By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Water Board, says it generated revenue totalling N3.1 billion from January to November, 2023.

The acting Managing Director (MD) of the Board, Mr Daniel Salka, disclosed this during the Board’s end-of-the-year media briefing in Abuja on Thursday.

Salka explained that the amount was higher than the N2.5 billion generated in 2022.

He added that currently, the Board’s monthly Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has increased from about N200 million to over N300 million.

He described the FCT Water Board as one of the “key” revenue generating agencies of the FCT Administration.

He explained that the main source of the revenue was from the sale of water which constitutes about 95 per cent.

The acting MD added that other revenues were generated from lifting points, water connections, water analysis, tender fee on procurement matters and prepaid metres.

He also said that the Board had been able to reduce non-revenue water.

He described non-revenue water as water lost to either leakages on the pipes, illegal connections, or faulty metres among others, which do not bring revenue to the Board.

He said the feat was made possible by the Task Force team on Revenue Drive and Illegal Connections.

He explained that the team discovered several illegal connections and disconnected or formalised them, while those that were not paying water bills were made to pay their bills to avoid being disconnected.

On the supply of water to residents of the city, the acting MD said that the Board was able to sustain improved water supply, despite the exponential increase in FCT population.

“Currently, we supply 13,00O cubic metres of water per hour, amounting to 312,000 cubic metres per day. This is, however, not enough due to the inability of the facilities to convey more.

“Our Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2 have the capacity to produce 5,000 cubic metres of water per hour, while plants 3 and 4 produce 10,000 cubic metres each per hour.

“In the whole, the four plants have the capacity of producing 30,000 cubic metres per hour for distribution to customers across the areas covered by the water distribution lines in Phases I, II and III.

“However, Phases III and IV of the Plants are mainly meant to service reservoir Tanks 1 and 6 but have been under  reconstruction for a while now.

“Similarly, it is important to mention that Plant 2 is also undergoing renovation and therefore, not functioning now,” he said.

He identified some of the challenges affecting the performance of the Board to include inadequate infrastructure, population growth and lack of functional metering system.

He, nonetheless, expressed optimism for improved service in 2024.

He said that part of activities earmarked for 2024 to improve service delivery include improved community engagements and sensitization of the public to pay for water and protect water infrastructure.

“We will further reduce non-revenue water and enhance stakeholders’ collaboration with government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations.

“This will enable us to leverage expertise, resources, and support water management initiatives.

“Also, the Greater Abuja Water Works, if completed, will bring succour to FCT residents as access to water will be increased,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has pledged the commitment of the FCT Administration to support the construction of the Somali Chancery in Abuja.

Wike, who made the pledge when he received the Ambassador of Somalia to Nigeria, Mr Jamal Barrow, in Abuja on Thursday, promised to approve Barrow’s request for land to construct the Chancery.

He equally pleaded FCTA’s support to foreign missions with offices in the federal capital city, adding that efforts were ongoing to make foreign missions comfortable.

He also assured the cooperation of the FCT Administration with foreign missions in all development endeavours.

“We are here to make things comfortable for our guests. Whatever you think that FCT will do, do not hesitate to let us know.

“We are always willing to cooperate with our guests, particularly foreign missions.

“I assure you that after this discussion, we will immediately call for the file so that you can have your parcel of land to be able to build your own chancery,” he added.

The minister said that Nigeria and Somalia share a similar history of civil wars and acknowledged the need to share experiences, particularly on the development of countries’ respective capital cities.

Earlier, Barrow said that the visit was to seek the support and cooperation of the FCT Administration in developing the city of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

He explained that Somalia, having shifted from the unitary system of government to federalism, following its prolonged periods of conflicts, sees Nigeria as the best role model.

He, therefore, expressed the desire of Somalia to leverage the experience of the FCT in developing the capital of city Mogadishu and called for the support of the FCT Administration.

The ambassador also commended the FCT minister for the improved security and good leadership in the FCT.

He expressed hope that Abuja, would in the future, become one of the best capital cities in the world.

“Our President sends his congratulations to you as the Minister of the FCT and he hopes that you would one day be in Somalia in Mogadishu and he would receive you,” the envoy added. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will disburse $4.5 million World Bank grant to 12,283 famers and upgrade 17 Wet Market under its Fadama programme.

The amount is out of the $15 million allocated to the FCTA under the World Bank-supported Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (FCT CARES) programme.

The FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, disclosed this in Gwagwalada on Thursday, during the disbursement of the grant to a third batch of 3,707 beneficiaries.

Mahmoud said that a total of 4,233 beneficiaries had accessed the grant under the first and second batches, bringing the total to 7,940 beneficiaries so far.

She said that grant would be utilised for the 2023/2024 dry season farming and other income generating activities.

Some of the items distributed at the event included fertilizers, improved seeds and agro-chemicals, sprayers and personal protective equipment for crop farmers,

Also distributed were day-old chicks and feeds for poultry farmers, juvenile and feeds for fish farmers, goats for livestock farmers and grinding machines for women processors.

The minister described the disbursement of the grant as a “significant milestone” towards achieving President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda.

“The agricultural sector has been chosen as one of the critical intervention areas under the renewed hope agenda, to facilitate the attainment of food and nutritional security.

“It will also facilitate the provision of raw materials to our local industries, generation of gainful employment for our teeming unemployed youths, as well as contributing significantly towards increasing the inflow of foreign exchange through export.

“The Fadama programme was deliberately designed to support the recovery of livelihood activities of poor and vulnerable households engaged in agricultural value chains in the FCT, with special consideration to women and unemployed youths.

“Its implementation is being anchored on the World Bank Community Driven Development approach for deployment of programme investments at the community level.”

The Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, revealed that other delivery platforms implementing result areas 1 and 3 of the FCT CARES programme have equally commenced disbursement of the grant.

Adesola identified the implementing agencies as the FCT Cash Transfer Unit, FCT Community and Social Development Project and Abuja Enterprise Agency.

He called on the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA and the FCT Fadama CARES Office to ensure successful implementation of the FCT CARES Result Area 2.

On his part, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr Lawal Geidam, assured that the secretariat would support the delivery of the Fadama programme. (NAN)

Edited by Muhammad Sul

By Lucy Ogalue/Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has called on the Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications Industry, to sensitise Nigerians to the various economic opportunities emerging around them.

Idris stated this at the National Advertising Conference (ARCON) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the people also need to be aware of the government’s efforts targeted at making their lives better.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference is “Marketing Communication as an Enabler of National Transformation”.

The Minister was represented by the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu.

Idris while highlighting government efforts and reforms geared towards bettering the lives of citizens said if the people are not aware, they could not benefit from the programmes.

He said that among such programmes are the recent Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and Palliative Programmes, aimed at traders, artisans, transporters, vendors, and creatives with grants and low-cost loans.

“Now we need you to bring that influence to bear on helping to sensitise Nigerians to the activities the Federal and State Governments are executing to make life better for Nigerians.

“We need your creative solutions and approaches, and we need your unparalleled network; we need your platforms. This is not about propaganda or noise-making.

“If the people and businesses meant to benefit from the loans, grants, and cash transfers are unaware, how will they benefit,” he said.

According to the Minister, marketing communication professionals have a role to play and are well-positioned to serve as catalysts for Nigeria’s social and economic transformation.

While welcoming participants at the conference, the ARCON Director-General, Dr Olalekan Fadolapo, said marketing communications were strategic to the growth and development of the nation’s economy.

“Scaling up the Advertising regulatory framework to stimulate economic development, inclusive growth, wealth creation, and the development of local talents has been a significant priority of ARCON.

“As professionals, we will look at our practice as an economic enabler and come up with suggestions and recommendations that will help impact our industry and the country positively.

“I am confident that the insights gained will enrich us professionally as well as empower us to be agents of positive change in our nation,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Angela Atabo

The Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness, a coalition of 124 civil society organisations, commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike in Abuja on Thursday on his efforts to resuscitate the Abuja master plan.

It declared in a statement that Wike’s actions as minister so far were in tandem with the law and would reverse previous trend of mutilating the master plan.

It stressed that orchestrated attacks on Wike and calls to sack him were unwarranted.

The statement was signed by Dr Nwambu Gabriel, the coalition’s director-general and Mr Mohammed Sadiq, its secretary.

It condemned Tuesday’s protest in Abuja where a group called for the sack of Wike as FCT minister.

“On Dec. 5, we saw some people who paraded themselves as civil society organisations under the aegis of Network of Civil Society for Economic Sustainability.

“They engaged in a protest chanting: “Wike Must Go’’ in the Central Area of the FCT.

“The FCT and its land acquisition processes had been submerged in corruption in the past.

“It was causing the nation to lose trillions of naira in terms of revenue. This is exactly what Wike is reversing in the FCT.

“Wike, as minister of the FCT, is insisting on the FCT master plan,’’ the coalition stated.

It noted that sadly, corruption was fighting back as beneficiaries of the corruption of the past were fighting back through their proxies by funding demonstrations against Wike.

The statement noted that the fact that the Dec. 5 demonstrators referred to already-settled political upheavals in Rivers where Wike was the immediate past governor confirmed that the protesters were sponsored.

“We advise the perpetrators of this dastardly act to desist forthwith.

“We as a coalition of more than 124 civil society and non-governmental organisations hereby pass a vote of confidence in Wike.

“As the minister of the FCT, his actions are consistent with the FCT master plan and the extant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,’’ it added.

The coalition enjoined the minister to remain focused; undaunted and to continue to exhibit quality service delivery to the Nigerian nation. (NAN)

Edited by Alli Hakeem