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Tag: FCT

  • Mabushi bridge horror: Family of 3 killed as Lagos “agbero” menace creeps into Abuja

    Mabushi bridge horror: Family of 3 killed as Lagos “agbero” menace creeps into Abuja

    Abuja residents woke up on Wednesday to the chilling news of a family of three, husband, wife, and child, who lost their lives under the Mabushi bridge after being chased by touts, popularly known as ‘Agberos’.

    The tragedy has laid bare a growing menace that many fear could turn the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into another Lagos, where Agberos dominate the transport system through violence and extortion.

    According to Leadership, the victims were returning home in their car with a newly purchased refrigerator when three touts pounced on them.

    Eyewitnesses said the Agberos attempted to wrest control of the steering wheel while demanding money. In the struggle, the driver lost control, crashing into a bridge pillar before the vehicle plunged into a drainage.

    All three occupants of the Toyota Highlander died instantly, and a taxi was also struck during the chaos.

    Witnesses say the tragedy was preventable. “We’ve been warning about these boys,” fumed a trader at Mabushi. “Now a whole family is gone. Tomorrow, it could be anyone.”

    It was gathered that enraged onlookers lynched one of the attackers on the spot while police from the Mabushi Division reportedly rescued two others, one critically injured and the other taken alive to the National Hospital.

    “This is what we’ve been warning about,” said a resident who witnessed the scene. “Abuja is no longer safe. A whole family wiped out because of touts.”

    For weeks, our investigation followed the trail of tout activities across major junctions and bus stops in Abuja, from Lugbe to Berger, Wuse to Zuba.

    At each point, the pattern was the same: young men armed with sticks, clubs or sheer bravado descend on motorists, demanding illegal levies before releasing seized car keys or allowing drivers to pick up passengers.

    “They charge us as if they own the roads,” said a commercial driver at the Berger junction, lowering his voice in caution. “If you refuse, they damage your car or block you. Sometimes, they beat people up.”

    Investigations across the major bus stops and junctions in the FCT reveal that Abuja’s transport system is increasingly under siege by touts, mirroring the entrenched Lagos agbero model.

    “Drivers report daily harassment, illegal levies, and physical intimidation, but nothing is done. Commuters describe gangs lying in wait, blocking vehicles and seizing keys until cash is handed over.

    “This is how Lagos lost control of its transport corridors. If Abuja does not act decisively, the same fate awaits,” said a former FCT transport official, who asked not to be named.

    Despite mounting complaints from residents and commuters, official response has been muted, and the police insist that no formal cases have been filed.

    FCT Police PRO, Josephine Adeh, told this reporter that “no official reports have been made,” raising concerns that victims are either too fearful to come forward or see little hope in enforcement.

    The result is a climate of silence, where agberos act with impunity while residents endure daily extortion and fatalities.

    However, the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) is yet to issue an official statement on the tragic Mabushi accident. Also, the identities of the deceased are yet to be released.

    The Mabushi tragedy has ignited fury across Abuja. On social media, residents shared their own encounters with touts and called for urgent intervention.

    “Are you saying I should have a car and still hire a commercial vehicle to carry my things home?” one resident fumed. “This is daylight robbery.”

    Abuja was designed to embody order and modernity, but the growing agbero culture threatens that vision.

    Observers say the growing impunity of agberos raises unsettling questions about governance in the FCT.

    The Mabushi tragedy is not just an isolated accident; it is a chilling warning that the capital could lose control of its streets to the rule of touts.

    With one family’s lives already lost, residents say the stakes could not be higher.

    ALSO READ || INVESTIGATION: Before Abuja becomes another Lagos: Touts threaten FCT transport system

    Unless the FCT administration and security agencies move swiftly to dismantle tout networks, Abuja may soon mirror Lagos, where transport corridors are not controlled by law and order but one beholden to the whims of street-level thuggery.

  • Angry FCT Minister, Wike slams ₦5m fine on land defaulters

    Angry FCT Minister, Wike slams ₦5m fine on land defaulters

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has imposed a ₦5m fine, to be paid within 30 days, on allottees and land title holders who have contravened the Land Use Act in the FCT.

    Wike gave the approval after receiving the report of the committee set up to address the abuse of the Land Use Act in the FCT, in his office.

    He also assented to a 7.5 per cent charge on the Assessed Capital Value of properties converted without the knowledge or express permission of the FCT Administration, payable within 30 days.

    The minister had inaugurated the committees on August 8, 2025, describing the issue of land abuse as “very important” in streamlining the activities of the FCT Administration on emerging land matters.

    The minister had inaugurated the committees on August 8, 2025, describing the issue of land abuse as “very important” in streamlining the activities of the FCT Administration on emerging land matters.

    Chairman of the Land Use and Purposes Clause Committee and Director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said the committee found that many properties on Ademola Adetokunbo Street, Aminu Kano Crescent, Yakubu Gowon Street, and Gana Street, among others, had been converted to residential, commercial or mixed usage, contravening the original agreements.

    He added that the total capital value of the said properties amounted to ₦1,037,478,716,500, while recommending various sanctions on the defaulting title holders, including sealing of property, removal of buildings and structures, revocation and withdrawal of titles, if they failed to pay the fines.

    “The Committee hereby recommends as follows: That, allottees/title holders of land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, pay within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, the Land Use Conversion fee of 7.5% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet.

    “That, allottees/title holders of the land and properties affected by the land use change/conversion, in addition to payment of Land Use Conversion fee, pay statutory Right of Occupancy bills applicable for the new land use/purpose clause and as charged for the District.

    That, where illegal/unapproved extension, merger and subdivision has been established, the allottee/title holder of the property… pay, within thirty (30) days from the date of conveyance of approval, extension/merger/subdivision fee of the extant 2.0% of the assessed Capital Value of the properties as contained in the Schedule/Valuation Report Sheet,” Galadima said.

    The minister, in his address, commended the committees for their work, stating that no defaulter would be allowed to go scot-free, as the administration was interested in raising money to carry out projects.

    “I’m not going to leave anybody to go free. We are looking for money to carry on projects. If you fall into our trap, it’s your business.

    “Or if you want us to take back our title, which we are not interested in taking back. We are trying to raise money for the FCT. But if you don’t want, we will take back your title, we sell it, we will still raise money. You have to pay the penalty and pay for the conversion; they are two different things.

    “I’m aware that certain areas are designated for residential, and certain areas are designated for commercial. But people believing that they can do anything without approval from the government, some have changed residential to commercial, some have changed commercial to residential, and some have changed for all kinds of mixed uses. If you don’t sanction them, it will continue to be so,” Wike stated.

  • FCTA threatens HMOs in Abuja with sanction

    FCTA threatens HMOs in Abuja with sanction

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will sanction any Health Maintenance Organisations under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme (FHIS), who failed to remit payments to healthcare providers promptly.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media gave the warning in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Olayinka explained that the FHIS was a social health insurance programme, offering financial protection through access to quality, affordable and equitable healthcare services by all FCT residents.

    He added that staff of the FCTA and Area Councils, including vulnerable persons and pregnant women were being enrolled for free, while other members of the public could enroll upon payment of N22,500 as premium per annum.

    He added that about N4 billion, outstanding payments for capitation and fee for service from 2022 to 2024 was approved by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike and paid between 2024 and 2025.

    This, according to him, is to improve the quality of healthcare services provided to the FHIS enrollees.

    He said that one of the benefit packages of the FHIS was the Basic Minimum Package of Health Care services (BMPHS), ranging from promotive, preventive, curative and some rehabilitative care services.

    Other services, he said, included  primary preventive care, screening, primary emergency services, and secondary level care such as dental, mental, eye, ear, nose and throat care, physiotherapy, surgeries, laboratory investigations, and radiological investigations such as ultrasound scan, and x-rays.

    The spokesman, however, said that complaints have been received from some healthcare providers concerning non-remittance of their payments by some of the HMOs.

    According to him, the HMOs blamed the non-payment on nonavailability of bank details of the affected hospitals.

    “This excuse is not acceptable to the FCT Administration government.”

    He said that henceforth, compliance of the HMOs to the prompt remittance of payments to healthcare providers and the commitment of the healthcare providers to the FHIS enrollees would be closely monitored.

    He stressed that all defaulters would be sanctioned accordingly. On implementation of the FHIS in the last one year, Olayinka said that outstanding payment for capitations and fee for service from 2022 to the end of 2024 had been paid.

    He identified other successes as improved timeliness in the payment of capitation to HMOs, upward review of capitation to healthcare providers, free enrolment of vulnerable persons, especially pregnant women, children under-five years and indigent residents.

    “Others include accreditation visits to 100 Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities to expand the number of PHC providing FHIS services and in the long run, improve access to healthcare services in communities.

    “Also, all pregnant women who enrolled through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) PHCs across the six area councils in the FCT will continue to enjoy free health education, medical consultation and treatment.

    “Other services include routine antenatal drugs, laboratory investigations and delivery. Referral for secondary care, including caesarean section, blood transfusion and treatment of other obstetric complications such as eclampsia in all the 14 General Hospitals in the FCT is also provided at no cost to the patient through the BHCPF,” he said.

  • PDP cautions candidates ahead FCT council polls

    PDP cautions candidates ahead FCT council polls

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cautioned its candidates for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections against pursuing personal ambitions that could undermine the party’s chances of victory in Feb. 2026.

    Chairman of the PDP FCT chapter, Ismail Dogara, issued the warning on Monday in Abuja while handing over INEC nomination forms to the party’s candidates.

    Dogara announced that the PDP would field six chairmanship and 62 councillorship candidates, expressing confidence in a sweeping victory.

    “During my campaign before emerging as state chairman, I said it time and again, this party is too big to remain silent. And that is why we will not be silent.

    “The nomination forms are here, including those for vice chairmen. Our goal is to win. Personal ambition, if it doesn’t align with the party’s, can cost us the election,” Dogara said.

    Former House of Representatives member Micha Jibah, urged the candidates to be bold and persistent in their campaign efforts, commending their courage in stepping forward.

    Speaking on behalf of the candidates, Gwagwalada chairmanship, Kasim Mohammed, thanked party leaders at all levels for the opportunity to contest under the PDP banner. He called for unity within the party to ensure victory.

    “We have been mobilising voters for PDP ahead of Feb. 2026, but we also need your continued support. Politics is about people, and this is the people’s party. We believe they will give us victory.”

    Mohammed also appealed to party leaders to remain responsive throughout the campaign period.

    “Please, if there’s anything we need, be there for us. Don’t hesitate to respond in times of need,” he said.

  • Mixed feelings as FCT pupils resume after 3-month strike

    Mixed feelings as FCT pupils resume after 3-month strike

    Some public primary school pupils in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings and uncertainty following the suspension of a three-month-long teachers’ strike.

    Speaking in an interview with NAN on Thursday in Abuja, the pupils said they were concerned about lost academic time and unsure how the missed term would be recovered.

    Primary school teachers in the FCT, under the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns.

    The NUT, in a communiqué on Tuesday, directed its members to return to the classroom on Wednesday, following interventions by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    Joshua Peter, a Primary Four pupil, said many pupils were excited to resume learning but remained unsure how they would catch up.

    “We have lost the second term already, while our counterparts in private schools are already writing their examinations and preparing for the holidays.

    “I don’t know how they intend to cover the scheme of work we missed, but one thing I’m sure of is that we will be in school while others are on break,” he said.

    Peter added that since resumption, teachers had not yet started lessons but had asked pupils to clean the school premises.

    “I am hopeful that full lessons will begin soon,” he said.

    Similarly, Mercy Gwoza, another pupil, said she was glad to be back in class but worried about the workload required to catch up.

    She noted that it was likely the teachers would rush through the curriculum to cover lost ground, and she hoped the process would not face further disruptions.

    Another pupil, Jamiu Mahmoud, said he was happy to reunite with his classmates after the long break but anxious about returning to academic work.

    He expressed concern that his performance might decline due to the disruption and prayed for God’s guidance and success during the recovery period.

    A parent, Mrs Manji Amos, said it was a relief to see the children back in school.

    However, she stressed that the affected pupils were now at a disadvantage in terms of syllabus coverage and academic progress.

    She urged school authorities and teachers to manage the situation proactively and avoid any further actions that could harm the children’s development.

    Meanwhile, a school proprietor and education consultant, Mr Tanimu Abdulmalik, recommended that teachers conducted quick assessments to determine the pupils’ current academic levels and the extent of learning loss.

    “They can start with short diagnostic tests or oral assessments in key subjects like English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, and focus on topics essential for exams and progression,” he said.

    Abdulmalik also suggested implementing a Compressed Teaching Plan, condensing the syllabus and prioritising core topics.

    He recommended extending learning hours, adding extra classes before or after school, or even introducing weekend sessions to help recover lost time.

    A correspondent who visited some of the schools observed that while there was full compliance with the resumption directive in most schools, a few had pupils present without any teachers in their classrooms.

  • FCT teachers return to classrooms after 3-month strike

    FCT teachers return to classrooms after 3-month strike

    Primary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called off their over three-month strike, following interventions by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    The FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), disclosed this in a communique made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday

    The communique was jointly signed the union’s Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas, Secretary, Mrs Margaret Jethro and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye.

    In the communique, the union leadership directed the teachers to return to the classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties.

    They applauded the intervention of the minister in the impasse through a stakeholder meeting.

    Recall that primary school teachers in the FCT embarked on an indefinite strike on March 24 over unpaid minimum wage and other welfare concerns.

    The FCT minister, though not responsible for the payment of primary school teachers, intervened severally, including a meeting with the union leaders and other stakeholders on July 3.

    Some of the stakeholders included the Chairmen, House Committee on FCT, House Committee on FCT, Area Councils and Ancillary Matters, FCT Head of Service, FCT Permanent Secretary, Treasury, and executives of the NUT among others.

    “The payment of FCT primary school teachers, as explained by the Minister, is the responsibility of the Area Councils

    “The minister, however, emphasised the inadequacy of the councils’ allocation to cater for the payment and therefore offered the following:

    “The release of 10 per cent of the area councils’ six months accrued Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), amounting to N16 billion, to augment the payment of the minimum wage for June and 60 per cent of its nine months arrears.

    “The constitution of a Special Committee to, within two weeks, harmonise all the outstanding arrears detailing the sourcing of funds for the permanent settlement of all the backlog,” the communique read in part

    The union leaders said that, upon the minister’s intervention, SWEC held an emergency session on July 4 to deliberate on the offers and review the strike action.

    They added that, after exhaustive deliberation on the offers, including the positive disposition of the minister, SWEC resolved to suspend the strike, if the N16 billion is released and payment received by teachers.

    “Consequent upon the implementation of the minimum wage and payment of five months arrears into the teachers accounts on July 8, the SWEC, hereby, suspends the ongoing strike.

    “The council, appeal to all primary school teachers in FCT to, with effect from Wednesday, July 9, return to the classrooms and continue with their legitimate duties.

    “The union will intensify efforts to ensure the payment of the remaining entitlements,” they said.

  • 2026: PDP unveils FCT Area Council chairmanship candidates

    2026: PDP unveils FCT Area Council chairmanship candidates

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has concluded its primary elections for the 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council chairmanship elections, with candidates emerging across all the six council.

    The Electoral Committee Chairman, Mr Chris Hassan who announced the results, said that the elections which held in the councils were free and fair.

    According to him, in Kuje Area Council, there were two contestants, Mr Zacharia Danlami and Mr Michael Jigu who later withdrew from the race, leaving Danlami as the lone contestant and winner with all the 30 votes.

    He  said that in Abaji, there was only one aspirant, Mr Musa Biliyanmu who scored all the 30 votes to emerge winner of the election.

    “In the Abuja Municipal Area Council, there were also two contestants, Mr Zadna Dintani who scored 24 votes to defeat Mr William Gaje with 12 votes.

    “In Gwagwalada Area Council, there were two aspirants, Mr Kasim Mohammed who scored 19 votes to defeat Mr Rabiu Adamu who scored 11 votes.

    “In Kwali Area Council, there were three contestants, Mr Harruna Mohammed who scored 13 votes to defeat Mr Daniel Ibrahim who scored 11 votes and Mr Shashim Zaka who scored six votes.

    “In Bwari Area Council, there were six aspirants and Mr Julius Adamu scored 19 votes to emerge winner after defeating Mr Harruna Mohammed who score one vote, Mr Ibrahim Dauda who scored one vote, Mr Bitrus Jibada who score six votes and Mr Zaka Bello scored zero vote,” Hassan said.

    “I want to gladly announce to you that the elections were ranchor-free and went smoothly in line with the ideals of our party.

    “It is our desire that all aspirants and candidates will work towards the success of the elections come 2026,” he added.

  • ‘Big men’ remain FCT’s biggest problem – Wike

    ‘Big men’ remain FCT’s biggest problem – Wike

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says big men (rich people) residing in Abuja remain FCT’s biggest problem in voluntary tax compliance for development.

    Wike stated this during the inauguration of the newly constructed Collector Road CN2 (Zakari A. Kyari Street), in Abuja on Thursday, by President Bola Tinubu to celebrate his second year in office.

    The road, from Arterial Road N11 (Ahmadu Bello Way) in Mabushi to Katampe District, leading to Judges Quarters and other connecting roads were constructed by the FCT Administration.

    The minister said that the big men living in the FCT do not like paying taxes. He, however, expressed dismay that the same big men pay their taxes and ground rent voluntarily in London, the United States of America and other foreign countries.

    He said that the CN2 road and other connecting roads in Katampe District were executed with taxes and ground rents paid by responsible residents.

    “For those who said we sealed their houses for not paying a ground rent, see the value; see the product of paying a ground rent.

    “If you don’t pay, nobody will provide this infrastructure because the only thing the city has is just to collect taxes. People say Abuja is rich. How rich is it?” he asked.

    He explained that what Abuja collects from the Federation Account was one per cent of what was due to the Federal Government every month.

    “So, assuming that the federal government gets N800 billion every month. One percent of N800 billion is N8 billion Naira and N8 billion is not enough to pay salaries. Our salary today is not less than N13 billion because of the minimum wage increase.

    “So, if we only depend on one per cent of what the federal government gets every month, it means that we can only pay salaries, not to talk about carrying out infrastructure. That’s why we’re very aggressive in saying you cannot enjoy infrastructure free of charge. You have to pay.

    “It has nothing to do with ‘I belong to party A; I belong to party B, I belong to party C’,” he said.

    He urged Tinubu, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Mr Benjamin Kalu, to talk to FCT residents on the need to pay their taxes.

    This, he said, would enable the FCT Administration to deliver more infrastructure in the territory for the good of all.

    He reminded FCT residents, particularly big men, that whoever has land in the territory and has not paid ground rent should pay or their names would be published as defaulters in newspapers.

    He particularly pointed out that no poor man has the financial resources to build a house in Katampe and Mabushi, adding that those building houses in the areas were rich men.

    “Mr Deputy Speaker, see what we are talking about. If you know you have land here and you have not paid, I will publish your name that you have not paid.

    “It has nothing to do that I want to embarrass you, no. We need money to do the work that we are doing.

    “No poor man can do these houses. No poor man. These houses are being built by rich men. So, you have to pay so we can carry out the job of delivering critical infrastructure.

    “We need people to pay their taxes so that we will carry out development in the interest of our people,” he added.

    Earlier, Mr Richard Dauda, acting Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the project was executed by CGC and was flagged off in October, 2024.

    Dauda said that the CN2 road was a dual carriageway of two lanes each while the other roads were single carriageway.

    He added that road projects were executed to provide infrastructure and open up the Katampe District for development.

    Shortly after the inauguration, Wike inspected Judges Quarters under construction in Katampe and the N5 Road (Obafemi Awolowo Way) from Life Camp to Ring Road III scheduled for inauguration on Friday.

  • Police probe ‘mysterious’ death of lady in Abuja hotel

    Police probe ‘mysterious’ death of lady in Abuja hotel

    The Police Command  in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has ordered an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a lady found unconscious in an Abuja hotel.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh said this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    She said the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of the  FCT, Mr Ajao Adewale, gave the order following a viral video showing a young woman found unconscious in an Abuja hotel.

    Adeh said the lady was found unconscious with her hands tied behind her in a hotel room located in the Gwarinpa area of Abuja.

    “In swift response to the tragic incident, the CP has ordered a thorough and discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the unfortunate incident.

    “Preliminary investigation reveals that the victim, later identified as Aladi Johnson, also known as Tessy, a female from Benue, checked into a hotel located at 3rd Avenue, Gwarinpa, on June 16.

    “The investigation revealed the lady checked into the hotel in the company of an unidentified male who was later observed to have exited the premises without her,” she said.

    Adeh said the victim was discovered unconscious by hotel staff during routine service rounds, prompting immediate notification to the police.

    She said the lady was, however, confirmed dead upon medical evaluation.

    According to her, while the investigation is ongoing, the CP has urged the public to remain calm and allow the Police to carry out a comprehensive inquiry.

    She said the CP had advised young ladies to exercise caution in their interactions, especially with unfamiliar individuals and always share their whereabouts with friends or family members for safety purposes.

    Adeh said the CP called on hotel operators to strengthen internal security protocols, including mandatory identity verification for guests.

    The CP called for the installation of functional surveillance systems to aid both deterrence and investigation.

    The Commissioner who commiserates with the family of the deceased, said that efforts were being made to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice.

  • Police probe viral FCT harassment video

    Police probe viral FCT harassment video

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has launched an investigation into a viral video circulating on social media.

    The video allegedly shows police officers harassing an individual. This was confirmed in a statement on Friday in Abuja by SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer.

    Adeh said the man in the video, who has not yet been identified, alleged that he was harassed by personnel of the FCT Command.

    Preliminary investigations revealed the incident took place on June 4 at approximately 1:00 p.m.

    A surveillance team from Kubwa Area Command was on routine patrol around Chikakore Bridge at the time of the event.

    According to Adeh, officers noticed a vehicle parked suspiciously for over 20 minutes along the FO1–Chikakore Road.

    She said due to heightened security concerns, the area was under active surveillance at the time.

    The PPRO explained that upon approaching the vehicle, officers found two male occupants and proceeded to question them.

    One of the men, she said, reacted aggressively, challenged the officers’ presence, and accused them of harassment.

    “He also attracted the attention of passers-by, seemingly trying to escalate the situation.

    “In light of the video and to ensure transparency, the Commissioner of Police has summoned the officers involved,” Adeh said.

    She stated that internal administrative procedures have begun regarding the incident.

    “The individuals in the video are urged to come forward and provide official statements to assist the investigation,” she added.

    Adeh reaffirmed the command’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, and respectful public engagement.