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Tag: FCT

  • N5bn palliative: FCT considering transportation, food – Minister

    N5bn palliative: FCT considering transportation, food – Minister

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCTA is considering transportation and food supplies support with the N5 billion palliative received from the Federal Government.

    Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

    The Federal Government had on Aug. 17 announced a N5 billion palliative for each state of the federation, including the FCT, to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

    Some of the state governments have confirmed receiving N2 billion from the amount, while awaiting the N3 billion balance.

    However, the minister said that the FCT was not included in the N5 billion palliative until he wrote a memo informing President Bola Tinubu of the development.

    He added that Tinubu has approved the amount, adding that other states have received N2 billion already, expressing confidence that the FCT will equally receive soon.

    “But we are yet to decide on what to do with the N2 billion palliative. We have not chosen any area yet.

    “Are we going to concentrate on food, but we are thinking that the issue of transportation is very very important, particularly the urban mass transit.

    “People would like to have easy transportation to go to where they want to go, and if you give them rice and they eat the rice today, what about transportation tomorrow?

    “So, we have not come up with what actually we are going to use the money for, but I believe food support and transportation is very key,” he said.

    The minister added that efforts were ongoing to bring back urban mass transportation to be able to reduce the suffering of the masses in terms of transportation.

     

  • Nyesom Wike: In Abuja, use a machete, not a sword – By Owei Lakemfa

    Nyesom Wike: In Abuja, use a machete, not a sword – By Owei Lakemfa

    MINISTER Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, I join many Nigerians in welcoming you to the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as its minister. You are no stranger to the country’s capital, having been a minister under the Jonathan administration.

    You arrived at the FCT last Monday with a bang, and since then, the mass media have not stopped buzzing, with some predicting that with you as Minister, the FCT will be ‘hot’. Brother Wike, do not be a conventional Nollywood character whose notions and moves are predictable. Don’t be an archetypal Patience Ozokwor in Nollywood or Clint Eastwood in Hollywood. Rather, be a governor in the FCT whose primary duties are the well-being and security of all Nigerians.

    Portfolios were not previously affixed to ministerial nominees, so nobody would accuse you of not having a plan for the FCT. Therefore, what I advise you to do is sit down with your aides and staff to write a programme, and most importantly, get the buy-in of the people.

    A lot of things demand your quick attention. Many schools in the FCT, especially outside the inner city, are in need of rehabilitation with broken walls and fences. Homeless children in their hundreds of thousands roam the streets. Many out-of-school children populate the FCT. Your administration needs a quick programme for these, as it does for the internally displaced peoples, IDPs, camps dotting the FCT. Can some mass shelter suitable for human habitation be arranged for them?

    Talking about shelter, Abuja is perhaps the most expensive city in the country in terms of accommodation. Can mass housing projects like those of Lateef Jakande and Shehu Shagari be executed? Please don’t forget that those leaders built for the lower class, not the upper class. Can every major community in the FCT have access to an affordable primary healthcare centre?

    Before you dismiss my suggestions as wishful because there might be no funds to execute them, learn from Lateef Jakande in Lagos. He had a dream, followed it with a plan, and then sat down with his aides to work out creative ways in which this could be implemented.

    As you might know, the FCT and its satellite towns harbour some of the most reckless drivers in the country, with no care for traffic lights and a strange sense of road ownership. A good electronic traffic system can catch many of these and rake in lots of money for the FCT. This will also eliminate the menace of the vehicle inspection officers who refuse to embrace technology but would prefer in their dozens, to erect roadblocks on the roads.

    Your vow to remove illegal structures is good, but you need the political will to do it. On sidewalks, even in the inner city, lots of illegal structures litter the landscape. It is not uncommon to find homeless people building structures on walkways and street corners and calling them places of worship.

    Government officials and security agencies are seizing parks and green areas and building on them. Minister Nyesom Wike, if you are to be taken seriously, let me throw a public challenge: the Nigeria Police Force has just seized the beautiful Berger Junction/Wuse Zone 6 public park and commenced massive construction. Can you check this rape of the environment by sending the violators packing? The frenzy with which this construction by the Police Property Development and Construction Company has gone on since President Tinubu was sworn in gives the impression that the builders want to present your office with a fait accompli. So, should Nigerians join you in this pointed fight, or are you backing down because the violator is the Nigeria Police?

    About two decades ago, Abuja was like some haven; insecurity was so unknown that people left wares on the road unattended without fear of their being stolen. Today, even human beings are stolen! Abuja has fertile soil, and a lot of farming went on until about a decade ago, when a combination of bandits and unrestrained herders made farming meaningless. While the former freely harvested the crops, sometimes in broad daylight, the latter allowed their cows to freely rummage through people’s farms.

    Talking about cows, you announced that open grazing will no longer be allowed inside Abuja City, which is good news. But you sadly added that “they can be outside the city”. Why should open grazing be bad for Maitama and Asokoro but be good for Bwari and Kubwa? Why would it be bad for the National Assembly but good for the University of Abuja?

    Honourable Minister, can I whisper something into your ears? As governor of Rivers State, a main environmental challenge your administration faced was the black soot that darkened the skies due to the operations of illegal refineries. In Abuja, which as a consumption and national wealth-sharing centre virtually has no factories, the major pollution is noise. Noise is mainly blaring from loudspeakers hoisted by operators of the two main religions as they compete to wake up citizens at 4.00 a.m. There is also the noise, mainly at markets and motor parks, announcing unverified cures and medicines for all ailments, including those yet to surface on earth. Can your administration do something about this?

    You proclaimed your admiration for the work of one of your predecessors in the FCT, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, and wished to walk in his stead. Certainly, his tenure would not be forgotten for his alleged zeal to restore the Abuja Master Plan. But you should learn and modify, not ape his style. El-Rufai took over the FCT Ministry with the mindset of a man going to war.

    He, therefore, wielded a sword, cutting both ways. In the process, he cut both sides—the guilty and the innocent. He was like Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron, who, in a blind war after killing the enemies, also turned on those he was fighting to protect.

    Rather than see the FCT as a war zone in which even the pronouncement of the courts will not matter, regard it as a large farm for which you have been hired as the farm manager. So you do not need a sword to tend it and clear the weeds, which are admittedly growing wild. What you need is a machete, which, even if it is very sharp, would do the work it is intended to do. As you know, we do not harvest cocoa the same cavalier way okra is harvested; don’t treat the populace the same way you would the people of your class, who have a sense of entitlement and impunity. I will also make a prayer for you: that after your tenure, you will not flee the country as Mallam el-Rufai did. Ameen!

  • Wike frowns at congratulatory billboards, advertorials as FCT minister

    Wike frowns at congratulatory billboards, advertorials as FCT minister

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has requested well-wishers to refrain from placing congratulatory billboards in his honour.

    The Director of Press, Office of the Minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, stated this in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    “The attention of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been drawn to lamp post billboards, full scale billboards and other adverts congratulating him on his appointment as minister.

    “While the minister deeply appreciates the warm wishes and support of the citizens, he kindly, but strongly requests that such billboards and advertisements be discontinued forthwith.

    “The minister acknowledges the overwhelming goodwill from the residents of the FCT and beyond and understands the sentiment behind these congratulatory displays and is genuinely touched by the show of support.

    “However, in the spirit of public service and commitment to his responsibilities, the minister wishes to focus his full attention on assisting President Bola Tinubu in realising his vision and renewed hope agenda for Nigeria,” he said.

    Ogunleye said that Wike’s foremost duty lies in contributing to the development and growth of the FCT and the well-being of residents and the nation as a whole.

    He added that the minister held in high regard, the aspirations and expectations of the FCT residents, and he remained dedicated to fulfilling his role with utmost sincerity and dedication.

    According to him, this can be achieved by concentrating all efforts on the task at hand and joining hands with public servants to serve the country to the best of their abilities.

    “Wike sincerely hopes that the public will understand his perspective and continue to extend their support and cooperation.

    “He looks forward to working hand in hand with all stakeholders to build a stronger, more prosperous, and united FCT and Nigeria,” the director said.

  • Wike and the many troubles of FCT’s slums – By Dave Baro-Thomas

    Wike and the many troubles of FCT’s slums – By Dave Baro-Thomas

    By Dave Baro-Thomas

    A recent statistic affirms that 1.05 billion people live in slums, with Eastern Asia, Southern Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa countries accounting for 80%. While 62.1 % is in Sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria is said to have 80 million people living in slums, although that figure is considered a conservative estimate. It is one global phenomenon that demands urgency and deliberate action if the world must achieve SDG goal 11.

    In this light, the recent ministerial appointment of the former governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, as FCT Minister with the many challenges plaguing the capital city, chief of which is the slum menace, underpins the imperatives for a concerted and well-organized approach.

    Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Rivers State political warlord and maestro, fittingly approximates the proverbial cat with nine lives and such inference, remarkably, is by no means a stroke of fate or a fluke, but a reflection of consistent character driven by a commitment to the ideals of equity, truth, justice, loyalty, and trust – imbued with uncompromising deportment alien to his political contemporaries.

    With outstanding performance posted as a second-tenure governor, Mr. Wike set new governance benchmarks, and he redefined the whole concept of project delivery in Nigeria by commissioning projects far into the twilight of his administration -prompting the conferment of a national award on him as Mr Project by President Buhari, an opposition government – quite historic!

    From the political intrigues and underbellies leading to the emergence of the present administration, the nomination of Wike and his emergence as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, is one development hailed by Nigerians – irrespective of religion, age, ethnic or party affinities.

    However, the question on the lips of many is, why FCT Minister and not Works or Power, given the unanimity among Nigerians that he has the guts to bulldoze his way through Mount Gibraltar to deliver the goods? And more so, those sectors are sore points with dire national consequences.

    While breaking the jinx of appointing a Southern as Minister of FCT in 32 years, we must not lose sight of the enormous challenges before the mint Minister and strongman from Ikwerre kingdom.

    No doubt, Mr. Wike’s competence synchronizes with the quest of Mr. President to institute a government of national competence, but tackling the hydra-headed problems in Abuja and its environs, the nation’s first mirror to the world, is no tea party.

    From the five suburban districts – Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya, Jokowi and Karu to the satellite towns: Kuchigworo, Chika, Pyakassa, and Lugbe bordering the Abuja metropolis – there is the unmistakable difference and sharp contrast of beauty and opulence just a few kilometres drive away from the city centre.

    Abuja today is usually locked down by obnoxious traffic gridlock, keeping commuters stranded for hours due to poor planning for a fast-growing city without corresponding infrastructural expansions and lack of foresight in traffic management. The sheer chaos during the early morning hours and closing hour rush questions the continuous lethargies and competence of the city managers. Abuja has become a city that even Sherlock, in The Merchant of Venice, will wrench over the height of profiteering in real estate within the capital city. No honest civil servant can comfortably afford accommodation in the metropolis without a visit by the EFCC.

    Abuja has become one big dark alley with streetlights either not working or abandoned, fanning security breaches and many other challenges shamefacedly dragging the country into disrepute.

    These and a plethora of challenges are the onerous tasks coupled with the demands of SDG goal 11- that the new Minister has on his plate.

    The suburbs confront you with the stench of filth, the near total absence of infrastructural amenities, poor health and sanitary facilities, unplanned and uncoordinated street outlays and housing projects, no good roads in most communities, no potable water, irregular power supply, and lots more. – leaving people impoverished with no access to opportunities that will improve their fortunes, thus making a government for themselves.

    Before the Honourable Minister embarks on his threat to demolish and bulldoze illegal properties and probably shanty settlements along the airport road corridor and others, there must be some serious house cleaning across the agencies and instrumentalities of the FCT administration because the stench of rots oozes out from those quarters. Otherwise, how come we have slums housing hundreds of thousands of people without active connivance and complicity between landowners and officials of the FCT?

    Are residents of these slums war refugees that happened on the land/environs suddenly? We ask the right questions, and the culprits should get the necessary sanctions less, justice will not reign, and this problem will linger for a long time.

    Again, there are speculations or probably beer parlour gist that the Honourable Minister will demolish the PDP uncompleted Secretariat and go for properties belonging to some PDP stalwarts and perceived enemies erected on plots distorting the Abuja masterplan. These are laughable contemplations we hope

    So, Mr Project has his job cut for him. While fixing the ills of the metropolis, the ovation will be loudest far into the annals of history as one of the most successful FCT ministers if he brings his magic wand to bear over the slums around the FCT. This higher calling requires no haste or rash interventions but tactical and strategic engagements and developmental models.

    Mr. Minister should move into the slums not with the aggression of absurd generalization that characterized some past ministers but with the capacity and competence he stamped Rivers State on the national map. These slums are not cases for half-hazard contemplation but require in-depth reformation, regeneration, and the engagement of compelling urban renewal templates for sustainable growth.

    With the transformative zest and passion displayed in Rivers State, Mr. Minister should create access to these towns through a solid road infrastructure that he is reputed, arrest the drainage problems, build low-cost housing estates, and ease the heavy burden of accommodation while redesigning the transportation system through incentivized private sector model-driven framework, and even daring to expand the city rail system enshrined in the masterplan, e.t.c. Thus, restoration of the Abuja masterplan should be total but approached with a human face.

    We cannot continue with the socio-economic burdens, pressure and the cost these slums put on the resources and development of the country, and with the limited executive powers at his disposal, we hope the Honourable Minister will not be swimming against the tide.

  • Fact Check: Did President Tinubu threaten anarchy if election results were upturned?

    Fact Check: Did President Tinubu threaten anarchy if election results were upturned?

    It has been claimed that President Bola Tinubu threatened there would be anarchy if election results were upturned.

    According to our investigation, the claim originated from the lawyers representing President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima during the Presidential Election Petition Court proceedings.

    The lawyers, led by Wole Olanipekun, made final arguments defending the validity of President Tinubu’s election.

    Background:

    The case at the tribunal stems from the presidential election held in Nigeria on February 25. President Bola Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, the presidential candidates of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, along with their parties, are challenging the validity of Tinubu’s election.

    They alleged that INEC did not comply substantially with the guidelines and regulations for the conduct of the 2023 general elections and relevant electoral laws and sought the nullification of Tinubu’s election on these grounds.

    The petitioners also raised concerns about Tinubu’s qualification, alleging a United States District Court judgment ordering his forfeiture of funds suspected to be proceeds of drug trafficking and argued that Tinubu did not score the required 25 per cent of the lawful votes in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    The five-member panel had on July 5, given the respondents in the two separate petitions 10 days to file their written address, while the petitioners were given seven days to reply.

    Tinubu’s lawyers led by Olanipekun, asked the tribunal to consider the FCT as the 37th state, implying that Tinubu had met the requirement of scoring 25 per cent of lawful votes cast in the FCT.

    The lawyers further stated that any alternative interpretation of the constitutional provision would lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy, and alteration of the legislature’s intention.

    “May we draw the attention of the court to the fact that there is no punctuation (comma) in the entire section 134(2)(b) of the constitution, particularly, immediately after the ‘States’ and the succeeding ‘and’ connecting the Federal Capital Territory with the States. In essence, the reading of the subsection has to be conjunctive and not disjunctive, as the Constitution clearly makes it so. Pressed further, by this constitutional imperative, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, is taken ‘as if’ it is the 37th State, under and by virtue of section 299 of the Constitution.

    “With much respect, any other interpretation different from this will lead to absurdity, chaos, anarchy and alteration of the very intention of the legislature,” Olanipekun said.

    However, while the lawyers emphasized the potential consequences of an alternative interpretation, TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) notes their statements were made within the legal context of the court proceedings and there is no direct statement or threat made by President Tinubu himself regarding the possibility of anarchy if election results were upturned.

    Verdict:

    The claim suggesting that President Tinubu threatened anarchy is misleading.

     

     

     

     

  • JSS Galadimawa holds graduation ceremony, students cautioned against social vices

    JSS Galadimawa holds graduation ceremony, students cautioned against social vices

    Some students who graduated from Junior Secondary School (JSS) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on Thursday have been advised to shun actions that can stray them from accepted moral norms.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mr John Bango gave the advice at the Graduation/Prize-Giving Day for the 2022/2023 Session of JSS Galadimawa, held on Thursday 6th July 2023 in Abuja.

    Mr Bango, who is the Chairman of the ceremony, told the graduating students that the journey to achieving their dreams just began and that they must run away from drunkenness and cultism if they do not want their budding future to be thwarted.

    “I know how happy you are today but then you should know that the process of education is the same as the process of building a house.

    “For you graduating today from JSS, you are still in the process. You are still in the foundation stage. You cannot dig a foundation and take your mattress to sleep there.

    “In today’s Nigeria, you must buckle up. It is after you have finished Senior Secondary School (SSS) that you can say you have completed the foundation. So, your journey has just begun; the journey for you to achieve your dreams.

    “Don’t indulge yourself in drugs. I am advising you to run away from such social vices, including drunkenness and cultism. Those things are destiny killers. Work hard and be prayerful.

    “When you find yourself in a tertiary institution, no teacher or lecturer will control you again. That is why it is called a free world. If you think because it is now a free world, you now want to join bad gangs, don’t follow them,” Mr Bango admonished the students.

    In the same vein, the Principal of JSS Galadimawa, Mrs Augustina Maduabuchi advised the graduating students to imbibe and sustain the culture of hard work.

    While stressing that graduating from JSS is a milestone for the students, Mrs Maduabuchi, however, noted that it is the beginning of the journey to the next phase of their education.

    Maduabuchi in her speech, expressed appreciation to the FCT-UBEB, the School PTA, the School-Based Management Committee (SBMC), the Community Chiefs and the District Head of Galadimawa for their guidance and unwavering moral and financial support.

    “To my esteemed graduating students, congratulations on completing your Junior Secondary School Education. You are the reason why we gather here today with immense joy and pride. You should be proud of your accomplishments and the hard work you have put in to reach this point.

    “However, you must note that this is the beginning of your journey to the next phase of your education. As you move on, there will be challenges along the way, but remember that you are equipped with the skills and knowledge to succeed.

    “The culture of hard work must be sustained. Think and plan ahead. Explore new opportunities. Pursue your passion and never stop learning. This is because education is not just about acquiring knowledge, but it is also about personal growth, self-discovery and making impact in the world.

    “Again, be cautious of the company you keep. Choose your friends wisely and the fewer, the better. Avoid bad gangs. While you await entrance into Senior Secondary School, try to learn a newskill. As I told your immediate predecessors, be good ambassadors of your school, your Alma mata, Junior Secondary School Galadimawa.

    “Let your life reflect your school motto and your daily assembly song in which you promised to maintain the diligence and high standard, and validate the hard work of your principal, Vice Principals and the teachers. Cherish the friendships forged, the memories created and the challenges you have overcome.

    “Finally, put God at the centre of your lives. Pray morning and night and commit all your life endeavours to Him. As you step into the next phase of your journey, know that the entire school community stands beside you supporting you, every step of the way.

    “Congratulations once again and good luck on your journey ahead. We love you all,” the Principal said in her speech.

    TNG reports highlights of the ceremony are the presentation of certificates to graduands, cultural display by different cultural groups and presentation of prizes and gifts to outstanding students.

  • Just In: Ex-Minister of FCT, Ajose-Adeogun is dead

    Just In: Ex-Minister of FCT, Ajose-Adeogun is dead

    The first Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Chief Mobolaji Ajose-Adeogun, has passed on. He was aged 96.

    A member of the Ajose-Adeogun family, Oluremi Ajose-Adeogun, said
    Chief Ajose-Adeogun died on Saturday, July 1, 2023.

    An accomplished oil and gas professional, the deceased had an unforgettable impact in the real estate sector in Nigeria, being the brains and hands behind the original Master plan of the FCT, where he was the first minister.

    Ajose-Adeogun had a distinguished career at Shell Petroleum Development Company and went on to become the Federal Commissioner for Cooperatives and Supply (August 1975) and, thereafter, the Commissioner for Special Duties at the Federal Capital Development Authority upon retirement.

    Later in 1976, when the Federal Capital Territory was formed, Chief Ajose-Adeogun became the first Minister of the FCT.

    He is survived by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

    Leadership

  • Diphtheria claims one as FCTA confirms outbreak of disease

    Diphtheria claims one as FCTA confirms outbreak of disease

    The FCT Administration has confirmed the outbreak of the deadly diphtheria disease in the territory after it claimed the life of a four year old boy out of eight reported cases.

    The Director, FCT Public Health department, Sadiq Abdulrahman, who announced this on Monday at a press briefing, said information available to it confirmed that the disease was imported from neighbouring Niger state.

    He disclosed that two weeks ago, the department was alerted of a possible outbreak of the disease in Dei-Dei,with eight suspected cases reported.

    Abdulrahman added that the department immediately swung into action by activating its emergency response through which it collected samples for test at the National Reference Laboratory in Gaduwa as well as the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, noting that the outcome of the result which came last Friday, indicated that one came out positive out of the eight.

    The Direcror explained that the Department is collaborating with neighbouring states to checkmate further spread of the disease from contagious states through border surveillance as he advised residents to take their personal hygiene seriously.

    For his part, the Executive Secretary, Primary Health Care Board, Isa Vatsa said diphtheria is caused by bacteria which signs includes fever, running nose, difficulty in breathing and can be transmitted through sneezing, droplets, coughing and contact with contaminated.

    Vatsa advised residents to visits the over 400 vaccines outlets across the territory to get vaccinated against the disease.

     

    According to him:” The symptoms of the disease include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, red eyes, neck swelling, and difficulty breathing. Diphtheria spreads easily between people through direct contact with infected people, droplets from coughing or sneezing and contact with contaminated clothing and objects, thereby underscoring the importance of hygiene and environmental sanitation in the prevention.

    “To reduce the risk of contracting the disease, FCT residents are hereby advised to ensure that their children are fully vaccinated with three (3) doses of the pentavalent vaccine as recommended in the National childhood immunisation schedule.

    “The FCTA through the Primary Health Care Board has concluded plans to revaccinate all children 14yrs and below in the affected community with the appropriate vaccines, irrespective of their previous vaccination status. (6wks – <4yrs will receive Penta Vaccine, while 4yrs – 14yrs will receive Td vaccine) There will be RI intensification exercise across the 6 Area Councils with increased access to the Routine Immunization services beyond the over 400 Health Care Facilities offering immunization in the FCT with the regular conduct of outreach services, taking the vaccines to where people live and work

  • INEC tenders Tinubu’s biodata form, BVAS report for 36 states, FCT

    INEC tenders Tinubu’s biodata form, BVAS report for 36 states, FCT

    The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Yakubu Mahmood has tendered documents before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) in respect of the petition of Alhaji Abubakar Atiku and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    The documents were tendered on Thursday through Mrs. Morenikeji Tairu, Deputy Director, Certification and Complaints, Legal Drafting and Clearance Department of the commission.

    They include Form EC9  of President Bola Tinubu, who is the second respondent in the petition.

    The Form EC9 is an affidavit in support of particulars of persons seeking election to the office of president and vice-president.

    The court had issued a subpoena on Mahmood in respect of certain documents relating to the conduct of the Feb. 25 presidential election following an application by Atiku.

    Counsel to the petitioners, Mr. Chris Uche, SAN, said that the petitioners in the application of May 26, listed 11 items for Mahmood to bring before the court.

    Mrs. Tairu, however, told the court that only four items requested by the petitioners were available.

    She said that the items available were Form EC8D series (results from states); EC8DA (final declaration of results); Certified True Copies (CTCs) of Rivers Bi-modal Verification Accreditation System (BVAS) report.

    Others were the BVAS report from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the Form EC9 of Tinubu (personal information supplied by Tinubu to INEC in aid of his qualification for the presidential election).

    INEC’s lawyer, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, counsel to Tinubu, Mr Wole Olanipekin, SAN and that of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) all objected to the admissibility of the documents in evidence.

    Uche, while responding to INEC’s position that the certified documents had not been paid for, reiterated that his clients had  so far paid the sum of N6.7 million to INEC for certification.

    He added that the documents brought before the court were court subpoenaed documents.

    Atiku and the PDP are before the PEPC challenging the process and the outcome of the Feb. 25 presidential election which produced Tinubu as president.

    They are also contending that the election was conducted in violation of the electoral laws.

    The petitioners are also insisting that President Tinubu was not qualified to contest the poll on the grounds of alleged double nomination and  dual citizenship.

  • NIMASA to continue operation from a permanent office in Abuja

    NIMASA to continue operation from a permanent office in Abuja

    The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) will start operating from its permanent office first time since it began operation in the FCT 30 years ago.

    Muazu Sambo, the Minister of Transportation, made this known at the commissioning of the building on Tuesday, he said that the staffers have to double their productivity as a response to the newly commissioned regional office in Abuja.

    The new office, located in the Central Business District of Abuja, was opened by the Minister alongside the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr Bashir Jamoh.

    According to Sambo, NIMASA has operated from a rented office ever since, adding that with an improved work environment, the staff should justify the investment by scaling up production.

    Sambo added “Abuja Zonal Office serves as the nexus point between the NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Transportation, the National Assembly, and all other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as critical stakeholders like the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, amongst others.

    He said, “The Abuja Zonal Office further oversees the operations of the NIMASA’s Lokoja Safety Base, thereby playing a pivotal role in delivering the Agency’s regulatory responsibilities on safety matters in our inland waterways.

    “The Abuja Zonal Office further oversees the operations of the NIMASA’s Lokoja Safety Base, thereby playing a pivotal role in delivering the Agency’s regulatory responsibilities on safety matters in our inland waterways.”

    The Director General NIMASA, Dr Bashir Yusuf Jamoh said the facility will reduce the cost of governance as it was no longer convenient for NIMASA to be operating in a rented apartment because of the importance of the regional office.

    He said, “This office was established in 1987 and the Abuja office remains a cardinal office that interfaces with other agencies and we don’t have an office environment, so the essence is to ensure that we maintain sanctity in terms of productivity to boost economic growth and development.”