TheNewsGuru

Tag: FCTA

  • FCTA appoints acting Head of Service

    FCTA appoints acting Head of Service

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday announced the appointment of Nancy Sabanti Nathan as its Acting Head of Service.

    TheNewsGuru.com(TNG) reports that Nathan’s appointment follows the passing of the former Head of Service, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, last week Monday.

    Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Lere Olayinka made the announcement where he disclosed that Nathan will serve in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Head of Service.

    Until her new role, Nathan was the Permanent Secretary of the Youth Development Secretariat of the FCTA.

    She had earlier served as Director of Finance and Administration in the office of the FCT Minister before her elevation to Permanent Secretary.

    Her appointment, according to the FCTA, takes immediate effect.

  • FCTA withdraws all park licences in Abuja

    FCTA withdraws all park licences in Abuja

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has withdrawn all park licences in Abuja, asking operators to resubmit documents for fresh screening and possible reallocation, following major policy violations.

    Mukhtar Galadima, Director of Development Control, disclosed this during an interview with journalists while explaining the recent demolition of Boulevard Park located in Maitama, Abuja.

    He said the FCT Minister acted on a memo from the Directors of Parks and Recreation and Lands, highlighting serious violations and inadequacies in the management of parks across the territory.

    Galadima noted that the directive allowed park operators to resubmit their documents to the Parks and Recreation Department for a fresh review, after which qualified parks might be reallocated.

    “If they meet the terms and conditions, they’ll be reallocated. Operators must respond, submit their documents, and if approved, they can regain access to their parks,” Galadima explained.

    He emphasised that the move is not a witch-hunt but a necessary step to restore order, legality, and compliance with urban policies guiding park operations in the Federal Capital Territory.

    “There’s nothing like witch-hunting. All park allocations were withdrawn over consistent violations. The Minister holds authority to regulate land use in the FCT, including public parks,” he stated.

    Regarding Boulevard Park’s demolition, Galadima clarified that the park operators were properly notified beforehand and enforcement only followed after all legal requirements had been satisfied.

    He said the park had violated its original terms of use, operating activities that directly contravened recreational policies and deviated from the approved land use allocation.

    “Boulevard Park was approved for recreation, but its operations violated every part of the policy. What’s happening there is a complete departure from the park’s intended use,” he said.

    Galadima added that the Department of Parks and Recreation was mainly responsible for monitoring park activities and ensuring that parks operated within approved regulatory guidelines.

    He revealed that all parks were expected to submit conceptual designs for approval before opening, but failure in monitoring had led to widespread abuse and policy breaches.

    “The FCT is governed by law, and lawlessness won’t be tolerated. Every park operator must comply with all terms and conditions attached to their allocation,” Galadima stated firmly.

    He assured the public that a ministerial committee had been established to review all park allocations and ensured that their usage aligned strictly with the original recreational purposes.

  • FCTA to screen food handlers for hepatitis

    FCTA to screen food handlers for hepatitis

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will soon begin the screening of food handlers, especially those working in restaurants, markets, bakeries and canteens, for hepatitis.

    The FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, disclosed this in a message to commemorate the 2025 World Hepatitis Day in Abuja on Wednesday.

    In the message, read by Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat,  the minister said that the move was to safeguard public health and food security in the FCT.

    According to him, the initiative is aimed at preventing hepatitis and other foodborne diseases.

    “This, in the long run, will  protect public health and empower food businesses to operate with enhanced confidence and credibility.”

    The minister pointed out that Hepatitis A and E, primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, could rapidly spread through poor hygiene practices, posing serious risks to the rapidly expanding cosmopolitan city of Abuja.

    He added that Hepatitis B and C, predominantly spread through blood and bodily fluids, equally pose a risk in food environments where open wounds or poor hygiene are present,

    The minister said that food handlers are, often overlooked, but could play a pivotal role in safeguarding public health.

    “Therefore, the FCT Administration, committed to safeguarding public health and food security, is unveiling a strategic initiative to enhance food safety through comprehensive hepatitis screening of food handlers.

    “This ambitious initiative is being scaled up through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) consortium, in alignment with the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality.

    “This PPP consortium will combine efficiency, technical expertise and funding capacity of the private sector with government oversight, to implement regular and mandatory Hepatitis B and C screening for all food handlers within the FCT,” Wike said.

    He urged relevant stakeholders, government agencies, private enterprises, healthcare providers and food industry operators to actively support the transformative initiative.

    He explained that the stakeholders could support the government through mandatory hepatitis screenings for food handlers, promotion of free and effective Hepatitis B vaccination at public health facilities, enforcement of standardised food safety training, including hepatitis awareness.

    Other areas of support he added included rigorous enforcement of licensing, hygiene inspections, and medical screening requirements for food vendors and handlers, and raising awareness and addressing the stigma surrounding hepatitis.

    “To us, food handlers are not just service providers; they are essential public health stewards.

    “Simple, consistent and safe hygiene practices can significantly reduce hepatitis transmission.

    “Let us break the silence. Hygiene cannot wait; screening cannot wait; action cannot wait.

    “Together, let’s ensure that FCT leads by example – turning our food industry into a symbol of health, safety and excellence,” he said.

  • FCTA announces closure of Abuja busy road

    FCTA announces closure of Abuja busy road

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced that the road from Apo Mechanics Village to Wassa will be closed to vehicular movement between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Friday.

    Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday.

    Olayinka explained that the closure was to allow President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate the completed 15-kilometre left-hand service lane of the Outer Southern Expressway, Stage II.

    He said that the road, from Ring Road I Junction to Wassa Junction, would be inaugurated at 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

    “Motorists are urged to use alternative routes between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. tomorrow when the Apo-Wassa Road will be inaccessible.

    “Traffic enforcement personnel will be deployed to guide motorists and minimise inconvenience. The FCTA appeals to affected road users to bear with the government during this temporary closure,” he said.

    Olayinka also said that traders, mechanics, and shop owners in Apo Mechanics Village had voluntarily agreed to close their businesses on Friday to welcome the President and participate in the commissioning.

    “They are expected to resume business on Saturday,” he said.

    The Apo-Wassa Road will be the third project to be inaugurated out of the 17 outlined to celebrate Tinubu’s second year in office.

  • Forced religious indoctrination in FCT schools false – FCTA

    Forced religious indoctrination in FCT schools false – FCTA

    The Education Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has refuted the claim that students in FCT schools were being indoctrinated into a particular religion against their wishes.

    Malam Kabiru Musa, Head, Information and Public Relation Unit of the secretariat made the rebuttal in a statement in Abuja on Saturday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that an unidentified teacher had released a voice note, claiming that some students in FCT schools were being forced to accept another religion against their wish.

    Musa said that the voice note recorded in Hausa language, linking FCT schools to religious indoctrination was misleading and malicious.

    He said that investigations had revealed that the areas and school locations mentioned in the voice note were not in the FCT, but Mararaba in Nasarawa, a neighbouring state.

    He identified the schools mentioned in the audio as Government Secondary School (GSS) Mararaba, GSS Bakin Ado, GSS Kurunduma and Aunty Alice School.

    “We wish to irrevocably and categorically state that the claims in the said audio are false, baseless, and deliberately misleading.

    “Let it be clearly stated that such divisive and harmful narratives aimed at destabilising our education system and creating religious tension will not be tolerated.

    “The FCTA reserves the right to take legal and administrative action against individuals or groups propagating such falsehoods against its schools or territory.

    “We urge the public, media, and stakeholders to disregard the viral voice note in its entirety and to rely only on verified information from official FCTA sources,” he said.

    The head of the information unit stressed that FCT Schools were strictly secular institutions, where students practising different religions coexist peacefully.

    He added that the FCT Administration guarantees the freedom of worship and upholds the rights of every child to learn in an environment free from religious discrimination or compulsion.

    “Our teachers and school administrators are highly trained professionals who operate strictly within the bounds of professional ethics and codes of conduct.

    “They are dedicated to nurturing students into disciplined, responsible citizens without bias or prejudice,” he said.

    Musa further said that the education sector was undergoing transformation under FCT Minister Nyesom Wike-led FCTA, with ongoing massive renovation, reconstruction, and accelerated rehabilitation of schools across the FCT.

    This, he said, was in addition to the provision of infrastructure and information and communication technology facilities in FCT schools across the six area councils.

    He added that the FCT Education Secretariat, under Dr Danlami Hayyo, the Mandate Secretary, was implementing a robust monitoring and feedback mechanism.

    According to him, the measure is to ensure that FCT schools remain centres of excellence, discipline, and inclusiveness.

  • Senate approves N1.8trn 2025 FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill

    Senate approves N1.8trn 2025 FCT Statutory Appropriation Bill

    The Senate has approved N1.8trillion for the 2025 Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Statutory Appropriation Bill.

    This followed the presentation of the report of Committees on FCT on the bill by Chairman of the Committee Sen.Bomai Ibrahim(APC-Yobe)at plenary on Wednesday.

    Ibrahim in his report said the Senate and the House Committee on FCT met with the Honorable Minister and other relevant officials of the FCT administration to deliberate on the appropriation bill.

    He said the breakdown of the budget includes personnel cost of N106 billion,overhead of N352 billion, total recurrent was proposed for N502 billion, while capital expenditure proposed was N1.3trillion.

    He said the total personal cost constitutes 8.29 per cent of the budget while the total recurrent of the budget constitute 27.69 per cent while the total capital was 72.31 per cent.

    He said out of the 72.31 per cent, 85 per cent of the capital. was dedicated to ongoing projects,adding that only 50 per cent of the capital was for new projects.

    According to him, the best practice for budget framework was usually 70 per cent for capital and 30 per cent for recurrent.

    He, however, said it was commendable that FCT budget has 72.32 per cent for capital and 27.69 overhead.

    “This shows that the structure of the budget is in conformity with the best practice,” he said.

    Contributing ,Sen.Barau Jibrin(APC-Kano) said the leadership of FCTA has done well in the administration of the FCT.

    He said senate should support the laudable efforts of the FCT minister and his team to improve infrastructure development by approving the budget.

    Senate thereafter passed the 2025 FCTA 2025 statutory appropriation bill.

  • PDP fumes over sealed national secretariat

    PDP fumes over sealed national secretariat

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) sealed its National Secretariat on Monday.

    Speaking following the National Caucus Meeting of the PDP held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, PDP’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum described the action as “irresponsible”.

    “I want to use this opportunity to tell you that, you are aware, that our office has been sealed. That is the highest level of irresponsibility from this government.

    “If they are encouraging it, we are not going to take it lightly. In fact, they can come and arrest all of us. We are ready for that. We condemn this in totality and we will not tolerate it.

    “They are trying to mark democracy day; and this is unacceptable. We condemn it and we will make sure they have us to contend with,” Damagum said.

    Recall the FCTA took possession of Wadata Plaza, the building used by the PDP as its National Secretariat due to 28 years of unpaid ground rent.

    Director of Lands at the FCTA, Mr Chijoke Nwankwoeze, said the action followed the revocation of the property’s land title, which was formally served on the property owner, Sen. Samaila Kurfi, on March 14.

    Nwankwoeze explained that the property, located on Plot 1970, Michael Okpara Street, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, was officially reverted to the FCTA after repeated failure to settle outstanding annual ground rent spanning nearly three decades.

    He noted that the revocation notice was properly delivered to Kurfi’s registered address in Kaduna.

    When asked whether the PDP had been notified, Nwankwoeze clarified that the FCTA did not deal with tenants, but only with the rightful property owners recorded in its database.

    The property, he said, was among 4,794 titles revoked in March due to unpaid ground rent totaling more than N6 billion.

    “The PDP property is the sixth to be sealed so far. This enforcement exercise will continue until all revoked properties are addressed,” he added.

    Also speaking, Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, rejected any political interpretation of the action.

    He emphasised that the operation was purely administrative and conducted in line with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

    “This is not a political witch-hunt. It’s an enforcement of land administration regulations,” Olayinka said.

    Other sealed properties in the FCT include a Total petrol station, Access Bank, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, Ibro Hotel, and Mamuda Group Warehouse, all located in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.

  • BREAKING! FCTA seals off PDP secretariat

    BREAKING! FCTA seals off PDP secretariat

    Officials of the Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) have sealed off Wadata Plaza, the building harbouring the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, over unpaid ground and tenancy rent.

    Details shortly….

  • Just in: FCTA seals FIRS office, bank, fuel station over unpaid ground rent

    Just in: FCTA seals FIRS office, bank, fuel station over unpaid ground rent

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration, on Monday, seals an Access Bank branch and a Total petrol station located in Zone 6, Wuse, Abuja, over non-payment of ground rent spanning 34 years.

    The property occupied by Access Bank is officially allocated to Rana Tahir Furniture Nigeria Limited, not the bank directly, according to official documents.

    A letter dated March 13, 2025, signed by the Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, stated: “The Minister of Federal Capital Territory has in the exercise of powers conferred on him under the Land Use Act No. 6 of 1978, Cap. L5, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, revoked your rights, interests and privileges over Plot No. 2456 within Wuse I, Cadastral Zone A02, Abuja.”

    The letter cited the continued default in ground rent payment as the reason for the revocation

    The revocation is in view of your continued contravention of the terms and conditions of grant of the Right of Occupancy by failing to pay the annual ground rents due on the property for Thirty-Four (34) years,” it stated.

    FCTA also shut down the Federal Inland Revenue Service office in Abuja for similar violations.

    The closures are part of a larger enforcement campaign targeting defaulting property owners across the FCT.

    According to officials, several notices and publications have been issued since 2023, warning all allottees to clear outstanding ground rent obligations.

  • FCTA orders demolition of 24 storey buildings

    FCTA orders demolition of 24 storey buildings

    The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ordered the demolition of 24 two-storey buildings illegally constructed on a waterway in Guzape District, Abuja.

    AMMC Coordinator, Chief Felix Obuah, issued the directive during an inspection tour of various parts of Abuja on Monday, alongside other council officials.

    Obuah stated that the affected buildings were developed by Cityscape Estate on Plot 4851 without necessary approvals.

    He described the construction as a flagrant violation of planning regulations and vowed that the structures would be removed to serve as a deterrent to others.

    “We have mobilised equipment, materials, and machines on-site.

    “These illegal buildings erected without approval will go down,” Obuah said.

    “Any other building without proper approval, especially those constructed on waterways or road corridors, will be demolished.

    “It is no longer business as usual; we are committed to restoring Abuja to its original master plan.”

    He warned that AMMC officers found complicit in the approval or oversight of the illegal structures would face disciplinary action, stressing that the council would no longer tolerate negligence or sabotage.

    “They are receiving salaries and are expected to do their jobs.

    “The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is working tirelessly to change the narrative, and we will not allow any disgruntled elements to sabotage those efforts,” Obuah said.

    Though the demolition of one structure was carried out on-site, the council granted a two-week grace period, at the developer’s request—for the voluntary removal of all contraventions.

    “Failure to comply will result in full-scale demolition,” Obuah warned.

    Director of Development Control, Mr Mukhtar Galadima, explained that the developer had originally been allocated a plot near the Federal Housing Authority Estate in the area.

    However, after part of the land was affected by the proposed S20 road project, additional land was allocated as compensation.

    “That compensation does not give the developer the right to build without obtaining proper approval,” Galadima noted.

    He said the infractions were discovered two weeks ago during a routine inspection.

    “A committee was subsequently set up to investigate the situation, which revealed that construction was ongoing in a valley area—an unacceptable practice under FCTA regulations.

    “Our preliminary findings show that the number of buildings on site exceeds the approved number.

    “This is a complete violation of the terms of approval,” Galadima added.

    Chairman of the FCT Building Contravention Taskforce, Mr Gabriel Musa, revealed that while only 18 buildings were approved, the developer constructed 42, more than double the permitted number.

    In response, the developer, Mr  Kadiri Obaidi, admitted the infractions and accepted responsibility, attributing some of the unauthorised development to subscribers.

    “We have approval for the estate, but many infractions occurred—mostly by our subscribers, for whom we are responsible,” he said.

    “We acknowledge the violations and are willing to pull down the illegal structures ourselves within two weeks to salvage some of the materials.”

    The council granted his request on the condition that all unauthorised structures are removed at no cost to the government.