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Tag: FCT

  • FCT workers celebrate Wike

    FCT workers celebrate Wike

    Civil servants in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), have commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for securing approval for the establishment of the FCT Civil Service Commission.

    Recall Wike had, on Friday, announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of a Civil Service Commission for the FCT.

    The elated workers in their numbers gathered in front of the minister’s office on Monday, praising Wike and President Tinubu for taking the bold step to implement the FCT Civil Service (Establishment), 2018.

    President of the Joint Unions Action Committee, JUAC, the umbrella body of FCTA and Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr Korede Matilukoro, said that the action had put smiles on the faces of the workers of the FCTA.

    Matilukoro, who reflected on the protracted struggle for the FCT Civil Service Commission for the past 20 years, said that the collective efforts and prayers of the staff had finally yielded results.

    He regretted that workers of the FCTA had stagnated, not because they were incompetent or failed the prerequisite examination, but because of legal and administrative constraints.

    This, according to him, made it impossible for Directors to rise to the position of Permanent Secretaries.

    “We just want the Minister to know that we are so excited; we are so happy, and we are saying thank you sir. The approval came to workers as a big surprise.

    “Coming from the weekend, we decided to bring a DJ to stand by and you will see banners all over the place.

    “It is just to surprise you back and to say, “to whom much is given, much is expected,” he said.

    He said that President Tinubu had done a beautiful thing, describing it as a hope renewed, in line with his agenda.

    “He said he has a vision for Nigeria; he said he knows what he wants to do. We believe him now because even without asking, within a twinkle of an eye, he is able to feel our pulse; he is able to deliver on it and put a smile on our faces,” he added.

    While pledging the commitment and support of FCTA workers to the Federal Government, Matilukoro sued for improved performance from the workers.

    Responding, Wike said the operation of the FCT Civil Service Commission would take effect from next week.

    He explained that the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission was a demonstration of the renewed hope agenda of Tinubu in the FCT.

    “I told Mr President; these people have lost hope. Renew their hope. Tell them that everything’s not lost and the only way you can assure them is by making them grow to the apex of their career.

    “That hindrance to the workers’ career development has been removed with this development,” he said.

    Speaking on the withdrawal of the FCTA from the Treasury Single Account, the minister said it would allow the administration to better utilise its Internally Generated Revenue for development.

    He pointed out that all the projects he did in Port Harcourt were possible because he was able to source for funds and use the state’s internal revenue as collateral.

  • FCTA pulls out of Treasury Single Account

    FCTA pulls out of Treasury Single Account

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has been pulled out from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike made the disclosure on Friday, saying President Bola Tinubu gave the approval.

    Wike, who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Abuja, said that the development would take Abuja capital city to where it was supposed to be.

    He lamented that FCT was littered with projects, adding that the projects were being awarded without the requisite financial backing.

    Wike said that part of the problem was the inclusion of FCTA into the TSA, however describing it as a tool that unifies all government accounts in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for effective management of finances and cash position.

    This, according to him, is not necessary for FCT Administration because it is not a revenue collecting agency for the Federal Government.

    “Take for example, so many projects were awarded in 2002, 2007, and 2010 and up to now they have not been completed.

    “You can imagine a project that was awarded in 2010, this is 21 years. Imagine what they will cost now,” Wike said.

    The minister added that the utilisation of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) was another problem, decrying that the FCTA IGR was spending funds as they came.

    This, he said, could not tangibly be of any benefit to the administration.

    “So, I went to Tinubu and said, Mr president, if you want FCT to carry out development projects and infrastructure among others, then they must come out from TSA.

    “What is the essence of TSA; blocking of leakages and the rest, FCTA is not a revenue collection agency for the federal government so what are you blocking?

    “If I need money for projects, I cannot go to the CBN and say give us money, CBN will not give us money.

    “I can go to a commercial bank but how do we pay? I say the best bet is that we must pull out,” Wike said.

    The minister explained that, if FCTA was out of TSA, it could approach a commercial bank, collect loan, and tie it to its IGR.

    He said, “Assuming I want to collect N400 billion from the bank, I can say our IGR is about N20 billion a month, can you take N10 billion every month and in a year, we have paid N120 billion.

    “That is the only way we can survive it and Mr President graciously agreed with us and approved that we should pull out from the treasury single account.”

    Wike assured the residents of  FCT that with this development, myriad of projects would spring up from next year in FCT.

    He thanked Tinubu for his foresight, adding, “with this development, insecurity in the FCT will soon be a thing of the past.”

  • Wike orders demolition of scavengers’ colony in Abuja

    Wike orders demolition of scavengers’ colony in Abuja

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has ordered the demolition of the scavengers’ colony along the road corridor cutting across Mabushi, Jahi, and Kado Districts.

    Wike gave the order in Abuja on Tuesday, when he visited the area, officially known as ‘Road N12’ in Mabushi District of the FCT.

    He described the colony, located behind the Minister’s Quarters in Mabushi District, as a “threat” to the security of the city.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the area had been taken over by scavengers popularly known as ‘Baban Bola’, including mechanics and furniture makers.

    The minister, who was accompanied by a combined team of security personnel and senior officials of FCT Administration, added that efforts would be heightened to rid the city of criminal elements.

    He said that such dens of criminals would not be allowed in the FCT.

    He said that the colony was also encouraged by the thick canopy of cashew trees planted by the indigenous people of the FCT for speculative purposes.

    Wike warned against planting such trees in areas where the government had mapped out for development.

    According to him, the government will not pay compensation for the trees.

    Wike ordered the Development Control Department and the Federal Capital Development Authority to clear the entire area and take a scope of the road for preliminary works.

    “You should not compensate them. This is a hideout of criminals, and the communities should stop planting trees in the area.

    “When they see that the government intends to develop the road, they come and plant crops for the government to pay compensation. We are not going to do any compensation.

    “The Development Control must clear this area, chase out all these criminals.

    “These are the kind of things you see that people commit crimes and then before you know it, they run down here for cover and people will be saying oh, FCT is not safe.

    “It is not a question of giving them notice. There is no notice. You must chase them out now and clear the entire area,” he said.

    The minister assured the residents of FCT that the government would do everything possible to reduce the level of crime.

    Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Coordinator, Federal Capital Territory City Management Task Team, assured the minister that the area would be cleared of all structures and send the criminals packing.

    Galadima, who is also the Director, Department of Development Control, said that the area was proposed for a transit road network that transverses the city across districts.

    He said that scavengers had however turned the area into a colony, harbouring all kinds of criminals.

    “With the security challenges across the country, illegal activities of this nature will not be allowed to continue.

    “That is why we are not giving consideration to compensation; we have to secure the place.

    “After the clearing the area, FCDA will move in immediately, nobody will come in and settle again,” he said.

  • No to security deal with Israel – MURIC tells Wike

    No to security deal with Israel – MURIC tells Wike

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has faulted plans by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr Nyesome Wike, to partner with Israeli security experts on security challenges.

    MURIC stated this in a statement on Thursday, by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola in Abuja.

    “The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesome Wike, yesterday disclosed that he was working on a deal to partner with Israeli security experts for the improvement of security in Abuja.

    “We like to warn that such collaboration with the state of Israel will exacerbate Nigeria’s security problem by escalating it from a local crisis to an international fracas engineered by MOSSAD (Israel’s secret spies) with the likelihood of Nigeria becoming the center of rivalry for global espionage outfits like the American CIA and the Russian SVR and FSB.

    “We believe that Wike is now courting the Israelis because, like most Nigerian Christians, he holds the wrong notion that Israel is a Christian state whereas the reverse is the case. Several instances confirm that the only religion Israel recognises and respects is judaism.

    “Just yesterday, Wednesday, Sept.4 Jews spit on Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem, Christians are under constant attacks in Israel,” he said.

    Akintola added: “To cap the edifice, Israel’s arrogant posture at the United Nations as it shuns the latter’s resolutions is legendary. At least 45 UN resolutions have condemned Israel’s aggression against Palestianians.

    “A terrorist state cannot be the ideal security partner for us in Nigeria. Wike should take the Israelis to Rivers State. Israel constitutes an existential threat to both Muslims and Christians in Nigeria.”

  • Alarm about missing organs of 14 FCT residents false – Police

    Alarm about missing organs of 14 FCT residents false – Police

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday said it has found as untrue the alarm raised by 14 residents of the territory that their organs were missing.

    The Police Commissioner in the FCT, Mr Haruna Garba, said the alarm was found to be untrue after medical examination was conducted on each of those who raised the alarm,

    Garba made this known while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the command’s achievements in the fight against crime.

    He added that the 14 persons involved were currently being prosecuted following the confirmation of their lies.

    “They are being prosecuted for giving false information and inciting public disturbances.

    “The false alarm had also misled the Police in dealing with mob action which were carried out against more than 10 accused persons in the FCT in the past few weeks.”

    Garba said the command was informed of more than 10 cases, mostly around Garshi, Gwagwalada and the Kwali areas of the FCT, adding that some of these escalated into mob action by the youths.

    The police chief, however, said that no life was lost in the reported incidents.

    “The FCT Police Command has recorded over 10 cases of alleged disappearance of male organs across the territory and the escalating incidents of mob action by irate youths.

    “It took the intervention of the Police Command to prevent the loss of lives and property and restore law and order.

    “Fourteen suspects who claimed that their male organs had disappeared were taken to the hospital where the medical doctor confirmed that their organs were intact and active.

    “Consequently, they were charged to court for giving false information and inciting public disturbance,” he said.

    Garba appealed to the residents to warn their wards and children to desist from raising false alarm.

    The police chief also urged them not to resort to jungle justice or mob action as innocent lives may be lost in the process.

    He said that hospitals did not need police reports before attending to patients in emergency situations.

    Garba said this while fielding questions from newsmen on one Miss Greatness Olorunfemi, a victim of “one chance”operators, who was thrown out of a moving vehicle by her suspected attackers in Abuja.

    Olorunfemi, who was brought to the hospital by a good Samaritan, according to an unconfirmed report, was allegedly abandoned by medical personnel at the Maitama District Hospital.

    It was claimed that she was left to die as a result of lack of a police report.

    Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Authority (FCTA)  had refuted the claim, saying the report was not true.

    Reacting to the development in a statement on Monday in Abuja, Buhari Yakasai, Assistant Director, FCTA health services and environment, had said the victim was brought in dead to the hospital.

    The police chief also advised residents to be wary of boarding unpainted taxi to avoid being victims of one chance

    “I wish to advise residents of the FCT to be wary of the kind of vehicles they board. It is advised that they should board only painted taxis from designated motor parks.

    “It is risky to board an unpainted taxi, otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu’, as they may fall victim of these robbers known as ‘One Chance’,” he said.

  • Why you should not board unpainted taxis in Nigeria’s FCT

    Why you should not board unpainted taxis in Nigeria’s FCT

    The FCT Police Command has advised the residents to be wary of boarding unpainted taxis, otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu,’ to avoid becoming victims of armed robbers, also known as ‘One Chance’.

    The Commissioner of Police in the FCT, CP Haruna Garba, gave the warning on Tuesday, in Abuja at a news briefing on the command’s achievements in the fight against crime and criminality.

    “I wish to advise residents of the FCT to be wary of the kind of vehicles they board. It is advised that they should board only painted taxis from designated motor parks.

    “It is risky to board an unpainted taxis otherwise known as ‘kabu-kabu’ as they may fall victims of these robbers known as One Chance,” he said.

    Garba said that police operatives in Abuja, while on crime prevention patrol, rescued one Ebere Alice, who boarded a Golf taxi and was robbed by the driver and the gang members of her belongings before dropping her off.

    He said that the police gave the hoodlums a hot chase, halted the vehicle and arrested three suspects.

    “They include Sylvester Attah, the gang leader, who has been into One Chance robbery for the past three years, Olalekan Salihu, and Gabriel Okwashi.

    “The suspects confessed to the crime and the Golf car with Reg. No TKP 624 AA used in committing the crime was recovered. Suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

    Garba said that police operatives from Mabushi Division, acting on a credible intelligence, also arrested one Samuel Vincent, a member of a robbery gang, who specialises in robbing unsuspecting taxi passengers of their belongings.

    “The suspect was about to be lynched by an angry mob before Police intervention.

    ‘’The suspect, alongside three others currently at large, had picked a woman (name unknown) from Karmo heading to Lugbe, and then diverted the vehicle to Mabushi area and dispossessed the victim of her belongings.

    “The suspect confessed to his involvement in the crime and the car used in perpetrating the crime has been recovered. Suspect is cooperating with the police on how to apprehend the fleeing suspects,” he said.

    The CP also explained that police operatives from Mabushi Division, acting on credible intelligence trailed and arrested four other suspected armed robbers.

    He said that the suspects included Oluwatobi Precious (an ex-convict), Theophilous Elkana, Ibrahim Usman and Umar Ibrahim, an ex-convict.

    “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects robbed motorists of their phones while in traffic jam around Mobil filing station, Mabushi and zoomed off in a getaway golf car.

    “Suspects confessed to the crime, while the said Golf car with Reg. No. DKA 288 RY, grey in colour, an Iphone 14 Pro Max and several ATM cards bearing different names and substances suspected to be cocaine were recovered from them,” Garba said.

    He said that police operatives from Lugbe Division, acting on actionable intelligence, arrested one Emmanuel Abraham also known as ‘Mosquito’, a wanted and notorious armed robber/cultist linked to various cases of armed robbery/culpable homicide and other cult activities within Lugbe and environs.

    “The suspect whose cohorts are presently in prison for robbery of one Mrs Abiodun Okunde, since 29th October, 2020 will equally be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation,” he said.

    Garba aid that the police operatives from Kabusa Division trailed and arrested one Adamu Idris, also known as Idi, a wanted and notorious kingpin responsible for series of kidnapping around Galadimawa/Apo, Lokogoma and Kabusa axis.

    “The suspect, who was sighted at Okada Junction, Kabusa, took to his heels, was given a hot chase and apprehended by police operatives.

    “During interrogation, suspect confessed to being a member of a 5-man gang, whose other members are currently at large,” he said.

    Garba said that the suspect was cooperating with the police to apprehend other gang members and would be charged to court soon.

    In a similar development, on 21/09/2023, one Abubakar Usman of opposite Estate Galadimawa reported at Kabusa Division that two persons later identified as Auwal Wada and Suleiman Hassan of Galadimawa village threatened to kidnap him and his entire family if he failed to offer them N7million ransom.

    “However, an agreement was reached that he would pay N5 million. The police operatives from Kabusa laid a siege at the point of collection in a bush around Shereti village.

    “The two suspects emerged to collect the ransom and were promptly arrested.

    “This has been the modus operandi of the suspects as they have successfully robbed their victims in the past. The suspects will be arraigned in court soon,” he said

    Garba said that the police operatives from Mabushi Division also carried out a raid of criminal hideouts at Gishiri Village and a total of 36 bags of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp were recovered.

    “In the same operation, one Bello Ahmed, AKA Wizzy Bola, a notorious and wanted armed robber terrorizing Gishiri Village and its environs, was arrested,” he said.

    According to Garba, all the suspects will be arraigned in Court upon the conclusion of discreet investigations.

  • FCT ‘one chance’ victim: FCCPC opens investigation over alleged healthcare neglect

    FCT ‘one chance’ victim: FCCPC opens investigation over alleged healthcare neglect

    The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) says it has opened investigation into an alleged healthcare neglect by Maitama District Hospital, Abuja, which led to the death of one Ms Greatness Olorunfemi.

    FCCPC, in a statement by its Executive Vice Chairman, Mr Babatunde Irukera, on Saturday, said the investigation was to find out if  Olorunfemi’s death was on account of failure implicated in the commission’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR).

    Irukera said the investigation was also to know other enforceable legal instruments regarding attention and care to patients generally, especially in emergency situations where victims of criminal conduct required medical attention.

    He said the commission welcomed the statement of the Office of FCT Secretary for Health Services and Environment, announcing a transparent broad investigation including a Coroner’s Inquest into the matter.

    ”FCCPC commiserates with Ms. Greatness Olorunfemi’s family, friends and associates who are affected by this tragic loss.

    ”There are disputed accounts of whether she received appropriate care, or delay pending production of a police report, or was brought in Dead on Arrival (DoA).

    The commission has opened an investigation accordingly.

    ”Particular concern is if Olorunfemi died on account of failures implicated in the commission’s Patients’ Bill of Rights (PBoR) or other enforceable legal instruments regarding attention and care to patients generally.

    ”More specifically, in emergency situations where victims of criminal conduct require attention.

    ”Considering the facility concerned is a government institution and the commission’s determination to progress a limited inquiry into the consumer protection aspects of the events, the commission immediately engaged relevant stakeholders,”he said.

    The executive vice chairman said the commission was looking forward to participating, supporting and collaborating with the FCT administration in the investigation.

    Olorunfemi was reportedly thrown from a moving vehicle along the Maitama-Kubwa highway.

    She was said to be a member of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network.

    Moyosoluwa Oladayo, the YALI Network Abuja coordinator, said the deceased died due to delay by healthcare workers at the Maitama District Hospital.

    “There is a viral video of her when she was thrown out of the vehicle.

    She was unconscious and was reportedly taken to Maitama District Hospital where they kept asking for a Police report till she gave up twenty minutes later,” she said.

  • BREAKING: Wike sacks 21 heads of FCT parastatals, agencies

    BREAKING: Wike sacks 21 heads of FCT parastatals, agencies

    Shake up as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike,  approved the sack of 21 heads of FCT parastatals, agencies and companies.

    The Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, in a statement issued Wednesday said the order relieving them of their appointments is with immediate effect.

    The affect agencies, parastatals and companies are: Group MD/CEO, Abuja Investment Company Ltd, CEO/MD, Abuja Markets Management Ltd, MD/CEO, Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company, CEO/MD, Abuja Property Development Company

    Others are: CEO/MD Abuja Technology Village Free Trade Zone Company, CEO/MD Abuja Film Village International, CEO/MD Powernoth AICL Equipment Leasing Company Ltd, MD Abuja Broadcasting Corporation, MD, Abuja Enterprise Agency, GM, FCT Water Board, DG, FCT Emergency Management Agency.

    Ogunleye stressed that the sack also affected the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Board, Director General, Hospital Management Board, Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Director, FCT Scholarship Board, Director FCT Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board, Director, Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Coordinator, Abuja Infrastructure Investment Center.

    The sack did not leave out Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme, Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development Department and Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council

    Ogunleye added that the affected persons are to hand over the affairs of their offices to the most senior officers in rank.

    He said appointments into the offices would be made in due course.

     

  • NiMet warns of heavy rainfall and flash floods in 25 States and FCT

    NiMet warns of heavy rainfall and flash floods in 25 States and FCT

  • FCT Minister urged to tackle contract fraud, abandoned projects

    FCT Minister urged to tackle contract fraud, abandoned projects

    …as PWD community calls for special consideration

    Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has been urged to implement systems to tackle fraud in contract awards and abandoned projects littered in the territory.

    The community of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the FCT has lamented difficulties in accessing public and private infrastructures and the impact of demolitions on its members.

    Program Manager at Priests Peace and Justice Initiative, Dr Agbaji Orinya, led the call for the former Rivers State Governor to ensure transparency of contract awards and procurement in FCT during an anti-corruption radio programme, PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, produced by the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

    Orinya, who stressed that corruption has continued to bedevil the development of public infrastructure of the FCT, however, identified issues of transparency in contract awards, project execution, poor service delivery by contractors and embezzlement of funds in some instances as the bane of development of the nation’s capital and its environs.

    He called on the FCT Minister to ensure adherence to the procurement process designated by the Law regarding contract variations. At the same time, she urged citizens to ask questions and hold leaders to account.

    On what the FCT Minister must do to combat contracting corruption in FCT, Orinya said: “The Minister (Nyesom Wike) should put a system in place that will make corrupt transactions difficult.
    There should be a portal where people can verify what project is supposed to be in a particular area. There should be a proper evaluation mechanism, which will make them deliver projects.

    “It’s about transparency and accountability. The public should know how much has been approved for a particular project. They (citizens) need to know the nature of each project within their environment so that they can ask questions.

    “We have a procurement process – where you have to identify projects, plan projects, there is a process for approval and funding. Are we following this process in awarding contracts by law,” he questioned.

    On her part, a Human Rights lawyer, Mary Musa, pleaded with Nyesom Wike and the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to consider the plight of PWDs as demolition of buildings is expected to intensify under his watch.

    Musa, who noted that PWDs are impacted heavily by systemic corruption, claimed that the PWD community in the Karonmajigi area of the FCT was not notified before the latest demolition of structures in the area, leaving many of them stranded.

    “If we look at the precedent of the FCT Minister from River state, we know what he did regarding the physical environment. We are very optimistic, but we just want him not to give up, but consider especially persons with disabilities as the demolition is going on and as new structures are coming up in the FCT”.

    She decried the failure of government and private establishments to comply with provisions of the Disability Act of 2019, hence urging the FCTA to make the territory accessible to PWDs.

    “How many bridges in Abuja can you assess if you were in a wheelchair? Truthfully, how many road sidewalks can you assess if you were blind? How many buildings are accessible; even governments, buildings, how many are accessible,” Musa queried.

    FCT residents who phoned into the radio programme lamented the spate of abandoned projects and called for rapid development of the satellite towns, which would, in turn, decongest Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

    Recall Wike had recently condemned the abuse of contract variation in the territory, pointing out that the case of the Ushafa-Bwari Road contract, which was varied from N50 billion to N200 billion, is unacceptable. He also warned contractors handling projects and FCT’s team of engineers against contract variations.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

    End.