By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says owners of landed properties owing the FCT Administration (FCTA) ground rents, amounting to N34 billion would be penalised.

Wike stated this when members of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee Investigating Failure of Mass Transportation in Nigeria, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.

He warned allottees owing the FCT Administration ground rents to either pay or have their property revoked and reallocated to those who could pay.

“I have calculated the debt of nonpayment of ground rent, which is about N34 billion, and I am going to collect all of those back. I don’t care, all I want is for the rent to be paid,” he said.

The minister said that the list of the people owing FCTA ground rent would be published on Thursday, adding that they would be given two weeks to pay.

According to him, whoever does not pay, his land will be revoked and be given to whoever will pay so that the necessary services will be rendered.

“People want to live in a beautiful city but don’t want to pay their dues which is impossible.”

He said that the decision became necessary following a decision to tie projects to Internally Generated Revenue to enable contractors complete abandoned projects.

Wike complained about the poor budgetary allocation to the FCT and appealed to the lawmakers to assist in improving its budgetary provisions.

The minister also said that he would overhaul the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO), expressing displeasure that AUMTCO buses were loaned out without maintenance.

Earlier, Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee, Mr Afam Ogene said that his committee visited the minister to find solutions to epileptic mass transportation in the country and the FCT.

Ogene described the development as “worrisome”, saying that over N16 billion had been invested in mass transportation during the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUR-P) with little services being rendered.

He expressed relief with the ongoing transformation of the Abuja Light Rail transport system, and traffic lights across the city.

“We are here to encourage you to look into transportation and reorganize it. We will support you to do it and it will also solve problems of one chance in the city,” he pledged. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Philip Yatai

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mandate Secretaries for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, made the announcements in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

Those appointed 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 Human Services Secretariat, Mr Salman Dako, Secretary, Legal Services Secretariat, Mr Chinedum Elechi, Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership.

Also appointed are Mr Uboku Nyah, Secretary, Transportation Secretariat and Alhaji Muntari Abdulkadir, Secretary, Social Development Secretariat.

Ogunleye said that the swearing-in ceremony would take place on Sept. 12, at the International Conference Center, Abuja. (NAN)

Edited by Maharazu Ahmed

FCT Minister tasks corps members on wealth creation, employers of labour

By Philip Yatai

Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday, urged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme, to thrive toward becoming wealth creators and employers of labour.

Mahmoud stated this at the closing ceremony of the 2023 Batch B Stream II Orientation Course, at the NYSC FCT Permanent Orientation Camp, Kubwa, FCT, Abuja.

She urged the corps members to give their best in the service of the country in their respective place of primary assignment and community.

She added that while improving their host community, they should, at the same time, strive to invest in building themselves for self-reliance.

“I am aware that you acquired different skills during the Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development programme in the course of this orientation exercise.

“I enjoin you, therefore, to follow up with the post camp training to master your skills. This is one sure way of becoming self-reliant and reducing post service unemployment among ex-corps members.

“Take advantage of this and become wealth creators and employers of labour in the near future,” she said.

The minister said that the NYSC scheme has attained remarkable milestones in its mission of national integration and development.

She called on the corps members to be worthy ambassadors of the scheme and keep the flag flying.

She noted that nation-building and socio-economic developments were twin areas of vital importance to the country.

“The FCTA believe that you will galvanise your talents and potentials toward enthroning a more united, prosperous and egalitarian nation that will not only be the pride of all but legacy for future generations.

“Wherever you may find yourselves, you must strive to make a difference; spearhead transformation; and promote harmonious interaction and creative development.

“For me, the joy of mentoring the youths is incomparable.

“We have no choice than to inspire and guide them towards becoming responsible citizens that will take over the mantle of leadership of this great country, into the distant future.

“I, therefore, feel very privileged to have become a part of this noble scheme and I will give all my best on this assignment,” she said.

She assured the corps members of adequate security, saying “the security of lives and property remain paramount in the agenda of the FCTA.

“I assure you of our determination to continue to provide the needed peaceful environment for you and all residents of the FCT.

“However, I implore you not to expose yourselves to danger and avoid unnecessary journeys and other security risks; please, prioritise your personal security,” she advised.

Earlier, NYSC FCT Coordinator, Mrs Winifred Shokpeka, said that orientation commenced three weeks ago for 3,920 registered corps members deployed to the FCT.

Shokpeka explained that the orientation course was the first cardinal programme of the NYSC where corps members were inducted with the virtues of discipline, cultural integration, and nation building.

“It is a ground to prepare corps members for future leadership roles in their various assignments after the orientation course.

“Our corps members have been posted to all the six Area Councils in the FCT, where they shall be contributing to nation building,” she said.

The coordinator appealed to corps employers and host communities to give the corps members all the necessary support and cooperation needed to settle down.

She urged the corps members to continue to be good ambassadors of the NYSC by shunning acts capable of putting the name of the scheme in disrepute.

“Respect the culture and tradition of your host communities and be security conscious always,” she said. (NAN)

Edited by Ekemini Ladejobi

By Ahmed Ubandoma

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to include families of wounded and fallen soldiers in the national social register and its poverty alleviation programmes.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Dr Betta Edu, made this known during a  meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, on Monday in Abuja.

Edu expressed the need to support the military families.

”We want to expand our social register to accommodate military personnel that have either been wounded or affected by war even soldiers that left their families behind.

“’ We need this data from the military so that we can have them captured under the social register” she said.

The minister said, she was at the defence headquarters to solicit the support of the Nigerian military to tackle humanitarian crises across the country.

“Alleviating humanitarian crises and poverty is top most on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

”Our preference is to discuss humanitarian crises across the nation and the need to collaborate with the military to prevent more persons coming under the humanitarian bracket.

” We also should be able to reach out effectively to those who are affected by humanitarian crises wherever they are.

”So that our humanitarian workers should be able to reach the people wherever they are with the support of the military” she said.

Responding,  Gen. Musa, assured the minister of the commitment of Nigerian military to support her towards achieving the mandate of the ministry.

Musa who acknowledged the link between military operations and humanitarian aid, noted that, successful organisations directly benefits their military efforts.

The defence chief therefore expressed gratitude to the humanitarian ministry for considering the military community on the task.

While assuring the minister of his unwavering commitment towards her humanitarian mission, the defence chief was optimistic that the collaboration will yield positive results.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, the agenda of the engagement was to forge a formidable alliance between humanitarian efforts and the military.

The aim is to urgently curb the crisis growth and offer swift aid to those affected(NAN)(www.nannews.ng).

Edited by Sadiya Hamza
 

By Philip Yatai

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday demolished shanties at Kabusa Junction in Dutse District, Abuja.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, who led the operation, told journalists that the removal of the illegal structures was to sanitise the area.

Galadima explained that the shanties have taken over the entire roundabout, negatively affecting the serene environment around the junction.

He added that the demolition was in line with directives from the Minister of the FCT Administration, Mr Nyesom Wike, that illegal structures, particularly shanties, should not be allowed in the city.

He also said that the areas taken over by the shanties were meant for an overhead bridge which would soon be constructed.

“The removal of the shanties is in continuation of our commitment to sanitize the city and make the environment healthy.

“Kabusa is constituting an eye sore for people coming into the city because of the shanties that occupied most parts of the junction.

“The area is reserved for an inter-change and with time, there will be an overhead bridge that will connect ring road two and the outer southern expressway.

“We are starting from this point to Galadima roundabout. When we chase away illegal occupants in the area, we will come up with a plan that will accommodate all the traders in an organised manner,” he said.

Galadima insisted that illegal structures in the area must go down for genuine infrastructural development. (NAN)

Edited by Vincent Obi

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has expressed dissatisfaction with the N85 billion contract for the provision of infrastructure for the Wasa Affordable Housing project in Wasa District, Abuja.

Wike expressed the displeasure when he led the Minister of State for FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and other government officials visited the road construction site for the housing estate on Monday.

Earlier, Mr Olusegun Olusan, acting Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department, explained that the contract for the provision of the infrastructure was awarded in 2014 at N26 billion but revised to N85 billion in 2018.

Olusan told the minister that so far, a total of N21 billion had been paid to the contractor with a balance of N64 billion, adding that the percentage of work done so far is 21.4 per cent.

On the housing scheme, the coordinator explained that government’s role was to provide the land and infrastructure, while private developers will build houses and sell to the masses at affordable rates.

He added that at the conception of the project, a two-bedroom flat was to be sold to the masses at N7 million.

But the minister was not impressed with the arrangement made by the FCT, stressing that government should not spend N85 billion to provide infrastructure, land and benefit nothing.

“We are not impressed with the arrangement made by the FCT. Government cannot just cough out N85 billion in providing infrastructure and then give land out to private developers who will build and sell.

“This kind of arrangement is not commendable at all,  at all. We think that the government must also participate, having provided the land and infrastructure.

“If we are partnering with private individuals or developers, the common sense is that you provide the land, provide infrastructure and they come and develop.

“Then government for example can take 10 per cent then the developers take 90 per cent, depending on the value,” he said.

Wike said that under such arrangements, the government would be able to determine the price the houses would be sold to the masses, saying that the masses could not afford N7 million for a house.

He said that the project would be revisited for proper planning in a way that the government would benefit from the project and ensure that the masses who the houses were being built for could afford it.

On the project delay, which was nine years and counting, the minister said that FCT would not be awarding contracts for awarding sake.

“We will award contact that we know we will finish before embarking on another contract.

“Every contract is abandoned because there is no money. So, we are going to look at everything,” the minister said.

Earlier, the minister visited the ongoing road construction leading to the Headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission and the Body of Benchers building.

The minister said that the contractor was invited for a meeting on Tuesday to work out ways to complete the road project.

“We have also been to Kabusa Junction, Abuja, where shanties were destroyed by development control. Like we said, we cannot allow shanties to take over the FCT.

“The development control has done well by making sure that the shanties in the area are destroyed and we are going to protect the area to ensure that the miscreants do not return to mess up the place again,” Wike said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Collins Yakubu-Hammer

The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) is set to collaborate with an Information Communication Technology (ICT) company known as ‘Educatial’ to have a skilled, competent and responsible public service.

The Director-General of BPSR, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, on Friday in Abuja said the collaboration was a development to revolutionise the public service.

According to Arabi, the e-government master plan of the Federal Government has pre-empted Educatial’s initiative.

“The collaboration is solidified in the signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Bureau and Educatial.

“So our engagement, discussion and work with you are based on the tenants of e-government Master Plan of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“I stand before you with a great sense of optimism and purpose as we normalised our partnership through the signing of this MoU,” he said.

He said that the agency understood that a well-equipped and skilled work force was the backbone of every thriving nation.

“It is imperative to equip them with skills to exceed the ever overloading demands of the world.

“Educatial with it comprehensive solution encompassing hardware, software infrastructure, housing and support, share a vision for a more capable and competent public service.

“This partnership is not just about acquiring technology. It is about equipping our work force with the tools and skills necessary to excel on the global stage,” Arabi stressed.

He explained that the Bureau had clear expectations that `Educatial’ would deliver specialise courses that are tailored to unique means of the public servants.

Arabia stressed that the courses should serve as catalyst for enhancing public servants’ skills, competence and professionalism.

“It is our firm believe that investment in our work force will lead to improved quality of government services, greater efficiency and 0increase effectiveness in our citizens.

“We look onto you not only as an education resource, but as partner of a journey to transform and elevate the standard of public service of the country.

“Let us remember that signing of the MoU is not a mere formality. It is a commitment and an affirmation of our shared vision for a more skilled, competent and responsible public service,” Arabi said.

Speaking earlier, the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Educatial, Mr Fancis Muofunanya, said his company dedicated to revolutionising the education landscape in Nigeria and beyond.

“Our commitment to transformative learning has led us to develop a cutting-edge ‘EdTech SaaS Ecosystem’, tailored to meet the unique challenges of education in Nigeria and Africa.

“We come together with a shared purpose, to harness the power of education and technology to empower government employees and enhance their capabilities.

“We recognize the immense value of a skilled and efficient public workforce in shaping the nation’s trajectory. Our partnership will see the integration of Educatial’s advanced tools into the training programs for government employees.

“This integration will not only equip them with cutting-edge skills but also optimize their performance in service delivery,” Muofunanya said.

He explained that Educatial was committed to tailoring bespoke solutions that cater to the specific training and development needs of various government agencies.

He added that Educatial’s objective aligns seamlessly with the Bureau’s mission to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public service through skill development.

“As we unite our expertise and resources, we have the potential to create a more responsive and adept public sector workforce, capable of steering Nigeria toward its rightful place of eminence on the global stage.

“As we embark on this journey of collaboration, innovation, and progress, let us remember that the transformation of our nation’s public service is not just a task but a collective responsibility.

“Together, we have the capacity to mould a public sector that is not only proficient but also visionary, a sector that leads by example and sets new standards of excellence,” Muofunanya said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Mou was signed by Arabi, Muofunanya and the legal advisers from the Bureau and Educatial. (NAN)

=======

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Ruth Oketunde/ Ndubuisi Nwachukwu

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) says the Park and Pay policy in the City Center and some other parts of the FCT began on Friday.

Maikalangu said this while addressing a news conference at the council secretariat on Friday in Abuja.

The chairman, who was represented by Mr Emmanuel Inyang, Supervisory Councillor, Special Duties, AMAC, said that FCT Administration and other stakeholders have been briefed on the policy.

He said the policy falls within the jurisdiction of the area council as enshrined in the constitution and bye-law of the area council.

The chairman said that sign posts have been planted in areas where the policy would be executed.

He listed the areas to include: City center, Garki, Asokoro, and Maitama.

He added that a court judgement in 2014, upheld that the rights to collect such tax falls under the purview of the area council.

“AMAC as a council has decided to start the park and pay scheme and we are doing this with a human face, as it comes with a very little amount of money to those who will be parking around the stipulated areas.

“A token of 100 naira per hour will be charged and we don’t want anybody to pay cash. You can pay through the POS and we have made it easy as you can pay monthly or yearly and get your tickets from the officials that AMAC has mandated to carry out the exercise.

“We want to inform the residents that the park and pay policy has started today, Sept. 1.

“This is also to curtail indiscriminate parking, car theft, congestion in the city and promoting sanitation in the capital city,”he said.

He appealed to residents to cooperate with the officials enforcing the policy as all revenue received will be used for infrastructural development of rural areas in the council.

“Very soon, we will be rolling out scholarship scheme for indigenes and non-indigenes of the area council and empowerment scheme for women.

“We have already constructed roads and some are still on-going, we have so many things on water projects, provision of drugs in our hospitals and provided employment for our youths, among others.

“We are pleading with Nigerians not to take laws into their hands, as defaulters would be fined and charged to mobile courts.

“For places within the city where some vehicles are parked, especially organisations which do not have enough parking spaces, we have made provision to have a corporate parking agreement with those organisations, where a negotiable amount of money will be charged,”he said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

=================

Edited by Remi Koleoso/Sadiya Hamza

By Ahmed Ubandoma

Mr Ioannis Plotas, the Greece Ambassador to Nigeria has expressed his country`s readiness to support the Federal Government in its efforts to lift Nigerians out of poverty.
 
Plotas stated this when he met with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu on Thursday in Abuja.
 
The envoy said his visit was to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Greece to support the country`s humanitarian response.
 
“ My visit was to explore the possibilities of further cooperation on the domain of humanitarian affairs.
 
“We have the expertise on these issues because we have provided several to different countries across the globe.
 
“Nigeria is in the domain and it constitutes our main priority because the African continent is our priority.
 
“We are recognising the fact that there are people in need and there are communities in need especially in certain states of Nigeria.
 
“So in order to alleviate poverty and to provide whatever we can in the domain of humanitarian efforts, our government is ready to contribute either financially or in kind with certain materials.
 
“We are committed to do that through the Committee of the Red Cross or the Greek Red Cross Society has the potential to achieve this goal.
 
“We are targeting as many people as possible to lift them out of poverty’’ Plotas said.
 
The envoy assured the determination of the Greek government to provide the needed support.
 
In her response, the minister expressed commitment of the Tinubu administration to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
 
While commending the long standing relationship that exists between the two countries, the minister expressed determination to build to build on it and ensure that Nigerians benefitted.
 
She said the ministry will ensure a robust and sustainable poverty alleviation programme, especially a social safety net that will capture the vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
 
“We have a good number of Nigerians who are living below the poverty line, and we will see how we can partner the international community and within ourselves to come up with policies that can lift these people out of poverty.
 
“Our core mandate in the ministry is to manage, prevent and mitigate humanitarian crises as well as help people who are going through humanitarian crisis to recover while reintegrate them back into the community.
 
“We are committed as a government led by Tinubu to see Nigerians come out of poverty and he has started the engagement.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
 

Edited by Joseph Edeh