By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is repositioning its workforce in line with global trend through digitisation of governance and service delivery.

Dr Jummai Ahmadu, acting Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, FCTA, stated this in Abuja on Thursday during a one-day Innovation Expo and Workshop, organised by the FCTA.

Ahmadu said that the goal was to make service processes in the FCTA easier and leave no one behind in the technologically driven world.

“To this end, we sent out a call circular for management approval for staff to come up with innovative ideas on how we can carry out our functions effectively and efficiently in a very cost-effective manner.

“The entries are here this morning, and we are here to analyse what the staff have done.

“The evaluation team will take a few days to go through the entries and fish out those that are workable for the FCT Administration to adopt at a minimal cost but have efficient and effective outcomes.

“The Innovation Expo was, therefore, organised to evaluate the entries from the staff who are the drivers of innovations,” she said.

Mr Austin Okafor, Director of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), FCTA, said that the administration was building the ICT infrastructure from the ground up.

Okafor said that FCTA was currently building internet connectivity to connect all Secretariats, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) in collaboration with Galaxy Backbone with a base in Area II, Garki, Abuja.

“This is to make sure that every department is connected. That is the baseline technology we want to bring. After that, we will roll out the digitisation programme such that every SDA will be connected.

“Right now, we are moving with paper, files, and documents, but by the time we finish, we will move from that level to paperless.

“We are training our staff on basic ICT skills and so far, more than 3,000 staff have been training and it is going to be a continuous exercise.

The director said that the FCTA would go paperless by December 2025, and advised any staff that is not ICT compliant to either shape in or you shape out.

On his part, the acting Director, Human Resource Management, FCTA, Mr Akinkunmi Ogunniran, assured that the administration was working to ensure that those managing the federal capital were ICT ready.

Ogunniran added that FCTA was doing so much to ensure that all the platforms and resources that would be needed for the new culture of ICT were put in place.

“The city management, infrastructure, and development processes are all going to be automated and we are getting set for it and those who felt they have nothing to do with ICT will fall by the wayside,” he said.

Mr Chris Ojenmu, Assistant Director, Administration, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, who submitted an entry, described the initiative as “very apt” in solving a lot of problems in the FCT.

Ojenmu explained that his entry was on how the FCTA could deploy smart streetlight to address lots of challenges affecting the city,

“Take for instance, the one chance problem, darkness at night and the issue of stolen manhole cover, gully inlet cover and several other issues.

“When there is an accident, it takes a long time to evacuate the vehicle or to even know the location where the accident happened or a report to get to the person in charge to solve the problem.

“My innovation is to put a smart streetlight in our streets. Right now, we have street lights, but they only provide light at night; they don’t do anything more than light.

“But we can put a smart streetlight that will have a sensor, a camera, a loudspeaker, an alarm system, and a reporting system,” he said.

He said that if installed, the streetlight would report and sound an alarm when someone is stealing a manhole cover and help facilitate the arrest of the operator by providing visual data.

He added that the smart device would also monitor flood and redirect traffic and provide GPS position to direct emergency officials to an accident scene.

“The smart streetlight can solve virtually all the problems of the city and generate revenue for FCT because many businesses will cash in on the innovation,” he added.

Also, Mr Abor Abor, Head of Operational Safety and Health, said his entry was on innovative concept on how to move operational safety and health delivery in the FCT.

Abor explained that operational safety and health deals had the identification, prevention, and control of injury related diseases in the workplaces.

“Workplaces are springing up in the FCT daily, leading to high incidence of operational accidents, incidents, deaths, and disabilities.

“So, I came up with a concept which if well implemented, will go a long way in not only improving service delivery but also increase revenues for the government,” he said. (NAN)

Edited by Idris Abdulrahman

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished a mini market allegedly being used in publishing forged vehicle papers and other documents.

The market, located in Mabushi, opposite the headquarters of the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), FCTA, was demolished on Wednesday, by the Department of Development Control, FCTA.

The Director, Dr Abdulatef Bello, told journalists after the exercise, that the market had been infiltrated by fraudulent merchants who collaborated with dubious government officials to produce fake vehicle papers and number plates.

Bello said that several intelligent reports have exposed the illegal activities being perpetrated in the market.

Displaying some of the vehicle’s papers and number plates impounded by DRTS officials, Bello described the development as a “serious leakage” to FCT’s revenue.

He added that the illegal activities in the area were threatening the safety of motorists and residents in the area.

The director warned motorists against patronising roadside officials for vehicle registration.

“We have observed over a long period of time, this particular building harbours illegal activities like piracy and other criminal activities.

“We have been making efforts to bust their activities and today, fate has caught up with them and the buildings are brought down.

“The demolition team has been able to uncover so many of our documents that have been pirated by the criminals,” he said.

Bello said that some of the vehicles that were registered with fake documents would be very difficult for the DRTS officials to track.

“The camera will pick them, but because they are not registered, it will be difficult for us to track, and these are the kind of vehicles they use for criminal activities in territory,” he added.

Mr Alexander Owobi, who claimed to be the manager of the open space property where business centres operate in the market complained that the business owners were given enough time to evacuate their valuables.

Owobi, a legal practitioner, also said that he was not aware that criminal elements had invaded the place, noting that no security agency had shared such information with him. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The National Boundary Commission (NBC) has urged relevant stakeholders in Cross River and Ebonyi to support ongoing efforts toward the demarcation of the interstate boundary.

The Director-General of the commission, Mr Adamu Adaji, made the call in Abuja on Monday, at a joint meeting of officials of both states to address the lingering interstate boundary dispute.

Adaji explained that the meeting was convened to review the status of the boundary and discuss the way forward towards definition and delimitation of the boundary.

He said that the interstate boundary dispute between the states dates back several years ago.

He added that misunderstanding and crisis engulfs the border communities from time to time due to the land dispute and indigene settler dichotomy.

He blamed the persistent crises on the non-determination and demarcation of the interstate boundary, describing it as one of the volatile interstate boundaries in Nigeria with high risk of threat to peace.

“The crisis on the boundary necessitated the interventions of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his vice, Mr Atiku Abubakar at different times.

“The Federal Government was also compelled to draft military personnel to the sectors of the boundary in 2005 to maintain peace.

“The commission’s efforts over the years, had been to re-establish the boundary in accordance with available documents.

“These efforts resulted in the tracing and provisional demarcation of the boundary by a Joint Field Team (JFT) on the boundary between 2000 and 2004,” he said.

The DG said that the fieldwork produced two claim lines representing the positions of the states, adding that the NBC reviewed the states’ claim lines and proposed a boundary line but was rejected by both states.

He added that while Ebonyi accepted a segment of the proposed line, Cross River insisted that the boundary line must be in line with her claim.

He, however, said that the commission and the states’ subsequent efforts focused mainly on the restoration of peace to the warring communities of both states.

“Accordingly, the joint meetings of officials held in 2010, 2011 and 2013 resolved that peace committees be constituted at different levels to ensure the return of peace to the affected communities.

“This was to pave the way for further actions on the boundary, but sadly, the committees never functioned.

“The former Vice-President and Chairman of the National Boundary Commission, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also intervened in February 2017 when he met with the Governors of the two States.

“Unfortunately, the scheduled follow-up activities could not be implemented due to non-cooperation of the two States.

“In the wake of the unfortunate Ukelle/Izzi crisis of June 2018, the National Boundary Commission and the two states took prompt action by visiting the communities affected and agreed on actions to be taken,” he said.

Adaji further said that the governors of the two states met in 2018, adding that a Joint Technical Committee of Experts equally met and resolved to pave the way for the return of peace to the affected communities.

“It is on this note that I welcome you once more to the meeting and appeal that we focus on the imperative of peace among the people.

“I urge us all to discuss all the issues with every sense of commitment to supporting the commission’s effort towards the demarcation of the boundary,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Peter Odey, Deputy Governor of Cross River, and Chairman of the State Boundary Committee, acknowledged the impasse on the boundary dispute between the states.

Odey expressed the readiness of the state to support ongoing efforts to bring the lingering dispute to a logical conclusion.

Similarly, Mrs Patricia Obila, Deputy Governor of Ebonyi, and Chairperson of the state Boundary Committee, commended NBC for the efforts to address the dispute.

Obila pledged the support of the Ebonyi government towards putting an end to the fracas among the states’ neighbouring communities. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has concluded plans to review the security architecture in the federal capital, Abuja.

The Director, Department of Security Service, FCTA, Mr Adamu Gwary, stated this during end-of-year media briefing in Abuja on Sunday.

Gwary said that plans had also reached advanced stages to revive the G-7 security initiative and expand its number of security informants to include artisans and farmers among others.

He explained that the use of informants and vigilante groups for information and intelligence gathering, were part of community policing of the FCT Administration.

This, according to him, will ensure that the capital city remains safe and secured.

The director added that the FCTA have banned begging and hawking within the secretariat as part of efforts to ensure security.

He also said that the FCTA has concluded plans to float an effective transportation system to address the menace of one chance operators in the capital city.

“We are working assiduously behind the scenes to maintain security in the nation’s capital, including keeping peace between herders and farmers.

“We are also working with relevant agencies in preventing vandalisation of public utilities,” he said.

He said the FCT Administration has completed the installation of CCTV cameras around its secretariat in phase I of the programme, adding that the phase II would involve installation in strategic areas of the city.

This, according to him, will enable security agencies to monitor, arrest and prosecute criminals.

He called on residents to be security conscious and report any suspicious happenings to nearby Police stations.

Gwary equally charged tradition leaders to adhere to the code of conduct guiding the traditional institutions, disclosing that a traditional chief was arrested for his involvement in kidnapping.

He added that the chief has been stripped of his title and handed over for prosecution.

He decried the weak legal structures in the FCT, which he said was negatively affecting adjudication and punishment of lawbreakers and criminals. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will strengthen cooperation with the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) to improve veterinary services in the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary, Mr Lawan Geidam, stated this when the newly elected officials of the association visited him in Abuja.

Geidam noted that the association plays a critical role in driving the livestock sector and contributing significantly to job creation, means of individual livelihoods with positive impact on the national economy.

According to him, the FCT Administration is prioritising veterinary practice through the recruitment of qualified veterinarians to provide the needed veterinary services to the livestock sector.

“The Administration is also organising training and retraining programmes to expose the veterinarians to international best practices with a view to enhance their capacities to deliver quality health care to livestock.”

The Mandate Secretary said that the FCTA would continue to tap the expertise of the members of the NVMA and other stakeholders.

He commended the veterinary doctors, particularly those working in the secretariat for their dedication to duty and for providing quality services to livestock farmers during the mass vaccination and treatment exercise.

He said that the secretariat would support the work of the committee established by the FCTA to regulate and streamline veterinary practice premises in the FCT.

“The present leadership of the FCTA will do its best to equip the various veterinary clinics with modern facilities and high-quality medications to enhance veterinary services in the federal capital.

Earlier, the NVMA Chairperson, Dr Chinna Joe-Iruobe, lauded the FCTA for its advancements in animal vaccination and clinical operations.

Joe-Iruobe stressed the significance of government investment in building the capacities of FCT veterinary doctors to ensure the provision of optimal veterinary services to the public.

She expressed concern over the activities of unqualified and quack veterinary practitioners.

She urged the FCT Administration to provide the necessary backing to the NVMA in its efforts to regulate and enforce compliance to ethical veterinary practices in the FCT. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will take decisive action against the proliferation of illegal abattoirs in the FCT.

The Mandate Secretary, Mr Lawan Geidam, made this known when officials of the FCT Butchers Association visited him in Abuja.

Geidam explained that the effort was to ensure adherence to minimum standards in meat handling and the well-being of consumers in the federal capital, Abuja.

He said that the Veterinary Services Department was doing its best to monitor and enforce compliance to operational standards.

According to him, the proliferation of unauthorised abattoirs poses a significant threat to the safety of meat consumed by the public.

“Our objective is in line with the statutory mandate of the secretariat, which is to ensure that abattoirs in the FCT are not only duly registered and certified but also up to standard for the good of public health.”

He assured the butchers of the secretariat’s commitment to addressing the various challenges affecting the sub-sector.

He said that efforts were ongoing to provide water supply and ensure efficient waste management in the abattoirs.

He added that the administration was also concluding plans to establish biogas stations to serve as an alternative to the hazardous practice of using tires in processing animal skins.

“We will not ignore the significant issues facing our abattoirs, including the need for potable water and regular waste disposal.

“I assure you that the present leadership of the FCT Administration are working hard to maintain standard in service delivery across all sectors in the FCT.

“The secretariat will intensify its daily meat inspection activities at the various abattoirs to ensure that no animal is slaughtered without being certified safe by the veterinary doctors,” he said.

He, therefore, appealed for the cooperation of the butchers in facilitating the work of veterinary doctors during inspection, vaccination, and other services.

Earlier, Chairman of the association, Alhaji Bashir Musa, expressed the association’s commitment to complying with the administration guidelines on the establishment and operation of abattoirs.

Musa thanked the FCTA for working to improve the conditions of abattoirs and stressed the need to address the aging infrastructure of the abattoirs.

He also lauded the FCTA for the plan to modernise the abattoirs in line with best practices, adding that it would significantly improve the efficiency and quality of service delivery.  (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi