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Tag: FCT

  • “One chance” over as FCTA rolls out buses, taxis for public transport – Wike

    “One chance” over as FCTA rolls out buses, taxis for public transport – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration has concluded plans to roll out new buses and taxis for public transportation in Abuja.

    Wike, who disclosed this duringWIKE a high-level meeting with estate developers in Abuja on Tuesday, added that the development would address the problem of “one chance” operators in the FCT.

    The minister assured residents of the FCT that the buses and taxis would be rolled out in the next one month.

    “I assure you that once the buses and taxis are on the road, the problem of “one chance” will be a thing of the past.

    “However, if you make the mistake of going to enter a taxi and a bus that is not our own, it is your own problem.

    “The buses and taxis will ply the routes of Maitama, Asokoro, and other parts of the city,” he said.

    He also said that to ensure maximum security of residents, the FCTA would kick commercial tricycle operators out of Abuja, adding that some of the operators were agents of criminals.

    “I know some of you will say, oh! We are struggling. I know they are struggling to have something. I agree, but our interest is to protect our city.

    “I will not because you are dying of hunger and allow people to die. I owe a duty to protect the people that are doing genuine businesses in our city,” he added.

    The minister explained that a stiff decision was not taken against the tricycle operators because public buses and taxis were not on the roads as alternatives.

    He said: “we could not take action without providing an alternative. Now that we have the alternative, we are not afraid to take that action.

    “They should move to the rural areas.”

    The incidence of “one chance” is on the increase in the city with many residents falling victim to the criminal acts.

    Worst hit are civil servants and journalists.

    “One chance” vehicles are used by criminal groups disguised as commercial drivers and commuters operating within Abuja city, particularly during closing hours and late into the night.

    They lure their victims by disguising as commercial taxis and dispossess the passengers of their valuables.

    Many of the operators use force to empty victims’ bank accounts using point-of-sale machines, according to the account of victims.

  • Wike reviews land swap initiative, investigates sales of federal houses

    Wike reviews land swap initiative, investigates sales of federal houses

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has taken steps to review the Abuja land swap initiative and investigate the sale of federal government houses in the FCT.

    Wike disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday, when he asked the Task Force on the issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for mass housing to review initiative.

    The minister also asked the task force to ascertain the sales of federal government houses in the federal capital, Abuja, and present the current position of things.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the minister had on Nov. 14, inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of C of O for mass housing and the recovery of land use contravention fees.

    The minister, who asked the task force to conclude the assignment within one month, extended the completion period to two months considering the additional tasks.

    The land swap initiative means engaging the private sector to provide infrastructure in exchange for land.

    The goal is essentially to open up new districts in the FCT by constructing and completing access roads to the districts.

    Wike said that stakeholders have raised a lot of concerns about the initiative, stressing the need to review it.

    He directed the task force to review the agreements and other documents with relevant information about the initiative.

    “We want to get details of the land swap initiative and the sale of federal government houses in the Federal Capital Territory.

    “There are so many complaints that some houses are abandoned, while some are sold.

    “Let us know the houses that were sold and where are the documents? Let them show us the receipt of payments.

    “Not only the federal government houses but also the houses built and abandoned in the city.

    “With the additional responsibility, the task force will now last for two months instead of the one month earlier given,” Wike said.

    The task force is being chaired by Mr Michael Chinda, Senior Special Assistant to Wike on Lands, Urban and Regional Planning, with the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Shehu Ahmad, as the Secretary.

    Other members of the taskforce include the Director, Department of Development Control; Director, Department of Land Administration; and the Director, Department of Surveying and Mapping.

    Others are the Director, Department of Mass Housing; Director of AGIS, and Director, Department of Urban and Regional Planning.

  • Seven years after escape from prison, NDLEA arrests wanted Abuja drug kingpin+Photos

    Seven years after escape from prison, NDLEA arrests wanted Abuja drug kingpin+Photos

    . Another nabbed in Ondo after jumping bail since 2022 as Agency recovers 63,767.3kgs of cannabis, 82,320 pills of opioids in raids across 8 states

    Seven years after his escape from prison custody following his conviction for drug dealing, a notorious major distributor of illicit substances within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Ibrahim Momoh, popularly known as Ibrahim Bendel, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA during a raid of his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of the FCT.

    Ibrahim Momoh was first arrested on 27th November, 2014 with cannabis sativa weighing 385.1kgs, prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to seven and a half years in prison on 22nd July 2015 but while serving his jail term at Kuje, he escaped from prison custody on 16th May, 2016.
    Following credible intelligence, NDLEA operatives on 20th November 2022 stormed the warehouse of the fleeing ex-convict, Ibrahim Momoh, and recovered 81 jumbo bags of cannabis weighing 1,278kgs.

    The store was located within his poultry farm in Dei-Dei area of the FCT. Though Momoh was not around at the time, his warehouse manager, 55-year-old Ghanaian, Richard Forson Gordon was arrested, prosecuted and sentenced to two years in jail. The Agency thereafter declared Ibrahim Momoh wanted.

    The manhunt for the drug lord paid off on 5th November 2023 when operatives again raided his hideout at Filin Dabo, Dei-Dei area of Abuja where he was arrested with 56.9kgs of cannabis sativa and 42.7 grams of Diazepam. In another raid in the same area of the FCT on Monday 13th November, a suspect Yusufa Ibrahim, 27, was arrested with 75.3kgs of cannabis.

    Meanwhile, a massive operation in the forest of Efon Alaye in Efon local government area of Ekiti state on Saturday 18th November 2023 has led to the destruction of 52,500 kilograms of cannabis sativa covering over 21 hectares of farmland while a total of ninety two bags of same substance weighing 1,380 kilograms were recovered and another 250 bags weighing 3,000kgs stored in different huts on the farm were also burnt.

    No fewer than 15 suspects were arrested on the farm during the operation. They include: Okikiri Julius, 27; Ozoemene Friday Efajemu, 31; Tosin Ibrahim, 18; Israel Samuel, 25; Godwin David, 39; Friday Isaac, 19; Ayomide Igbekele, 18; Joshua Daniel, 27; Emmanuel Nwachukwu, 19; Emeka Onyeama, 31; Ani Augustine, 27; Obasi Ogbu, 32; Orsusue Peter, 23; Daniel Emmanuel, 18; and Yinusa James, 22.

    In Ondo state, five persons including another wanted drug kingpin, Christopher Onyebuchi, 40, were arrested at New Bridge Compound, Idoani on Wednesday 15th November and a total of 1,945 kilograms of cannabis recovered from them. Others include: Olorunda Ojo, 52; Femi Tomoye, 22; Abdurahman Salahu, 29; and Momoh Jimoh, 31. Onyebuchi had earlier been arrested by NDLEA on 25th March 2022 with 89kgs of same substance but jumped bail after he was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Akure. Operatives in the state also on Sunday 12th Nov raided Upemen village in Owo where they recovered 1,834kgs of same substance with 273kgs also seized the previous day, Saturday 11th Nov at Ipesi Akoko.

    While NDLEA officers in Sokoto recovered 290kgs of cannabis from a female suspect, Fatima Salmanu, 20, at Gangaren Tashar, Illela Sokoto in Sokoto North LGA on Thursday 16th Nov, their colleagues in Edo state evacuated 808kgs of the same psychoactive substance stored in a forest at Igueben on Monday 13th Nov.
    Not less than 231kgs of cannabis were recovered and five suspects arrested in a joint raid between NDLEA operatives and soldiers in Kwande council area of Benue state on Monday 13th Nov. Those arrested include: Denen Terhemba, 25; Liambee Iorhuna, 36; Iorhuna Sughnen, 20; Aboh Sonter, 23; and Msendoo Tyokaa, 36.

    While operatives in Ogun state on Tuesday 14th Nov arrested a suspect, Tony Jonah at Abule Iroko, with cannabis sativa weighing 67kgs, those in Lagos arrested Chike Agu at Ago Palace way, Isolo with 364.3kgs of Loud, a variant of cannabis.

    In Imo state, NDLEA operatives on patrol along Owerri -Onitsha expressway on Monday 13th Nov intercepted a truck marked XS 669KRD driven by one Orji Ifeanyi, 33. A search of the truck led to the seizure of 82,320 pills of opioids including Tramadol 225mg, and Diazepam as well as 32.5 litres of codeine cough syrup and 100 pieces of Molly weighing 49.62 grams.

    The War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy campaign of the Agency continued in equal measure in schools, markets, worship places and others across the country in the past week.

    Some of them include: WADA advocacy lecture for Muslim faithful at Badagry Central Mosque, Badagry, Lagos; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Government Science College, Wase, Plateau state; WADA sensitisation lecture for students of Anglican Girls Secondary School, Ogidi, Anambra state; WADA advocacy lecture at St. Thomas Grammar School, Otan Aiyegbaju, Osun; WADA advocacy lecture for students and staff of Government Junior Arabic Secondary School, Maigatari, Jigawa state as well as students and staff of Mainland Technical College, Oron, Akwa Ibom state.
    While commending the officers and men of the FCT, Ekiti, Ondo, Sokoto, Lagos, Edo, Benue, Ogun and Imo Commands for the arrests and seizures of the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed

    Buba Marwa (Retd) urged them and their compatriots across all formations of the Agency to intensify the offensive action tempo against drug cartels as the yuletide season approaches while maintaining a balance with their drug demand reduction efforts.

    Femi Babafemi
    Director, Media & Advocacy
    NDLEA Headquarters Abuja
    Sunday 19th November 2023

  • Labour Strike: Workers observe partial compliance in FCT

    Labour Strike: Workers observe partial compliance in FCT

    Workers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) observed partial compliance to the directive by the organised labour to it members to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

    The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had on Nov. 13, directed all affiliates to embark on an indefinite nationwide strike.

    The strike was called to press home their demands, especially the “non comment by the Federal Government over the brutalising of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero by security agents and hoodlums in Imo”.

    It would be recalled that the NLC had declared a protest in Imo, led by Ajaero on Nov.1, over alleged anti- workers policies by the state government .

    Ajaero was attacked and brutalised by security agents and hoodlums allegedly sent by the state government.

    Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo and the Nigeria Police had refuted the allegation.

    It also be recalled that the National Industrial Court had restrained organised labour from embarking on the planned nationwide strike.

    At the Federal Secretariat, workers were seen going about.

    Also, at the Area one old Secretariat, workers were also seen going in and out of the place.

    Commercial banks such as Guaranty, Union, First Bank , among other banks in Area 3 and 8 were opened for operation as some customers were seen going in and out of the place.

    Some schools were open and lessons were on going.

    Also, some workers said that the nationwide indefinite strike was uncalled for, they said that people are already suffering and the economy was not friendly and with the indefinite strike it would increase the hardship on the people.

  • Dutse indigenes in Abuja urge FCTA to fix bad roads

    Dutse indigenes in Abuja urge FCTA to fix bad roads

    A cross section of Dutse indigenes resident in Bwari Area Council of the FCT, on Monday called on the FCT Administration to fix the bad roads they say have become death traps in the area.

    Some of the residents reported that the bad roads had slowed down businesses and increased hardship in the area.

    Mr Victory Smart, a commercial tricycle operator, said he took the daily risk of leaving his tricycle at Dutse Market rather than taking it to his house because the road had become impassable.

    He lamented that this was apart from spending heavily on the repair of the tricycle as it regularly broke down on the bad road network in the area.

    “With the current inflationary rate in the country, one cannot break even in business.

    “I beg the Bwari Area Council to come to our aid and fix the roads. If this is the only thing it will do for us, we will be grateful,’’ he said.

    Mr Peter Abubakar, a commercial bus driver, shared Bala’s views, saying that the roads in the area quickly affected his  tyres making him due for replacement too often.

    He expressed regret at plying roads in the area and said he was incurring losses every day.

    Another motorist, Mr Godwin Peters, expressed the same views, adding that government needed to do something fast.

    “One ends up spending all his earnings to fix the vehicle because of bad roads,’’ he said.

    Other residents and business people in the area also expressed the same misgivings about the roads and pleaded with government to repair them.

  • FCTA warns against use of social devt secretariat as drinking joint

    FCTA warns against use of social devt secretariat as drinking joint

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned against the use of the Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture complex in Garki, Abuja, as a drinking joint by shop owners.

    Mr Ibrahim Masari, the Mandate Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, FCTA, gave the warning during an emergency meeting with business operators and shop owners at the secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Masari, thereafter, designated 7.30 p.m. as the daily closing hour for all business and shop owners operating within the complex due to security concerns.

    He expressed dismay at the level of lawlessness that transpired within the secretariat when he paid an unscheduled visit to the complex around 7.10 p.m. on Oct. 29.

    He explained that the visit was to affirm the veracity of the information at his disposal about the heinous acts that happens at the complex late hours of the night.

    “To my dismay, I discovered more than 500 persons within the complex at such late hours, enjoying themselves with alcoholic drinks and smoking indiscriminately.

    “I was not aware of what the event or activity was all about, as there was no official communication whatsoever to that effect.

    “After waiting patiently till about 8.30 p.m. with no signs of them exiting soon, I invited some of the private security guards on duty who accompanied me to disperse the gathering.

    “This is very disturbing.

    “Management will no longer condone a situation whereby non-staff and tenants in the secretariat will stay back after official closing hours to as late as 9 p.m,” he said.

    The mandate scribe said that the 7.30 p.m closing hour would take effect from Thursday, advising members of the public to take note to avoid embarrassment from security personnel.

    He stressed that the civil service rule forbids the sale of alcohol or any other intoxicating substances within working premises.

    He added that an internal mechanism has been activated to sanction business owners who encouraged such lawlessness and disregard to the extant rules.

    “Business owners and members of the public who transact businesses in the complex after 7.30 p.m will have themselves to blame, if caught flouting this directive.

    “Our private security guards have been duly advised accordingly,” he said.

    He explained that the decision was imperative taking into consideration the security of lives as well as government properties.

     

  • Wike speaks on funding methodology for Abuja metro rail

    Wike speaks on funding methodology for Abuja metro rail

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has expressed concern over the funding methodology for the Abuja Rail Mass Transit project.

    The minister said on Wednesday that contractor handling the project, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), was insisting that a certain amount must be paid in dollars in accordance with the terms of contract.

    Wike stated this when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation to defend the FCT budget on the supplementary bill sent to the House by President Bola Tinubu.

    He said: “I have been there as I came on board and the President directed the day the Nigerian Bar Association held its yearly conference that he wants to ride on the metro line, at least in his one year in office, which I think with your support, we are going to achieve it.

    “The amendment I want to make is this. Yes, the project here was provided with N22 billion. Our problem is the dollar component of the project. This project was awarded in naira and dollar components.

    “Right now, the contractor, CCECC, is saying that it needs a $7 million component. I will plead if it is possible with this N22 billion if looking at the differentials, we can provide for the dollar component of $7 million and whatever that is remaining will be the naira component.

    “This is because we tried to pay them in Naira but they said that the contract was in Dollar and Naira component.”

    Wike said the FCT was allocated N100 billion in the supplementary bill, adding that N3.4 billion has been budgeted for security to buy equipment and logistics.

    The minister expressed confidence that most of the infrastructure projects in FCT, especially the roads, would be fixed before the next rainy season.

     

  • FCT workers speak out against alleged salary cut by Wike

    FCT workers speak out against alleged salary cut by Wike

    The Joint Unions Action Committee (JUAC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) say workers have nothing against the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, over alleged salary cut.

    JUAC President, Mr Matilukuro Oluwakorede stated this in Abuja on Saturday, while reacting to a social media publication alleging that, “workers in Nigeria Capital, Abuja groan as Wike cuts salaries, allowances amid inflation”.

    Olyuwakorede said, “The public should disregard the information in circulation. it is not emanating from us. We have an internal issue; we had a meeting and agreed on the best way to manage the issue.

    “We have nothing to do with what is trending online currently.

    “We love our minister. We don’t have any issue against him as at this moment that I am talking to you, and I wish to be quoted anywhere.”

    On the issue of the salary, he explained that JUAC had fought for some allowances, adding however, that the allowances were not budgeted for in the 2023 budget.

    He identified the allowances as peculiar allowance, hazard allowance and “one or two other allowances like that.”

    He explained that the allowances overshot FCTA and FCDA personnel budget, adding that in view of the development, the FCTA management called the leadership of the committee over the challenge.

    He added that they all agreed at the meeting, that the remaining funds in the vault should be used to pay October salary but may affect peculiar allowances.

    “We realised that the little fund remaining may affect peculiar allowance, and we say we don’t mind stepping it down by one month, while the FCT Administration does the needful against the remaining months.

    “So that by November, we return to normalcy. So, I don’t know why journalists are just cashing out on this.

    “But I wish to say unequivocally, that we don’t have any problem with our distinguished honourable minister or the minister of state or even the permanent secretary of FCTA.

    “We are in good relationship and this decision that we have taken, is for the best interest of staff generally,” the president said.

    JUAC leadership had on Friday issued a circular, signed by its President and General Secretary, Mr Akuh Sunday, intimating their members on salary shortfall for October.

    JUAC explained in the circular that FCTA and FCDA that management had asked the committee to sensitise all staff on the inability to pay salary of all staff in the months of October.

    The development, it said, was because FCTA personal budget vote has been exhausted following the payment of the 40 per cent peculiar allowance, hazard allowance and other allowances.

    The committee, however, noted that the payment of the allowance in some Departments, Secretariat and Agencies were not budgeted for.

    “In view of the above, JUAC insisted that instead of not paying salary at all in October, management should handle the matter in this manner.

    “First, the October salary be paid without the peculiar allowance which is what the current personnel cost vote can carry.

    “Secondly, between now and November, virement will be made to transfer funds from other votes to beef up the personnel cost vote to enable management to pay November Salary in full.

    “In addition, the arrears for the peculiar allowance of October will be paid in November alongside the arrears for the N35,000 wage award.

    “JUAC agreed to these terms because it believes that this is the best bargain and decision that it could take in the best interest of the entire staff of FCTA and FCDA, given the current situation we have found ourselves,” JUAC had said in the circular.

    NAN

  • Wike gives final warning to defaulters of ground rent payment

    Wike gives final warning to defaulters of ground rent payment

    Mr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), on Tuesday, issued a final warning to defaulters of ground rent payment in the FCT, insisting that something would happen.

    Wike gave the warning when the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its President, Dr Chris Isiguzo visited him in Abuja.

    The minister said that “something will surely happen” contrary to the erroneous assumption that the ground rent directive was an empty threat.

    The FCT Administration in September published land titles of individuals, organisations, and agencies owing ground rent.

    In the publication, the FCTA reminded allottees of lands within FCT of their obligations as stipulated in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to pay in advance without demand from Jan. 1 of each year.

    The FCTA had warned that a breach or failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy shall be liable to the revocation of the title.

    The administration, therefore, advised all allottees, property owners, and beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT to settle their outstanding ground rents or lose their titles.

    Wike assured the defaulters that he would match his words with action at the end of the grace period by revoking such plots.

    “The law has been there before I came. The only problem is applying the law. The Minister of State and I have the capacity and political will to do what is right.

    “You know Nigerians are funny, believing that nothing will happen. Something will happen. We can’t continue that way; we can’t.

    “We have given defaulters a final notice to go and pay and they said it is initial “garagara” (false bravery). Something will happen.

    “By the time we give the final notice, and you don’t pay, the law will be applied,” he said.

    He added that FCTA was able to save significant Internally Generated Revenue since the removal of the Administration from the Treasury Single Account, adding that the era of abandoned projects in the FCT was over.

    He explained that some of the hash decisions being taken by the FCTA was for the good of all in the long run, adding that the government would step on toes in the efforts to right the wrongs in the FCT.

    The minister pledged continued support to the media as critical partners in the development space.

    Earlier, Isiguzo commended Wike for his transformational potentials as exemplified in Rivers State when he was the governor.

    He also commended the minister for his media-friendly disposition and pledged the NUJ’s support through free and responsible journalism.

    He appealed to the minister to support the union’s capacity building programme, its forthcoming National Media Conference, and provide a plot of land for the construction of a Media Village in Abuja.

    The procedure for the payment of the ground rent is e-payment through the REMITA portal to generate a REMITA Retrieval Reference (RRR).

    Affected persons are expected to log onto the REMITA portal https://remita.net and click on “Pay TSA & States, then select Federal Capital Territory Administration.

    After that, select Abuja, Geographic Information Systems and choose the revenue head to be paid which in this case is FCC Ground Rent.

    Fill the required information, submit, and print the RRR slip, after which payment can be made in any commercial bank.

  • FCT to construct 30km roads in 6 Area Councils – Wike

    FCT to construct 30km roads in 6 Area Councils – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says a total of 30-kilometre roads will be constructed across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

    Wike, who stated this when Sen. Philip Aduda and Mr Zakari Dobi visited him in his office in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Aduda was the immediate past Senator that represented FCT in the Senate in the 9th Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party.

    He recontested the seat along with Dobi, who contested under the All Progressives Congress but lost to Sen. Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party.

    The minister said that the 30-kilometre roads, five in each of the six area councils, would be concluded before May 29, 2024.

    This, according to him, is to decentralise development efforts from the city centre to rural communities across the area councils.

    “President Bola Tinubu had directed that at least five-kilometre roads must be constructed in each of the six area councils before May 29.

    “This is part of his renewed hope agenda to ensure that people in rural communities were not left out in the development efforts of the current administration,” he said.

    Wike commended the visitors for working as a team irrespective of political party differences to work for the development of the FCT.

    He promised to routinely consult them to tribute their quota in developing the city, adding that the FCT Administration would work with everybody that has something to offer.

    The minister explained that the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for FCT was part of the renewed hope agenda by removing every bottle next to carrier progression.

    He added that FCT was equally pulled out of Treasury Single Account (TSA) to encourage development in the capital city.

    “The goal is to rebuild the lost hope among residents of the FCT,” Wike said.

    Earlier, Aduda explained that the visit was to congratulate Wike on his appointment as Minister of the FCT and commend him for the good work he was doing.

    He added that the visit was also to thank Tinubu for appointing a son of the soil as a Minister and pledged their full support to the development of the FCT for the interest of all.

    “We are also here to commend you for the bold step in establishing the Civil Service Commission for FCT, removing FCT from TSA and establishment of. Women Affairs Secretariat to address women’s concerns,” Aduda said.