TheNewsGuru

Tag: FCTA

  • Sales of school of nursing forms on internet fraudulent, FCTA warns

    Sales of school of nursing forms on internet fraudulent, FCTA warns

    The Federal Capital Territorial Administration (FCTA) on Friday described as fraud, the ongoing 2020/2021 sales of School of Nursing, Gwagwalada, forms on the internet by some fraudsters.

    Mrs Leo Musa, Acting Director of the Nursing Department, Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS) of the FCTA , stated this at a news conference on Friday in Abuja.

    According to Musa, our attention has been drawn as a department of nursing, HHSS, to the ongoing advert and sale of forms in various media on the internet.

    She said that reports had been coming to the department from many people about the sales of this form, stressing that school of nursing Gwagwalada have not started the sales of any form.

    “We don’t have anything of such for now, we want to draw the attention of the public to this, anyone dealing with such fraudsters on the internet does so at their own risk.

    “As a secretariat, we have not received any approval for such, with the COVID-19 on ground and with the rules of the Federal Government about the virus, we are not ready to go against it.

    “We have written a disclaimer on the site, we know it belongs to the school, but yet, reports are still coming to us about the sales of this form,” Musa said.

    She added that the forms would not be sold until the COVID-19 was over.

    According to her, the school management attention has also been drawn to this, and that people have been going there to notify it of the form they have already bought.

    She said that a letter to this effect has been forwarded to the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory through the acting Secretary of the HHSS, Mr Mohammed Kawu to see what could be done on the issue.

    She added that suggestions had also be given on the issue, for it to be handed to the security department to help trace the fraudsters, who were already using different accounts on the internet to defraud people.

  • COVID-19: Novare supports FCTA food bank with palliatives

    COVID-19: Novare supports FCTA food bank with palliatives

    Novare, a South African owned Real Estate Investment Company based in Nigeria has donated assorted palliative items to the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s food bank to help vulnerable communities to cushion the effect of the sit-at-home.

    Presenting the items to the Administration, Head of Legal, Barrister Chineme Onuoma, said Novare with an investment portfolio of four retails malls across Nigeria would continue to support the Federal Capital Territory and Nigeria in the fight against COVID19, just as he commended the steps taken by the administration to manage the pandemic in the territory.

    Onuoma, used the occasion to reveal that besides the provisions of palliatives to underserved communities, Novare has so far approved four months rent-free period (beginning from April 2020 to July 2020) with the intention to extend if necessary for its tenants, particularly those tenants providing non-essential services as described by the Federal Government.

    According to him, “Novare on May 29, 2020 donated food items worth millions of naira to the FCT in a phased palliative intervention to ameliorate the hardship being experienced by some Nigerians during these period of the pandemic.

    “Each of Novare’s mall accommodates over 60 tenants, having Shoprite and Game as its anchor tenant, with over 600 direct employees and well over 2000 indirect employees in each mall, including suppliers of the different goods and products sold by the tenants at the mall.

    “To ensure that jobs and livelihoods are protected, starting from those closest to it, Novare, as part of its Cooperate Social Responsibility, has so far approved four months rent-free period, beginning from April 2020 to July 2020, with the intention to extend if necessary for its tenants, particularly those tenants providing non-essential services as described by the Federal Government.

    “The rent-free concession granted to tenants have helped to keep their various businesses afloat, thus alleviating the financial burden on these tenants. This financial assistance enables the tenants to channel the income they generate to payment of staff salaries and sustaining their respective supply chains. This effectively reduces unemployment, which would have been the consequence if tenants were unable to survive this period”.

    Onuoma, also stated that the firm has expressed commitment to observe all laid down protocols by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the prevention of the spread of the virus particularly within its facilities and to educate and sensitize the public in line with government directives.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the administration, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, commended the thoughtfulness of the firm especially in supporting the vulnerable with palliative items and more significantly in putting measures in place to ensure job sustainability.

    Aliyu, who was represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, stressed the need for collaboration in the battle against COVID-19 pandemic, while assuring that the items would be distributed to underserved communities.

    Items donated include 100 bags of 50kg rice, 245 cartons of indoomie, 100 cartons of spaghetti, 100 cartons of vegetable oil and 75 cartons of tomato paste.

  • FCTA supports 17 graded chiefs with respiratory hygiene materials

    FCTA supports 17 graded chiefs with respiratory hygiene materials

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through its Primary Healthcare, Board has supported 17 graded chiefs with hands and respiratory hygiene materials and non contact digital infra-red thermometer, as part of efforts to curb the spread of OVID-19.

    FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, who presented the items to the Agaba of Jiwa kingdom, HRM. Alhaji Idris Musa, said that the medical support was to guide against the spread of the coronavirus in view of the large number of people that visit the palace of traditional rulers to seek counselling.

    Aliyu, who was represented by the Ag. Executive Secretary of FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Iwot Ndaeyo, also noted that the role of traditional rulers in Federal Capital Territory in terms of sensitization and mobilization cannot be overemphasied, noting that the OVID-19 response from the primary healthcare sector fits into the community response too.

    The minister also noted that the community spread of the virus was no more in doubt, therefore the traditional institutions should be the custodial of sensitization and mobilization of activities at the community level.

    In her words: “The role of traditional rulers in FCT cannot be overemphasied. There are three approaches to COVID-19 response in FCT from the health sector itself. Primary health sector, the pubic health sector and the secondary health sector which will also pass through the tertiary and specialist hospitals.

    “The response from the primary healthcare sector fits into the community response too. They are all represented here. The response may appear belated but it has to take a lot of planning and focused strategic activities to ensure that we work together as a team and reactivate that partnership that can make things to happen.

    “Prevention and control are very critical particularly hands and respiratory hygiene and using non contact infra-red digital thermometer that could help us to detect some of the major symptoms of the disease known as COVID-19.

    “The community spread of the virus is no more in doubt, it is very obvious that is ongoing. The traditional institutions are the custodial of sensitization and mobilization of activities in the community level. And without you being protected, going by the number of meetings you are going to hold, for advice and counselling, there is need to protect yourself as a frontline workers.

    “In response to this critial observation, the administration has approved PPE to the 17 graded chiefs that will protect and aid surveillance. We are here with infra-red digital thermometer, hand sanitizers, face masks and buckets. This will go a long way to strengthen our partnership”.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the graded traditional rulers in the FCT, the Agaba of Jiwa, HRM. Alhaji Idris Musa, described the support as the right step in the right direction, stressing that with the support, traditional rulers would have a sense of belonging.

    The royal father charged the FCT Primary Health Care Board to work as a team, even as he tasked them to tap from the knowledge of the traditional rulers who are the custodial of the people.

    “This is what we have been seeing in other states. First, let me commend the FCT Minister of State for presenting these items so that it will go round to all the graded chiefs. I am happy as a representative of northern traditional rulers of primary healthcare representing the FCT. It is what we have being waiting for.

    “It is a first approach. With these, the traditional rulers will have a sense of belonging. At the area council level, most of our traditional rulers don’t know what is happening. It is the responsibility of the primary healthcare board in various state to officially communicate each chiefdom.

    “We are lucky that FCT is the headquarter of the country and all our development partners are here to help us and they are also here to watch us including their security. In the state, you can do whatever you want to because your report only end within the state, but our own in FCT goes internationally. So, FCT, primary healthcare should always be the pacesetter in the development of our primary healthcare services,” he charges.

  • FCT area council enforces suspension of motorcycle operations

    FCT area council enforces suspension of motorcycle operations

    The Kuje Area Council in the FCT, has commenced enforcement of the suspension on all motorcycle operations in the area, aimed at curbing community spread of COVID-19.

    Mr Abdullahi Sabo, Chairman, Motorcycle Operators Restructuring Committee in Kuje, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday.

    NAN recalls that the council had on May 12, announced the suspension.

    Sabo said that the development followed the daily rise in confirmed cases of the disease in the FCT, and influx of motorcycle riders to rural communities.

    “The outcome of our meeting yesterday (Tuesday), with Keke NAPEP (tricycle) officials was very fruitful, we made them to understand the decision of the council.

    “That Okada has just been suspended as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, and we feel we have to make use of keke to cushion the effect of absence of okada (motorcycle) riders.

    “We did tell them the rules and regulations of the council, which is a national rule, they must not carry more than three persons, including the driver,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to residents to take the lockdown order by the Federal Government seriously, noting that the fight to defeat the pandemic depended largely on complying with directives by government.

    According to Sabo, persons that have to go out of their homes with genuine reasons, must wear face masks and observe the physical distancing rule everywhere they go, including markets and in vehicles.

    “This is a tough decision that the executive chairman of the council has to take for us to stay alive.

    “This suspension is temporary, it is just for a while, we all pray for quick exit of the COVID-19 pandemic so that life can return to normal.

    “We want to appeal to them to be patient with us and persevere, while we continue to pray to God to see us through this global pandemic,” he said.

    Awwal Yakubu, a tricycle operator, said every operator paid N4, 500 to register with the council and were each issued an ID card with a sticker.

    Yakubu said the operators would be charging an average of N100 per person, depending on the distance and location in the council.

  • Easing of Lockdown: FCTA urges workers residing outside Abuja to remain at home

    Easing of Lockdown: FCTA urges workers residing outside Abuja to remain at home

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed federal workers residing outside Abuja to remain in their respective states of residence pending the lifting of ban on interstate travel.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said this a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, on Saturday in Abuja.

    Bello said that the FCTA would enforce rigorously the guidelines regulating the easing of the lockdown in the FCT as part of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the territory.

    He said that security agencies had been mandated to arrest and prosecute, through mobile courts, anyone found contravening the guidelines.

    Bello also said the FCTA would enforce the overnight curfew from 8p.m. to 6a.m. in order to prevent possible patients of COVID-19 from coming into the territory.

    The minister said effective Monday, May 4, 2020, all civil servants in the FCT on Grade level 14 and above were to report for work three time in a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 8a.m. and 2p.m.

    He, however, said that all officers on essential duties were to carry on with their assigned responsibilities.

    He enjoined all workers to maintain safe distancing protocols of at least two meters and wear facemasks at all times.

    Bello said that temperature checks and hand sanitising protocols would be strictly adhered to at all entry points and access to offices tightly controlled.

    He explained that markets were to operate for two days in a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays between 8a.m. and 3p.m.

    Bello assured that neighbourhood selling points would be established in various parts of the city to decongest major markets.

    ” Wearing of facemask is mandatory to gain access to markets in addition to hand washing and sanitizing protocols.

    ” The above hygiene related protocols are also applicable to supermarkets and neighborhood markets.

    ” Banks are to open between the hours of 8a.m. and 2p.m. and are to observe temperature checks, hand sanitising protocols as well as the use of face masks for staff and customers.

    ” Banks are to limit access by customers to allow for safe distancing reasons and limit the number of staff working on their premises to between 30 per cent and 50 per cent.

    ” Residents are encouraged to patronise online banking services as much as possible.

    ” Extant rules regulating restaurants and eateries remain in effect. Restaurants are not open to the public and are encouraged to adopt home delivery services.

    ” The extant directive on places of worship still subsists and they remain closed,” Bello said.

    The Minister reiterated that prohibition of commercial motorcycles within the city centre remained in force including Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji.

    Bello noted that tricycles were to limit their activities to areas already designated and were allowed a maximum of three persons (driver and two passengers).

    ” Similarly, taxis are mandated to carry a maximum of four persons at a time (driver and three persons).”

    He also said that all schools in the FCT will remain closed until further notice, adding that schools were not permitted to commence third term session in any form until directed otherwise by the relevant authorities.

    He, however, said that schools were encouraged to continue with e-learning and virtual teachings.

    ” Residents are once more reminded that COVID-19 can be fatal and all are hereby advised to take all prescribed measures to avoid contracting it.

    ” Persons with underlying medical conditions especially hypertension, diabetes, asthma and low immunity are advised to remain at home.

    ” Equally, persons 65 years and older are also advised to remain at home,” he said.

  • FCTA mobile court convicts 42, impounds 38 motorcycles

    FCTA mobile court convicts 42, impounds 38 motorcycles

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA ) Mobile Court has convicted 42 persons at different locations within the territory for violating the stay-at-home presidential order.

     

    Mr Ikharo Attah, Chairman, FCTA Enforcement Team on Restrictions of Movement, gave the figures to newsmen on Friday in Abuja.

    Attah said that establishment of the mobile court had strengthened operations of the team and reinvigorated its commitment toward achieving objectives of the lockdown order.

    He said that although none of the convicts had been sent to any correctional centre, they paid fines for the offences they pleaded guilty to.

    The chairman also disclosed that about 38 motorcycles were impounded in Dutse Alhaji for violating the order banning motorcycle operation.

    According to him, the convicts often pleaded guilty to the offences, but prayed for leniency.

    He also said that while judges remained firm in administration of justice, they used human face in punishing the violators.

    Attah urged the residents to obey the sit-at-home order and save themselves from hardship that might follow disobedience.

    ” Today, about 42 persons were convicted by the mobile court that sat at four different locations around the territory.

    ”The mobile court operations are both backed by the Department of Road Traffic Services and Abuja Environmental Protection Board laws.

    “The enforcement team has stopped being the prosecutor and the judge. What we do is: once we arrest violators of the lockdown, we hand them over to the court.

    ” We invaded a beer parlour in Dutse Alhaji that is overcrowded in spite the lockdown order.

    “The people were arrested and handed over to the court.

    ”The judges are considerate. Most suspects plead guilty and are given fines to pay,” he said.

    Attah added that the fines were given at the discretion of the judges.

    “Vehicles impounded will remain with the vehicle inspection officers until the end of the pandemic,” he said.

  • FCTA begins distribution of palliative to Area Councils

    FCTA begins distribution of palliative to Area Councils

    The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has began the distribution of palliative materials to the six area councils of the territory to cushion the effect of stay-at-home order among the vulnerable ones.

    Aliyu said the first batch of the palliative would commence in Abaji area council of the territory.

    She said that a truck load of 25,000 condiments and 25,000 bags of rice would be taken to Abaji for onward distribution to the vulnerable in rural communities.

    The Minister appealed to residents to support the government to ensure that the exercise succeeds, just as she called on residents to restore confidence in government and governance.

    The minister also said that all the structures of distribution would be followed to ensure transparency and accountability as well as fairness to all.

    “I thank you very much for keeping vigil over these palliative items. The process is set and we are ready to go.

    ” Thank you very much for believing in us by ensuring that the distribution of the palliative items would be done transparently to all the vulnerable people the scheme is targeted at.

    “We are here at the flag off, starting with Abaji, and I believe all the Ward Councillors and Chairman and the 9-man monitoring committee are here to receive on behalf of their people.

    ” A truck load of 25,000 condiments and 25,000 bags of rice is set. This brings to a total breakdown of 25,000 for each ward.

    “This will be done across the six area councils, giving us a total of 600,000 bags of rice and 600,000 packs of condiments each.

    ” At least five people per household. This will be done today, but hopefully if it is being prolonged, we will revisit this exercise.

    “This is to tell residents to restore confidence in government and governance. All hands are deck to ensure that the poor receive this palliative at home in compliance with the sit-at-home order of Mr. President,” she stated.

    Aliyu said that the distribution would be carried out by representatives of Civil Society Organisations, the media, religious leaders, political parties, women groups, youth leaders and people with disability.

    Also speaking, Alhaji Abass Idriss, Director-General, FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), said no fewer than 700 security personnel would be deployed to maintain law and order throughout the distribution of the palliative materials.

    Idriss assured that the monitoring team would ensure that every household in each of the six area councils get the materials, adding that wherever the palliative was dropped details of the household would be documented.

    Receiving the items on behalf of his council, Chairman of Abaji area council, Abdulrahman Ajiya, commended the Federal Capital Territory Administration for the palliative, assuring that the items would be delivered to the underserved people in the council.

    “I want to appreciate the minister and Minister of State for this palliative and the residents are in full confidence that the administration is on the right track.

    ” FCT distribution of palliative items will be different from other states because we are going to observes social distancing in the distribution and we have urged our people to stay indoors.

    “They should be rest assured that these items will be delivered. We have constituted our structures to ensure smooth distribution, Ajiya said.

  • COVID-19: FCTA bans motorcycles, releases new guidelines on lockdown in Abuja

    COVID-19: FCTA bans motorcycles, releases new guidelines on lockdown in Abuja

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has released new guidelines on the cessation of movement in the FCT following a review of the effects and level of compliance of the lockdown of Abuja.

    This is part of measures to contain the spread of COVID 19 in the FCT.

    A statement made available to media houses on Wednesday, signed by Anthony Ogunleye, the Chief Press Secretary to FCT Minister said new observations have been made and new directives issued by the FCT COVID-19 Security Committee chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.

    According to the statement, the directives are, “The FCT has been quite fortunate to have maintained a relatively stable number of COVID- 19 positive cases and the FCT Administration is making efforts to ensure that there is no escalation in the number of positive cases returned from the Territory;

    “While the level of compliance has been satisfactory at the Federal Capital City (FCC) over the first few days of the lockdown, the same cannot be said about the satellite towns located at the various area councils where residents there have largely ignored the lockdown directive;

    “However, over the past few days, adherence to the lockdown directives at the City Center has also deteriorated;

    “Residents have used the excuse of going to the markets to flout the lockdown directives and traders selling non-essential food commodities have also used this window to open their shops in clear violation of the directives not to do so;

    “Despite the directives that residents should patronize neighborhood shops and markets within their districts and not move from one district to the other to buy their essential items in order to minimize movement of people and vehicles across the city, this has largely been flouted as well;

    “In order to ensure that the FCT does not witness an escalation in the number of COVID-19 positive cases and prevent a public health emergency, the FCT Administration has resolved on the following new measures to enforce the cessation of movement and ensure its compliance by residents of the FCT. They include the following;

    “Market operational days are henceforth reduced to two days in a week namely Wednesdays and Saturdays only;

    “Residents should patronize only neighborhood markets as movement from one district to the other now constitutes a violation of the lockdown;

    “Mobile courts will now be activated to try all violators of the directive on the cessation of movement across the FCT;

    “Motorcycles (Okada) are henceforth barred from operating anywhere in Kubwa and Dutse Alhaji during the lockdown;

    “The FCTA will step up sensitization efforts especially in the rural communities and enjoins Area Council, Chairmen, traditional rulers and community leaders to actively engage in sensitizing the populace on the dangers of COVID -19;

    “The FCT Administration remains deeply committed to ensuring that the COVID-19 pandemic remains controlled in the FCT and seeks the cooperation of all residents in curtailing its spread especially into our rural and suburban communities.”

  • Covid-19: FCTA enforcement team arrests pastor, closes churches, pharmacy

    Covid-19: FCTA enforcement team arrests pastor, closes churches, pharmacy

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA), Ministerial Enforcement Team on Covid-19 Restrictions, on Sunday arrested the General Overseer of Jesus Reign Family Church, Pastor U Uden for violating order on places of worship.

    The team also closed some churches for violating the restriction order and a popular pharmacy in FCT for operating below the required standard.

    The Chairman, FCTA Ministerial Enforcement Team, Mr Ikharo Attah, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja.

    The church which is located not too far from the popular Cedacrest Hospital was in crowded session when the enforcement team arrived.

    Attah explained that the team waited patiently for the pastor to conclude the worship before approaching him to explain his wrongs and arrested him immediately.

    He explained further that the pastor was immediately taken to the FCT Police Command at Garki and handed him over to the policemen on duty.

    Similarly, the chairman said the team also dispersed worshippers at the Christ Embassy church located at Jahi District of the FCT.

    “In spite the presence of the team, the pastor of the church continued the service to the end while the team waited to avoid confrontation.

    “He was thereafter, arrested and handed over to the FCT police command headquarters at Garki.

    “The team also shut down the Popular H-Medix pharmacy located close to the popular Amingo supermarket at Wuse II.

    “”This is as a result of complaints received at the FCT COVID-19 situation room that the pharmacy does not have short-Gun thermometer and other required items to ensure the safety of Customers and staff,” Attah said.

  • COVID-19: FCTA restricts religious gathering to 50 persons

    COVID-19: FCTA restricts religious gathering to 50 persons

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has restricted religious congregation to a maximum of 50 persons as part of measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the territory.

    Malam Abubakar Sani, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Strategic Communication to the FCT Minister, made the disclosure in a statement, on Friday in Abuja.

    Sani explained that the measure will also apply to social gatherings at event centres, football viewing centres and night clubs, amongst others.

    He said that the essence of restriction was to make tracking of suspected cases, if any, easier for the health authorities.

    He enjoined FCT to avoid engaging in panic buying and always seek for information about the disease from the FCT Public Health Department and other agencies of government.

    Sani said that the FCT Administration called for the understanding and cooperation of all residents of the territory.

    ”Based on the advice and guidance of public health authorities, the Presidential Task Force for the Control of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID 19), as well as the outcomes of the National Economic Council meeting, held on Thursday, 19th of March 2020.

    ”The FCT Administration held a meeting with religious leaders across the Territory and reached the following decisions:”

    “That Religious leaders and worshippers are enjoined to follow all laid down health protocols as stipulated by the relevant health authorities for the control of the Covid-19 disease while intensifying prayers for the safety of all Nigerians.

    ”Conregations at places of worship are hereby restricted to a maximum of 50 persons at any given time,” Sani said.