By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike said that the FCT Administration would give due attention to the development of satellite towns.

Wike stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of Mandate Secretaries for the FCT Administration.

He said that the prosperity and well- being of the residents extend beyond the city center, stressing the need to ensure that all areas of the FCT experience progress and development.

The Mandate Secretaries inaugurated are Mr Bitrus Garki, Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat, Mr Lawan Geidam, Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat and Mr Danlami Ihayyo, Secretary, Education Secretariat.

Others are Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Secretary, Health and Environment Services Secretariat, Mr Salman Dako, Secretary, Legal Services Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership.

Mr Uboku Nyah was also inaugurated as Secretary, Transportation Secretariat.

Wike stressed the need for them to address issues affecting delivery of services in FCT Administration particularly procurement process.

He said, “transparency, efficiency, and accountability must become the cornerstones of our administration.

“As mandate secretaries, your role in this journey of transformation is pivotal. You are not only advisors but also leaders and implementers of our policies.

“You have a duty to translate our vision into tangible actions that will shape the future of the FCT.

“Our President has entrusted us with the monumental task of rebuilding and developing the FCT into a world-class city.

“To achieve this, we must address several key areas that are essential for the progress of our city and the well-being of our residents.

He added that part of the mission includes the enhancement of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), through innovative ways to raise the needed funds to support the development agenda.

This, according to him, is crucial to finance ambitious projects and initiatives.

The minister identified public transportation as a major challenge that must be addressed comprehensively.

According to him, no modern city can function effectively and efficiently without a reliable and comprehensive public transportation system.

He reiterated the Administration’s commitment to establishing an integrated and efficient transport network that meets the needs of residents.

On environment, he said that clean and well-maintained surroundings were not only a reflection of a city’s pride but also a fundamental requirement for a healthy and prosperous community.

He said that it was a collective responsibility of both the government and the citizens, stressing the need for collaboration to ensure a cleaner and greener FCT.

The minister promised to collaborate closely with law enforcement agencies and communities to ensure a safe and secure environment for all.

“In addition to these, we will place significant emphasis on the social sector. There is a pressing need to uplift our education, agriculture, and health sectors to world-class standards.

“A well- educated and healthy population is the foundation of any prosperous city, and we must provide our citizens with access to quality education, healthcare, and agricultural opportunities.

“Furthermore, our tourism sector holds tremendous potential for economic growth and job creation.

“We will work diligently to promote and develop our unique cultural and natural assets to attract both local and international visitors, thereby boosting our economy,” he said.

Wike said that all infractions on the Abuja master plan would be dealt with decisively, and non-compliant buildings would be subject to appropriate measures, including removal and penalties.

He added that relevant laws would also be closely examined and strengthened, to close loopholes that offenders may exploit to the detriment of the Administration and the people of the FCT. (NAN)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has released the list of some of the 135 roads inaugurated for rehabilitation and resurfacing in Wuse, Garki, Gwarimpa and Maitama Districts.

The Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, who inaugurated Phase I of the projects on Monday, gave the contractors six-month completion timeline.

The list of the streets for rehabilitation and resurfacing obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, showed that most of the projects would be executed in Wuse District.

In Wuse Zone 1, the streets to be rehabilitated include Daloa, Kayes, Umme, Bumbuna, Masana, Badundu, Oran, Sawhaj, Arusha Crescent, Sunyani, Bamako, Takorade, Dakar, Bulawayo, Soka, Darioa, Kaolack, Kigali, and Gonder Street.

In Zone II,  the streets are Kribi, Kumba, Touggourf, Kisumu, Gaborone, Faranah, Gabes, Lavumisa, Niami, Johannesbourg, Angola, Korhogo, Bechar, Senanga, Hargeysa and 2, Khartoum, and Damba Street.

In Zone 3, six streets would be rehabilitated or resurfaced namely Idimba, Port Loko, Ndele, Yele, Al-Fayyun, and Aswan.

The streets for rehabilitation in Zone 4 include Mandingou, Lubumbashi, Port Said, Mogadishu, Shinyanga, Sfax, Zinglunchor, Kitwe, Elminya Close, Sefadu, Meknes, Safi, Mbala, Gwelo, Melange, Savalou, Sheraton and Yar’adua Road.

A total of five roads would be rehabilitated in Zone 5 namely Doula Streets, Mombasa Street, Windhoek Street, Boffa street and Jessaoua Close.

In Zone six, the streets for rehabilitation are Cotonou, Yaounde, Makeni, Massenya, Annaba, Bukoma, Mobondo, Mbabani, Diovo, Berbera, Chiongola, Jima, Kinshahsha, Bouake, Rabat, Tanga, Timbuktu, Zinder, Rumbek, Zuwai, Beyia, and Tema.

Others are Diredawa Street, Kalemie, Asmara, Mbandaka, Macenata/Welkom, Harare, Tripoli, Maseru, Iringa, and Dodoma Streets.

For Zone 7, the streets include Lome, Harper, Huambo, Ndola, Sokode, Sirasso and Bambari Crescents, Masaka Close and Dalaba Street.

In Garki District, Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki II would be rehabilitated, while Strabag Road, Gwarimpa Life-Camp would also be rehabilitated.

In Maitama, the roads are N16 Road, Maitama Roundabout and N11/B4 (Ahmadu Bello Way/This Day Dome Junction) Maitama, Junction between Ring Road 1/Tafawa Balewa Way Area 3-Garki.

Others are House 14, 1 and 2, off Jere Street, behind Rita Lori Hotel.

Wike had explained during the inauguration that the projects were in line with the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of President Bola Tinubu administration. (NAN)

Edited by Sadiya Hamza

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has cautioned contractors handling the rehabilitation of 135 roads in the capital city and civil engineering services against contract variations.

Wike, who gave the warning while inaugurating the projects in Abuja on Monday, said that the project would be completed in six months.

He said that the FCT would pay all the contractors their money to enable them to complete the project within the agreed timeline.

“To the contractors, let me warn you now, all these things you are doing with engineering services will not work again.

“Nothing like variation; it will not work. Kobo, one naira, in the next seven days it becomes N15, it will not work again; it will not work, so don’t even try it. There is no variation in this job.

“We have the money to pay you. So, if you like to go to engineering services and do anything with them, it will not work.

“We are paying you your money and I assure you that nobody will owe you a dime. We are going to pay you and you must finish within the time we have agreed with you,” he said.

He also told the Permanent Secretary, FCT Administration, Mr Olusade Adesola, that he would not entertain any paper asking for reconsideration or a file for unanticipated issues, saying that “everything has been considered and anticipated”.

The minister urged residents to support the contractors to enable them to finish the job on time, adding that no development come without some pains.

He also solicited for the support of traditional rulers to ensure that youths and all residents of their communities support the contractors to deliver the job on time.

Wike thanked the Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, for publicly declaring the council chairmen readiness to work with the FCT Administration for the interest of FCT residents.

Earlier, the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, said that the FCT Administration had recorded significant achievements in the transformation of the capital city in the three weeks of Mr Project (Wike) in office.

Mahmoud said that the issue of streetlight had been addressed; the problem of sanitation was being attended to, and the road infrastructure would be transformed to impact positively on the residents.

Also, Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Adesola, said that the projects involved the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 135 existing roads and remedial works on bridges in various districts of the FCT.

“This transformative project, according to him, will significantly impact the lives of the people of the federal capital,” he said.

He urged the contractors to meet the timeline agreed for the projects to be delivered, saying “your money is available for payment; it is up to you to work and get paid.

On his part, Mr Ahmed Hadi, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that a substantial number of the roads in Phase I, developed since the 1980 had deteriorated.

Hadi said that the project would involve scarification and removal of the existing asphalt in some locations while in other places it would be asphalt overlay.

He said that the 135 roads in Wuse, Garki, some areas in Maitama and Asokoro would be involved, covering 42 kilometres.

“When completed, there will be enhanced traffic flow and reduction in travel time and the roads will be a bit safer,” he said.

The Chairman, House Committee on FCT, Mr Muktar Betara, expressed confidence in the ability of Wike to deliver on the transformative agenda for the FCT.

He assured the minister of the committee’s support to enable him to succeed in his task of making FCT the desired destination of all Nigerians.

Similarly, the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Yunusa, thanked the minister for taking a giant step to deliver the dividend of democracy to the residents of the city and assured him of the traditional council support.

In his remark, Maikalangu commended Wike for the laudable feat, and appealed that the gesture be extended to rural communities to complement efforts of the six Area Councils in accelerating development in the area.

He assured the minister of the support of the council chairmen to ensure the completion of the projects.

Responding on behalf of the contractors, Mr Obada Zabadne, Chief Executive Officer, ZBMC Ltd, acknowledged the government’s confidence and trust to deliver quality projects.

He assured the minister of the contractors’ commitment to achieve beyond expectations and within agreed time. (NAN)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Philip Yatai

The Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has expressed satisfaction with the more than 85 per cent resumption of secondary school students for the new academic year in the FCT.

The acting Secretary of the secretariat, Malam Abdulrazeq Leremoh, stated this in Abuja on Monday, while briefing journalists after monitoring students and teachers’ resumption in some schools within the city.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the schools visited included Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa, Model Senior and Juniors Secondary Schools all in Maitama and Women Education Centre, Wuse.

Others are Christabel Schools, Wuye, a non-state school and Local Education Authority Primary School, Jahi Express, Abuja Municipal Council, FCT.

Leramoh said that monitoring the schools was part of the secretariat’s ritual at the beginning of every term to monitor students’ resumption and teachers’ preparedness.

He added that the visit would also enable the secretariat to address any issue that requires urgent attention.

“We are satisfied with the turnout of students and teachers’ level of preparedness as the new term begins.

“In most schools visited, we recorded more than 85 per cent of students ‘ attendance. This is excellent for us,’ he said.

He said that, so far, there was no issue in all the schools visited, adding that the secretariat would await reports from all schools, detailing their critical needs.

He said that all schools would be supported based on needs, including recruitment of teachers where needed as part regular support to schools to enable them deliver quality education.

While at LEA Primary School, Jahi, the acting secretary commended Venture Furniture Nigerian Ltd, for rehabilitating a classroom and a toilet facilities in the school.

He urged other organisations to work with the government to improve the quality of teaching and learning in public schools in the FCT.

Also, the Director, Department of Quality Assurance, Dr Favour Edem-Nse, assured parents of regular school monitoring to ensure adherence to minimum standards.

One of the students, Abiakam David of Government Science Secondary School, Pyakasa, said that his target for the term was to be the best student in his class.

David also said that he would study hard to make his parents and teachers proud. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Salisu Sani-Idris

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, says Nigeria requires N21 trillion to effectively bridge housing deficit, despite efforts across the three tiers governments.

The vice president stated this on Sunday in Sokoto at the groundbreaking for the construction of a 500-unit housing estate by the State government.

Shettima, who commended Gov. Ahmed Aliyu for his efforts to address the housing needs of his people, noted that the housing deficit in Nigeria remained a huge challenge.

” Nigeria has a deficit of 28 million houses and we will need N21 trillion to meet our housing needs. This step taken by the Governor is highly commendable and worthy of emulation by other State governments.

” The governor has started well by completing the roads and flyovers he inherited,” he added.

Earlier, the governor explained that the housing estate would be for civil servants and would be sold to them when completed on an owner-occupier basis.

Aliyu said: “This is a project that was initiated by the former Governor of the State, Aliyu Wamakko but was later abandoned by the immediate past administration.

“But, we are determined to complete it for the benefit of our workers and the general public.”

Aliyu disclosed that the project located at Wamakko Local Government Area of the State will cost the State government N7.3 billion to complete.

The event, which was to mark the first 100 days in office by the administration was attended by Sen. Aliyu Wamakko and the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari.

Others were the Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Alhaji Bello Goronyo and former Deputy Governors of Sokoto, Mukhtari Shagari and Chiso Abdullahi-Dattijo, among others. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani

By Philip Yatai

The Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS), Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), says the crushing of impounded commercial motorcycles popularly known as “Okada” was in line with the provisions of the law.

Mrs Deborah Osho, the Head of Operations, DRTS made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

NAN recalls that the Joint Task Force Team of the FCTA on Aug. 31 impounded and crushed 400 commercial motorcycles for operating illegally in Abuja capital city.

The crushing, according to the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Garba Haruna, who led the exercise was in line with the law banning operations of commercial motorcycles in the city.

Similar exercises were carried out at different times in the past as part of enforcement of the ban of okada operations in the city centre.

NAN added that the Federal Capital Territory Road Transport Regulation, 2005, has specifically directed okada riders to operate only in designated areas.

The then Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Information and Strategy, Hajiya Amina Salihu had announced the ban of okada from plying the city centre from Oct. 1, 2006.

The city centre in the context of the FCT refers to the districts covered by the Phase 1 of the master plan.

These are Wuse, Central Business District, Three Arms Zone, Maitama, Asokoro, Utako, Wuye, Garki, Diplomatic Zone, Mabushi, Katampe, Gwarinpa and Gudu.

Salihu had explained that they were, however, allowed to operate in other areas of the FCT.

Osho told NAN that the ban was still in force, adding that part of the enforcement was to crush impounded okada within the confines of the law.

She said that the operators were allowed to operate freely in areas like Gwagwalada, Bwari, and Nyanya among other suburbs of the FCT, stressing that any okada impounded within the city would be crushed.

She added that the law provided two grounds for crushing impounded motorcycles – those impounded for constituting security threats, and those impounded with a Court forfeiture Order.

The official explained that the ban became necessary following a public outcry that the Okada operators were constituting a menace in the city.

She said that motorcycles were used by criminals as means of quick getaway from crime scenes, and kidnappings in residential areas of the city.

“They were also used for many criminal activities including snatching valuables and mobile handset from unsuspecting passersby.

“This is in addition to the rising numbers of casualties from accidents involving Okada riders,” she said.

The head of operations said that security agencies had tagged the commercial motorcycles as constituting a security threat within the city and wanted them off the city routes.

On whether the operators were aware of the ban and the consequences when caught, Oshio said that riders were well sensitised even before the enforcement of the ban in 2006.

She added that security and government agencies equally held series of meetings with their leadership, reminding them of the ban and what could happen once an okada was impounded.

She advised residents against patronising Okada for their safety and those buying motorcycles for the riders to stop, saying “we will continue to crush them whenever we impound them.

On his part, the Secretary, Command and Control of the FCTA Enforcement Task Force, Mr Peter Olumuji, also said that crushing the impounded motorcycles was to strengthen enforcement of the ban.

Olumuji explained that earlier, when a motorcycle was impounded, the owner would face a mobile court where he or she would be fined N2000 or N3000.

He added that after paying the fine, the okada would be released to the owners and they would be back on the streets.

He said to address the challenge, the ban was amended to include forfeiture of impounded commercial motorcycles to the FCTA.

“This means that once an okada is impounded, it becomes the property of the FCTA.

“While this appeared to solve the problem, it also came with a challenge, following allegations that officials of DRTS collect bribes and release the motorcycles to the owners.

“It was to address this problem that security agencies and the enforcement taskforce opted for crushing of impounded okada.

“This did not only solve the problem of alleged corruption in the seizures, but also the question of economic losses,” he said.

The secretary explained that after the motorcycles were crushed, they would be sold to recycling companies and the money deposited in a government account. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

The Office of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has denied any plan by the minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, to invite the nation’s anti-graft agencies to investigate his predecessor, Malam Muhammad Bello.

The Director of Press, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, made the rebuttal in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

Ogunleye said that the rebuttal was in response to a claim by an online media platform that Wike plans to invite EFCC and ICPC to investigate Bello.

He said that the false media publication alleged that Bello would be investigated for alleged irregularities in the award of contracts and other matters.

“We categorically and unequivocally state that these reports are entirely baseless and without any merit whatsoever.

“The FCT minister, during his routine inspections of various projects within the FCT, has indeed expressed concerns and frustrations regarding irregularities observed in the procurement and execution of certain projects, amongst other observations.

“However, at no point did he contemplate or authorize any action by anyone within or outside the FCT Administration to invite the EFCC or ICPC to investigate the former FCT minister in connection with these or any other matters.

“The online story in question is nothing more than a product of the imagination of its authors and is clearly designed to mischievously sow discord and confusion among the general public,” the director said.

Ogunleye said that the FCT Administration viewed such misinformation with great concern and urged the public to exercise caution when in contact with the unfounded reports.

The director of press added that the FCT minister remained focused on his responsibilities to ensure the efficient and transparent administration of the Federal Capital Territory.

“Any actions or decisions taken by the FCTA in this regard will be communicated through official channels and in accordance with due process.

“We, hereby, advise the public to disregard the story in its entirety, as it is nothing but a deliberate attempt to spread fake news and create unnecessary tensions.

“Wike remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability in the discharge of his duties and remains committed to building the FCT of our collective dreams,” Ogunleye said. (NAN)

Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani