for the overwhelming support of the FCT Administration led by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, and the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola.

“We also thank our development partners for all the financial and technical support throughout 2023,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

By Philip Yatai

The Department of Development Control, FCT Administration, says it is considering relocating part of Nuwalege community, occupying a portion of Presidential Air Fleet, along Airport Road, Abuja.

The Director of the department, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, made this known during an engagement with the community members on Tuesday in Abuja.

Galadima explained that the proposed removal followed a request by the Nigerian Air Force, adding that the community shares boundary with the Presidential Air Fleet.

He said that some of the houses in the community occupy parts of the Presidential Air Fleet plots and needed to be removed.

He explained that, if concluded, between 150 and 200 houses would be demolished in the community, including commercial stores attached to the houses.

About a month ago, the authority of the Nigerian Air Force wrote to the minister on the need to remove part of the village sitting on part of the Presidential Air Fleet plots.

“This is why we are here today, to discuss with the community, because it will be unfair to just bring machines here and start removing peoples’ houses.

“We had already visited the Chief of the community at his palace and informed him of the development, and the need for the community engagement which we are having today.

“We are coming back again for a wider consultation involving the Nigerian Air Force, our colleagues and the community heads,” he said.

The director said that community leaders have no objection to the proposed removal but appealed to the Nigerian Air Force to resettle the occupants of the affected houses.

The director, however, said that he was not aware if compensation was paid or not, but promised to find out from the Air Force and the FCT administration’s Department of Resettlement and Compensation. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

By Ramatu Garba

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to develop a national disaster risk reduction strategy and action plan to mitigate disasters.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Habib-Ahmed, made this known at a two-day workshop on disaster risk reduction strategic action plan 2023-2030 for Nigeria on Monday in Kano.

The themed of the workshop was:” Strengthening Capacities for Disaster Risk Reduction and Adaptation for Resilience in the Sahel Region: Fostering Risk-informed Solutions for Sustainable Development.”

Represented by the agency’s Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, Dr Daniel Obot, Habib-Ahmed explained that the need to develop the plan arose from the assessment findings conducted by the overseas development institute.

He said the unprecedented recurring boat mishap, building collapse, urban market fires and hydro-metrological hazards which have become dominant in Nigeria’s disaster risk profile compelled them to develop the management plan.

“ Management of disaster risks is anchored on Preparedness, Mitigation, Risk Reduction and Adaptation.

” The project is also within the context of multi-partnership implementation led by the UNDP in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and other regional organizations.

“For us in Nigeria, the Sahel Resilience Project is expected to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Federal Government especially in the areas of poverty eradication, food security and inclusivity.”

Earlier, Mr Sunday Amama, representative of UNDP for Sahel Resilience Project Nigeria, describe the workshop as apt.

According to him, communities are being impacted by environmental and health hazards.

He said disaster risk management at all levels was key to building the resilience of communities and economies.

“As a signatory to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Nigeria has been working diligently towards achieving its targets.

“Our collaboration with NEMA is to develop a new DRR strategy for Nigeria aligned with the African Union’s Programme.

” And efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness response capabilities in West Africa and Sahel region to create a resilient,” he said.

He emphasised the need for organisational culture change, political commitment, motivation and financial backing as well as protection of the population against current and future disaster risks.

“The new disaster risk reduction strategy will promote policy coherence related to sustainable development, poverty eradication and climate change, aligning with the sustainable development goals.’

Also, Dr Nuradden Abdullahi, NEMA Territorial Coordinator, Kano Office, said the workshop would bring positive impact to develop risk management plan. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Sadiya Hamza

By Philip Yatai

A Joint Task Force team of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on City Sanitation, on Monday, arrested 19 protesters that besieged the premises of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Wuse Abuja.

The 19 arrested protesters and scores of more stormed the premises of the council to protest the demolition of a Mechanic Village in Kubwa, by the officials of the AMMC’s Department of Development Control.

The Director of the department, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, told journalists after the incidents that the workers in the building were going about their official assignments when the protesters besieged the premises.

Galadima said that 19 of the protesters were arrested for the violent disruption of peace in the area.

“We were having a meeting in a conference hall when we heard some noises. We decided to come and see what was happening and I saw some people with placards.

“Some of the people were talking about Kubwa mechanic village where they own shops in the village, but which were demolished by  officials of the Department of Development Control.

“But what proof do they have that they have allocations inside the area,” he said.

Galadima said that the sponsors of the protest built what they called a mechanic village inside someone’s property, adding that Development Control ordered the demolition of the village.

He added that beyond building illegally on the property, the action became necessary following a series of complaints of encroachment in the particular space by the rightful owners.

The director, who described the protest as “simply thuggery”, added that the department would recommend the prosecution of the culprit.

“This is a breach of peace, and they should be prosecuted.

“We are also going to find out who among our officers gave out the area for the development of a mechanic village. The officers involved must be dealt with accordingly,” he said.

Also speaking, the Secretary, FCTA’s Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, said that the task force was out on enforcement duty when the distress call came in from development control over the protest.

“We abandoned what we were doing and dashed to the scene immediately and on getting here, we saw the protesters attempting to vandalise the premises, vehicles, and assault development control officers.

“We have been able to arrest 19 of them and these will be taken to Utako Police Division for proper investigation and possible prosecution,” he added. (NAN)

Edited by Bayo Sekoni