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Tag: FCT

  • Report any scavenger operating in FCT – Police

    Report any scavenger operating in FCT – Police

    The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has asked residents of the territory to report any scavenger operating within the city to the police for prosecution.

    The FCT Commissioner of Police (CP), Olatunji Disu, made the call in Abuja on Friday, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the FCT Security Committee meeting, chaired by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

    NAN recall that the committee had on Jan. 13 announced the ban on the activities of scavengers in the territory.

    The scavengers were allowed to operate only on dumpsites located in the outskirts of the city and the suburbs.

    The committee also announced a two-week suspension of operation of all ‘pantaker’ markets, selling fairly used items, furniture and other households’ items in the territory.

    The move, according to the committee, was to profile them to ensure that only legitimate pantaker operators are allowed across the FCT, as part of efforts to curb the menace of vandalism in the territory.

    Disu said that the ban on the operation of scavengers within the city and satellite towns was still in place.

    He also said that the profiling of pantaker market operators was ongoing, adding that the FCT Administration was almost through with their documentation.

    “Very soon the FCTA departments and agencies would conclude with the documentation of eligible operators, and we would take over from there,” he said.

    The commissioner disclosed that the Police, the military, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, have embarked on clearance operations having noticed that bandits were moving towards the FCT.

    He said that the operations, currently ongoing along the borders in all states bordering the FCT, have contributed significantly to the improved security situation in the territory.

    “The minister was briefed on the clearance operations ongoing in all states bordering the FCT.

    “These clearance operations have been very successful and contributing to the peace you have been noticing for the past one or two weeks,” he said.

    Disu added that the security committee has decided to involve security operatives in other states bordering the FCT in joint meetings, collaborations and operations.

    The step, he said, would enable the security agencies to jointly have an outlook on how to police their various states.

    “We don’t want a situation where a particular state is doing a clearance operation and the insurgents will be moving to other states where such operation is not taking place,” he said.

    Speaking on incidences of arrest of suspected criminals and their release by the courts the following day, the commissioner said that a meeting would be held with the ministry of justice to address the problem.

  • AEPB engages 40 contractors to keep Abuja clean

    AEPB engages 40 contractors to keep Abuja clean

    The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has engaged 40 contractors to keep the Federal Capital City clean.

    The Director of the Board, Mr Osilama Braimah, disclosed this in an interview in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Braimah said that the board was up to date in its payment obligation to the contractors, saying “we have paid them 100 per cent and no contractor is being owed.”

    He explained that the Board was responsible for handling waste management and city sanitation in Maitama, Asokoro, Garki, Guzape, Katampe, Wuse, Mabushi, Wuye and other districts within the city centre.

    Other areas, he said, include Airport Road, all the way to Bill Clinton, airport vicinity, and Central Business District and Goodluck Jonathan Expressway, all the way to Karu axis.

    “We are also clearing the city of beggars and maintaining pedestrian bridges to prevent people from using them as markets.

    “We are also responsible for maintaining the sewage system in the city and the sewage treatment plants in Wupa, Guzape, Katampe, and Apo, including the Sewage Pump Station in the city.

    “In a nutshell, the AEPB is responsible for the enforcement of all environmental legislations and abatement of all forms of environmental degradation and nuisance.

    “The Board also regulates the impact of physical development on the ecosystem,” he added.

    Braimah said that each of the 40 contractors was assigned a specific area of coverage to evacuate waste and keep the area clean.

    He, however, said that the Board sometimes intervenes when the contractors could not cope with the huge volume of refuse being generated daily within the city.

    “We have our own team to step in and provide support whenever the contractors fail in their task of evacuating refuse.

    “So, our job is to supervise but once we give you a job and you don’t perform, we intervene, and when we want to pay, we subtract for the intervention.

    “If every day’s work is N200,000 for example, we multiply by the number of days we intervened and subtract from the contractor’s payment,” he said.

    The director said that contractors have been fulfilling their obligations by keeping Abuja city clean through routine evacuation of refuse dump every two weeks.

    He, however, noted the visible pile of refuse dumps in some parts of satellite towns and area councils, stressing that those areas were not under the jurisdiction of AEPB.

    He particularly explained that except for Abuja Municipal Area Council, which AEPB was responsible for, the remaining five councils were not under its purview.

    Speaking on noise pollution, Braimah said that the AEPB intervenes on noise pollution emanating from nightclubs, houses and other public places.

    He, however, said that the Board does not have jurisdiction over moving vehicles or motorcycles.

    “If it is night clubs, noise from grinding machines in peoples’ houses and other public buildings, we go there with our noise metre and measure the noise to determine the pollution level.”

  • FCT doctors suspend warning strike

    FCT doctors suspend warning strike

    The Association of Resident Doctors in the Federal Capital Territory (ARD-FCT) has suspended its three-day warning strike after the intervention of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesome Wike.

    The President of the Association, Dr. George Ebong, in a statement on Friday night said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) under the minister had met their demands.

    NAN recalled that ARD-FCT had on Wednesday, Jan. 22, commenced a three-day warning strike to press home some demands from the FCTA.

    The strike grounded most the government hospitals in the FCT, as the doctors claimed that some of them employed in 2023 were yet to received some arrears, allowances, and other benefits.

    The doctors also listed the deplorable conditions of some the hospitals in the FCT, manpower shortage among other demands.

    However, Ebong in the statement revealed that its members have started receiving the alerts of unpaid six-month salary arrears.

    The ARD-FCT President said that the Minister had approved, as well as ordered immediate payment of the accoutrement allowance owed members.

    He said that the Minister had also given approval for medical residency bonding training to 2 years; approval of immediate employment of doctors and allied health workers.

    Ebong said that the Minister had also given approval for payment of locum doctors and other health workers that were being owed, noting that “with the intervention of the Minister, doctors are expected to resume work with immediate effect.”

    He added that the intervention had also put an end to the impending indefinite shutdown of hospitals in Abuja, while urging the Minister to brace-up and meet other demands to avert future strike action.

    “On behalf of the executive members and the entire supreme congress of ARD-FCTA, I, Dr. George Ebong, deeply appreciate the Minister for his prompt and timely intervention in meeting our demands, thereby ending our warning strike.

    “We also humbly plead with the Minister to put a mechanism in place to avoid a repeat of this anomaly. We are hopeful that other demands will be attended to in due time,” Ebong said.

    The ARD-FCTA President expressed the association’s believes in the capacity of the Minister to turn the FCT health sector around as a stakeholder in the renew hope agenda.

    Ebong also used the opportunity to invite the Minister to all the district hospitals in the FCT, while assuring him of doctors continued support in the realisation of the administration’s renew hope agenda.

  • Resident doctors lament poor conditions in FCT hospitals

    Resident doctors lament poor conditions in FCT hospitals

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has expressed concern over the poor working conditions and dilapidated infrastructure in hospitals across the nation’s capital.

    Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, the association’s president, Dr George Ebong, announced the commencement of a three-day warning strike.

    He described Wuse General Hospital as ‘an abandoned facility’, calling it a symbol of the neglect affecting healthcare facilities in the FCT.

    Ebong explained that the strike followed the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum, as well as an additional two-week extension granted to the FCTA management to address the association’s demands.

    “The emergency general congress of ARD-FCTA convened on Tuesday, January 21, to discuss the various resolutions contained in the 21-day ultimatum paper.

    “The congress deemed it fit to commence a warning strike after the refusal of the FCTA management to respond to the association’s demands”.

    He expressed the association’s displeasure over several unresolved issues, including the non-payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months for members employed in 2023.

    “The congress noted with dismay the non-payment of salary arrears ranging from one to six months owed to members employed in 2023.

    “Despite extensive engagements with management on the issue, it had failed to listen, and the issue had brought untold hardship to members of the association, and this had continued”.

    He further stated that the congress was dissatisfied with the non-payment of the 25 per cent upward review of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) arrears from July 2023 to April 2024 for members employed in 2023.

    This benefit, he added, had already been implemented for other healthcare workers.

    According to Ebong, the congress also noted the delay in disbursing the 2024 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF).

    “The congress is astonished that in spite of various assurances by the management, the Medical Residency Training Fund of 2024 has still remained unpaid, even with assurance from management that approval has been given to 52 resident doctors out of the 75 eligible ones,” he said.

    The association lamented that this delay had caused severe distress among members, many of whom had taken loans to pay for exams, update courses, and other expenses.

    Other grievances raised by the congress included the non-payment of the 2024 accoutrement allowance, which was expected to be disbursed in October 2024.

    “The congress also expressed profound dismay at the prolonged bonding period for resident doctors, with our members who were expected to be bonded for six years after residency training”.

    He also noted the lack of progress in implementing the skipping policy for members employed in 2023 and expressed displeasure at the unpaid 13 months of hazard allowance arrears.

    “The congress expressed her displeasure regarding the unpaid 13 months hazard allowance arrears and the lack of any significant progress made in this regard,” he added.

    The association further criticised the delays in advancing members who had passed their part two fellowship exams to consultant cadre, as well as the slow recruitment of healthcare workers into residency programmes.

    As part of its demands, ARD-FCTA called for the immediate payment of salary arrears, CONMESS arrears, the 2024 MRTF, and the accoutrement allowance.

    It also urged the FCTA management to reduce the bonding period for resident doctors to two years, implement the skipping policy, and address the outstanding hazard allowance arrears.

    Ebong urged the management to expedite the employment of healthcare workers and advance post-part two members to the consultant cadre.

    He warned that failure to address these issues would worsen the challenges facing healthcare delivery in the FCT.

  • INEC fixes date for FCT Area Council election

    INEC fixes date for FCT Area Council election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Feb. 21, 2026 for the conduct of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

    The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this during the commission’s first consultative meeting with leaders of political parties on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Yakubu, who recalled that the last FCT area council election was held on Feb. 12, 2022, said that by the effluxion of time, the tenure of the current Chairmen and Councillors ends 2026.

    He said that voting would take place in all the designated Polling Units (PUs) across the 68 constituencies to elect the six Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councilors.

    “In compliance with the mandatory legal requirements, the notice for the election will be published next month i.e. Feb. 26, 2025,” he said.

    Yakubu said that primaries for the election would hold from June 9 to June 30, 2025, while the candidate nomination portal would open from 9am to 6pm from July 21 to Aug. 11.

    “The final list of candidates will be published on Sept. 22, 2025. Campaigns in public by political parties will commence on Sept. 2025 and end at midnight of Thursday Feb. 19, 2026,’’ he said.

    The INEC boss added that the detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the election as well as the list of constituencies and type of elections in the FCT would be uploaded to the INEC website before the end of the meeting.

    He also reminded leaders of political parties that the primaries for the Nov. 8, Anambra governorship election would commence on March 20 to April 10.

    He advised political parties to forward their schedule of activities for the election to the commission before the end of the week.

    This, according to Yakubu would enable INEC to plan better for the deployment of personnel and resources for the monitoring of party primaries and campaign activities.

    Yakubu, who said that 2025 would be a busy year for INEC, noted that the commission would soon come up with plans for other routine activities such as the resumption of nationwide Continuous Voter registration (CVR) and the conduct of outstanding by-elections.

    In his remarks, the National Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Yusuf Dantalle, urged INEC in preparation for Anambra governorship and 2027 general elections to immediately put in place requirements in due time.

    Dantalle also urged INEC to also activate its Election Project Plan (EPP), Strategic Programme of Action (SPA), the 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan and Strategic Plan Implementation Programme (SPIP) in preparation for Anambra governorship and the 2027 general elections.

    He said these were important to conduct credible elections, improve on previous performance and to meet the expectation of Nigerians.

    Dantalle also urged stakeholders to support INEC in discharging its statutory duties essential in consolidating and strengthening Nigeria constitutional governance.

    He said that stakeholders must continue to work together in ensuring electoral integrity, the sanctity of the ballot box and the mandate of the people.

    “Similarly, the council urged the National Assembly to expedite action in the on-going Constitution and Electoral Act Amendments, as time is of the essence; as well as ensure diligent and speedy consideration and passage of the 2025 appropriation bill.

    “We also urge citizens to be alive to their civic responsibilities and ensure that those they voted into office should give genuine account of their stewardship.

    “Their performance will determine their fate in future elections,” Dantalle said.

  • Wike directs security agencies to go after criminals in abandoned buildings

    Wike directs security agencies to go after criminals in abandoned buildings

    Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike has directed the establishment of a Special Task Force to dislodge criminal elements hiding in uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land and buildings across the territory.

    Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Department of Security Services, FCT Administration, disclosed this in an interview with NAN in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Gwary explained that the measure was to curb the menace of miscreants, vandalising government’s assets and infrastructure.

    He said that the FCT Security Committee had identified uncompleted structures, abandoned plots of land and buildings as some of the hibernating points for miscreants.

    “So, the Commissioner of Police in FCT has been mandated to work with his colleagues to form a task team to that effect.

    “They have made a submission on Tuesday to the Minister on financing the exercise, which will not only cover pantaker markets, but locations where scavengers are hibernating.

    “These included uncompleted and abandoned structures and any other location that intelligence revealed as a hibernating point for miscreants,” he said.

    The director said that in the next two to three weeks, there would be strategic efforts to clear all criminal hideouts in FCT and other locations used to unleash their mayhem.

    According to him, all uncompleted buildings, abandoned plots of land and structures would be identified and cleared.

    “This measure will ensure that criminal elements do not have a hiding place where they can organise to unleash their mayhem on our infrastructure or attack and rub residents.”

    Speaking on undeveloped lands, Gwary said that the FCTA Land Department was currently conducting a census of all undeveloped lands in the FCT as directed by the Minister.

    He recalled that Wike had directed owners of undeveloped plots of lands to develop their lands or the allocation would be revoked.

    He said that the measure, if implemented, would significantly address security concerns relating to undeveloped plots of land, growing bushes and serving as hideouts for criminals.

    “So, the lands and other related departments are working assiduously on undeveloped plots of land that are causing security problems for us,” he said.

    The director also revealed that the FCT Minister has directed the acting Executive Secretary Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), to take over all under bridges in the FCT.

    “The Minister had directed the acting FCDA boss to make a submission on what it will take to secure all under bridges in the territory.

    “The idea is to deny miscreants access to such locations, where they used as their hideouts,” he said.

    Meanwhile the Police Command in FCT said it had commenced daily raids of identified criminal black spots in Abuja.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, said in a statement that the effort was to combat criminal activities and protect public and private infrastructure in the territory.

  • Just in: Heavy fire engulfs FCT popular hotel

    Just in: Heavy fire engulfs FCT popular hotel

    A popular hotel in the Garki area of Abuja, Focus Holiday Inn, has been engulfed by fire.

    Eyewitnesses said the fire, which began around 3 am, started from a section of the building before engulfing the three-storey structure

    It was gathered that officials of the hotel were alerted when a guest ran down to the reception unclad to notify workers about the fire.

    The fire, which started from a section of the three-storey building, extended to other parts of the complex, causing panic among guests and staff members.

    At the time of this report, fire service officials had arrived and were trying to put out the fire.

    Founded in 2022, Focus Holiday Inn describes itself as an upscale and luxurious home away from home in Abuja, Nigeria’s federal capital.

    The cause of the fire is unclear and no casualty has so far been reported.

  • FCT-IRS announces deadline for tax returns

    FCT-IRS announces deadline for tax returns

    The Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) has urged private companies, government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and other employers of labour in the territory to file their employee annual tax returns for 2024.

    The acting Executive Chairman, Mr Michael Ango, who made the call in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said that the employers have up to Jan. 31 to comply.

    In the statement, signed by the service’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Mustapha Sumaila, the FCT-IRS boss said that the returns should be filed using the prescribed forms provided by the service.

    This, he said, was in compliance with Section 81 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2011 (as amended) and the Pay As You Earn  (PAYE) Regulations.

    He explained that the PITA Act mandates all employers of labour in the FCT to file annual returns of all emoluments paid to their employees and the total taxes of the preceding year, not later than Jan. 31 of every year.

    Ango had during the 2025  stakeholder’s engagement, emphasised that filing of employee annual returns by all employees was mandatory as provided by law.

    He added that failure to file the returns would attract penalties and other sanctions, which the FCT-IRS would not hesitate to impose on any defaulters.

    According to him, the best form of compliance is voluntary, which the FCT-IRS expects from all taxpayers in the FCT.

    “I, therefore, enjoined all private organisations, MDAs, government owned enterprises, including sole proprietorships who are employers of labour in the FCT to comply with their tax obligations to avoid sanctions.

    “More importantly, the support will contribute to the development of the FCT and the efforts of the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, to transform the territory into a modern city,” he said.

  • FCT Minister of State releases update on Abuja school bombing

    FCT Minister of State releases update on Abuja school bombing

    FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has reiterated the Administration’s commitment to improve security in the Bwari Area Council of the FCT, urging residents to remain vigilant.

    She made this statement during a visit to the scene of a recent IED bomb explosion at Tsangayar Sani Uthman Islamiyya School in Kuchibuyi, Bwari, Abuja.

    The minister assured residents to stay calm and continue their daily activities, stressing the importance of vigilance in assisting security operatives to tackle insecurity in the area.

    “We must commend the security operatives for their prompt action at the scene of the unfortunate incident. The victims were immediately transported to the hospital for proper medical attention.

    “I want to reiterate the commitment of the FCTA, under the leadership of Mr Nyesom Wike, to continue doing the needful, including tightening security in the territory and its environs.

    “You can all remain calm and continue your normal activities and business because this case has already been taken over by the security agencies. An investigation is ongoing, and the outcome will be made public.”

    She emphasised the importance of collecting and registering details about private and public schools in communities for better tracking of students and security.

    She tasked both traditional and religious leaders, as well as individuals, to provide any information that could help prevent the recurrence of such security challenges.

    “We need your assistance. You must give us new information, including data on the various private and government schools in communities like this, whose attendees must also be officially registered.”

    She also encouraged all residents to get to know their neighbours and report any suspicious behaviour, movements, or interactions, especially from visitors in the communities.

    In his remarks, the chairman of Bwari Area Council, Mr John Gabaya, expressed concern that the school was not officially registered with the council, which was discovered during investigations.

    He assured that collaborative efforts would be made to prevent such incidents from recurring and to implement proactive security measures.

    CSP Michael Ada, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Byazhin Police Station, explained that the explosion occurred when three men, suspected to be visitors, attempted to buy ‘awara’ soybean cake from a young girl.

    “As one of the men tried to open a container, smoke emitted, followed by an explosion.

    “Two of the suspects died instantly, while the surviving suspect, along with the girl and another person, were taken to the hospital for treatment.

    ”Investigations are ongoing, and the school’s principal and students have been relocated for safety.

    One resident, Mr Adamu Shehu, shared that the school primarily served young boys aged 8 to 13 years, who were taught Islamic studies and lived at the school.

    He expressed concerns over rising security issues in the community, including kidnappings, and urged the government to take proactive measures to ensure the safety of residents.

    Shehu also called for the extension of road construction and rehabilitation projects to communities like Kuchibuyi to promote broader development.

    The family of the female victim is currently caring for her at the hospital.

  • Abuja: Wike vows to deal with manhole covers vandals

    Abuja: Wike vows to deal with manhole covers vandals

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has vowed that the 50 individuals detained for vandalising manhole covers on Abuja’s roads would face prosecution.

    On Monday, the Nigerian Police Command in the FCT announced the detention of 50 suspected vandals, who were caught with 25 manhole covers and solar streetlights.

    Reacting to the development, Wike said that the detained suspects would face the full wrath of the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

    In a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, the minister emphasised that no criminal would be spared.

    He assured that the FCT Administration would ensure that all buyers and users of the stolen manhole covers and other public infrastructure would be apprehended.

    The culprits, he said, would be prosecuted for economic sabotage and for endangering the lives of Nigerians.

    Wike described the detention of the 50 suspected vandals as a demonstration of the FCTA’s zero-tolerance policy toward criminal activities, particularly the vandalisation of public amenities.

    He commended security agencies for their prompt and decisive actions, calling their collaborative efforts “fantastic.”

    “This is an assurance to the residents of the FCT that their lives and property are secure,” he stated.

    The minister also lauded Nigerians for showing patriotism by speaking out against vandalism, emphasising that the protection of public amenities was a collective responsibility.

    He urged residents of the FCT to continue using social media positively, as demonstrated by one individual who alerted authorities about the stolen manhole covers.

    He pledged that the Administration would act swiftly on similar incidents in the future.

    “Those stealing and buying amenities meant for the use of Nigerians are Nigerians themselves.

    “They live among us, and they are known. It is, therefore, important that patriotic Nigerians begin to expose them before they carry out their criminal acts,” Wike said.

    FCDA replaces vandalised manhole covers

    Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) has started replacing the vandalised manhole covers on Independence Avenue in the Central Business District of Abuja.

    The acting Executive Secretary, Mr Richard Dauda, stated this in Abuja on Monday, when he visited the area to assess the replacement exercise.

    Dauda said that about 13 manhole covers in the middle of the road have been vandalised on the road corridor.

    He added the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, had directed the immediate replacement of the stolen manholes to save lives and property.

    “It’s unfortunate that we are having this kind of situation.

    “It is not the first time. Even along this stretch, it’s not the first time and we keep coming back to replace them. I think it’s more of a security issue to check this kind of vandalism.

    “Going forward, I am sure the FCT Administration will intervene very, very seriously in terms of checking vandalism within the city,” he said.

    He, however, said that the replacement of the stolen manholes would take time, because of the materials used in making them and the time to produce them.

    He assured residents that the FCDA would do all it could to replace the manholes to make the road safe for motorists.

    He said that to address the problem of the incessant stealing of the manholes, the FCT Administration had resorted to using non-melting materials to produce the cover.

    “In fact, some of the ones that were stolen are those materials that have been made from some sort of composite material.

    “When you melt them, nothing much comes out of it, but they just keep stealing them.

    “In some roads, we have even used concrete, and you still see people coming to break them; for what purpose and for what benefit, I don’t know,” Dauda said.