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Tag: Muhammad Bello

  • Abuja Master-plan: FCTA to correct grey areas impeding implementation

    Abuja Master-plan: FCTA to correct grey areas impeding implementation

    The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Friday said it would intensify efforts to correct grey areas hindering the implementation of the Abuja Master Plan.

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said this at a retreat organised for the FCDA Board members and the executive management committee in Abuja.

    Bello was represented at the event by his Chief of Staff, Bashir Mai-Bornu,

    He urged all stakeholders to work assiduously toward evolving ways that would ensure smooth implementation of the plan.

    Bello called on the officials of the authority and stakeholders to work out modalities that would incorporate key areas to strengthen development of the city.

    “Abuja has been  rightly described as one of the fastest growing cities in the world just as the FCT is the fastest growing sub-national administration in the country.

    “This translates into more work for the FCDA as you try to cope with the rapid expansion of the city and ever changing structure and dynamics of the society,’’he said.

    Earlier, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Shehu Ahmad, said in spite the challenges of distortion and illegal structures in the territory, efforts are on-going to meet up with the requirements of developing a nation’s capital.

    He described the retreat as an avenue for provoking discussions on how to correct illegalities faced by the FCDA in meeting up with the plan.

    “We organised the retreat as a means to sensitise members of the FCDA board as well as the executive management committee, with other stakeholders on the issue of Abuja master plan implementation”, he said.

    Ahmad said that the retreat would inspire discussions across all areas that needed urgent interventions.

    On the significance of the retreat, he said the programme was coming when the new administration was about to come on board.

    The executive secretary said the resolutions would help the stakeholders reappraise issues in context and present a better position.

    “We are discussing how and ways to address issues that are in context in developing Abuja and how to address them.

    “The FCDA has not delivered up to its mandate, going by the FCT Act Decree No. 6 of 1976 in pursuit of the dream of our founding fathers to build a befitting capital city.

    “We will continue to explore ways to meet up,” he said.

  • Abuja Light Rail service to resume before end of Buhari’s tenure

    Abuja Light Rail service to resume before end of Buhari’s tenure

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello has assured that the Abuja Light Rail will resume service before the end of his administration in May.

    Bello gave the assurance when he featured the 20th Edition of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration scorecard series organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture on Monday in Abuja.

    “Another important milestone achievement of President Buhari’s administration is the infrastructure development of the Abuja Light Rail.

    “When we came in 2015, about 52 per cent of the project was done and we pushed it to 100 per cent.

    “And many of you will want to wonder why the Abuja Light Rail is not working; it is not working now because of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “We had to stop the operation because as you know the light train system basically is a mass movement, so if you don’t have much sitting capacity, many people will stand up and when you stand up, you face each other.

    “So, it was obviously very difficult to maintain social distancing but we are done with that all that; the carriages are here and by the grace of God before, we will resume.”

    The minister disclosed that about 12 stations had been completed and about five of them, the roads were still under construction.

    “These are works we do in the satellite town because the structure of the FCT is that we have development in the urban area; that is the Federal Capital City, as well as development in the satellite towns.

    “But the standards we maintain for infrastructure for the Federal Capital City itself, is the same that we maintain in the satellite towns; no difference whatsoever.

    “Because the whole idea is to encourage residents to stay in the satellite towns,” Bello said.

    The event was attended by the FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, the Permanent Secretary FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, all Mandate Secretaries of FCTA, six area councils chairmen.

    Others are the Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), the Chief of Staff to the Minister and other officials of the administration.

  • Muhammad Bello advocates for improved revenue profile in FCT

    Muhammad Bello advocates for improved revenue profile in FCT

    Malam Muhammad Bello, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, has advocated for improved revenue profile for the territory through a robust tax policy.

    The minister, who stated this at the FCT Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS) Town Hall meeting, on Wednesday in Abuja, said this would enhance infrastructure development in the nation’s capital.

    Bello, represented by the Permanent secretary of FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, explained that the FCT Administration had the mandate to build a capital territory that was comparable to the best in the world.

    “For over four decades, we have delivered on this mandate as Abuja has indeed turned out to be a very beautiful city indeed as testified to severally by visitors to the city.

    “It must, however, be admitted that if we are to continue to provide world class infrastructure for the city, we need a greatly improved revenue base.

    ”This can only be attained by a robust tax policy where all who call FCT home also contribute through faxes to her development.”

    Bello, however, commended the acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS for the initiative of holding public gathering, adding that would enable residents and other stakeholders to fully grasp the import of the tax policy.

    The minister said the efforts of the FCT-IRS, with the cooperation of residents
    of the FCT, had ensured that the territory was the second highest internally generating sub-national in the country.

    “It is, however, quite clear that we have the potentials of being number one with a little bit more effort and commitment from all of us.

    “It is only with this show of commitment that we can truly build the FCT of our collective dreams. It is our strong desire to make the FCT a model for excellence in tax matters.

    “The attainment of this ideal, we all know, is a function of collective responsibility and hard work.”

    The minister explained that the FCT residents and business owners have a responsibility of paying tax to help the administration in developing the city.

    “Therefore, I use this opportunity to send a note of strong warning to tax evaders to desist from their actions.

    “Not only are their actions morally wrong as they ride on the sweat of others but their actions are also serious criminal offences for which they can face very severe penalties on their conviction.

    “We are not unmindful of complaints about multiple taxation and other sundry challenges in our tax regime.

    “This matter is also of grave concern to us and we are taking measures to resolve the issue because it also impacts negatively on our efforts of encouraging investment in the territory,” he said.

    Earlier, the acting Executive Chairman of FCT-IRS, Haruna Abdullahi, said that the existing law fully provide for sanction to be meted out to tax defaulters.

    ”Failure to demand and verify a Tax Clearance Certificate presented by an individual was liable to sanctions and possible conviction with a fine of N5 million or three years imprisonment or both the fine and imprisonment.

    ” I will urge all residents and relevant stakeholders to choose voluntary compliance over compulsion.

    “It is imperative that a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) is demanded as a pre-condition for various transactions in the FCT.

    ”It is instructive to note that the law requires such from Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Commercial Banks.”

  • Demolition of Kpokpogri’s mansion: Court fixes date to hear preliminary objection

    Demolition of Kpokpogri’s mansion: Court fixes date to hear preliminary objection

    FCT Minister, Alhaji Muhammad Bello, and the Federal Housing Authority have asked a High Court to dismiss a suit challenging the demolition of the residence of Abuja socialite, Joseph Kpokpogri.

    Other Defendants in the suit are the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    The Minister, alongside the Federal Housing Authority, FHA, through their lawyer, Dr Mubarak Adekilekan, maintained that the court was bereft of the jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

    The defendants contended that the suit was filed “by a lawyer not known to law”.

    According to them, Ozekhome, was the name on the seal of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, that was affixed on all the court processes, a search at the Supreme Court disclosed that such name does not exist in the nominal roll of lawyers.

    Besides, the defendants, contended that the plaintiff, Kpokpogri, whose house was demolished, failed to disclose any reasonable cause of action to warrant the exercise of the court’s discretion in his favour.

    Consequently, they prayed the court to dismiss the suit.

    However, counsel for the plaintiff, Dr Benson Igbanoi, noted that the suit was originally fixed for the court to hear a motion his client filed for interlocutory injunctions against the defendants.

    Igbanoi said he was surprised that though the defendants filed the objection since August 12, they waited till last Friday to serve same on his client.

    He alleged that the defendants are deliberately frustrating the hearing of the suit, the plaintiff’s lawyer, urged the court to proceed with the business of the day.

    In a ruling, Justice Charles Agbaza held that once a preliminary objection is raised to challenge the jurisdiction of the court, such motion must be heard and determined first before any further step could be taken in the matter.

    He, therefore, adjourned the matter until Oct 12 for hearing of the preliminary objection.

    The court had on July 15, extended its order that restrained the FCT Minister from completely demolishing Kpokpogri’s residence.

    The injunctive order followed an ex-parte application the plaintiff who is a former lover of popular Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, filed through his team of lawyers led by Ozekhome.

    Justice Agbaza held that the order would subsist until the hearing and determination of the suit before the court.

    Ozekhome, had told the court that some persons from the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had on May 14, invaded his client’s residence, “accompanied by a multitude of heavily armed policemen and bulldozers and excavators”, and commenced the demolition of his house, beginning with the boys quarters.

    He told the court that agents of the FCDA threatened to return for total demolition of Kpokpogri’s house, even though they failed to give any reason for their action.

    Ozekhome, SAN, begged the court to intervene in the matter, in the interest of justice.

    Specifically, the court, issued an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants from trespassing on or further trespassing on, demolishing, or further demolishing the property known as Plots 203 and 204, 27 Road, Gusape District, Apo Estate, Abuja.

    The plot is said to be covered by letters of allocation issued by the Federal Housing Authority with Ref. No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.203 and Ref. No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.204.

    The order also restrained the defendants from evicting the occupants of the said property or in any way interfering with the plaintiff’s exclusive right of possession of the said property pending the determination of the suit.

    The plaintiff, in the suit is asking the court to the order the defendants to pay him aggravated and general damages to the tune of over N2 billion.

    Kpokpogri, in an affidavit deposed to in support of the motion said that he was the owner of all the property covered by letters of allocation issued by FHA with reference No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.203 and reference No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.204.

    He averred that he was entitled to the statutory right of occupancy and exclusive possession of the said plots having been lawfully acquired from two separate individuals, Mr Muyideen Obans and Mrs Alaba Akindele, who were the original allottees of the lands from the (AGF) 6th defendant.

    “The letters of allocation of the land to the original allottees dated Jan. 14, 2015 with No. FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.203 and FHA/BD/ES/APO/P.204, issued by FHA Abuja are hereby exhibits A and Al.” he claimed.

  • Rehabilitation of NASS complex to gulp N30 billion

    Rehabilitation of NASS complex to gulp N30 billion

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello says N21.029 billion is needed to complete the rehabilitation of the National Assembly Complex.

    He disclosed this on Thursday during an oversight tour of some projects in the capital city by the Senate Committee on FCT.

    The minister while noting that the National Assembly Phase II popularly known as “the White House” was realised from 1996 to 1999 by ITB Nigeria Ltd added that no major rehabilitation works had been carried out on the building over the years.

    He said that the contract which was awarded on Dec. 30, 2021 for 16 months has a contract sum of N30,229,290,830.35 while the amount paid was N9,200,000,000.00.

    “The commencement date is April 16 and is expected to be completed Aug. 15, 2023.

    The minister listed other priority projects embarked upon by the administration to include rehabilitation of Federal Secretariat complex, construction of southern park way from Christian Center to ring road.

    Others he said were the rehabilitation of expansion of Outer Southern Expressway, provision of engineering infrastructure for Wuye District, rehabilitation and expansion of Outer Southern Expressway Villa Roundabout and completion of B6, B12 and Circle Road in Central Area.

    He explained that the ministry gave some projects in the city priority over others due to scarcity of funds.

    “What we did was because of the scarcity of funds, we prioritised key infrastructure projects to get them completed.

    “And in deciding to the ones that fit into that category, we looked at the ones that will give the maximum benefit to the maximum number of people.

    “All the four projects we visited, you find that they are all road projects that are meant to link one section of the Abuja city to another and that is the whole idea.

    “The masterplan has been designed in such a way that they complement each other.

    “So if you finish one portion and you don’t do the other one, then you don’t get the full utility of that particular road.”

    Bello further said that it was the intention of the ministry that as the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration rounds off, a number of projects would be completed.

    “Some of them we intend to develop them to a level whereby the next team should be able to do it.

    “Ultimately, the objective is to make Abuja a vibrant city; a city where people will feel comfortable; where there wouldn’t be traffic gridlock and where facilities will work.”

    He said that working together with the Senate, the ministry would be able to achieve the completion of the projects.

    Bello, however, said that running a mega city was a huge challenge noting that demographically, Abuja had changed tremendously.

    “So the main challenge is to be able to fast tract the provision of infrastructure at a pace that will be able to match with population growth.”

    Also speaking, Chairman Senate Committee on FCT Sen. Tolu Odebiyi, who led the committee members said:”what we have seen is quite impressive.

    “We believe that in the twilight of this administration, in the next month, it is important we catalogue all the projects that are being done and prioritise the ones that must be completed before the end of this term.

    “This is so that we can also make sure we provide the adequate funding and budget for it.

    “Their budget is going to be forwarded to us very shortly and it is important we come and see the state of the work and the completion rate of the programme before we take them on.

    “Like any other project, we will make sure all the projects that require priority are given the due attention like any other project.”

  • Dei-Dei building materials market in Abuja reopens

    Dei-Dei building materials market in Abuja reopens

    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has directed the re-opening of the Dei-Dei building materials market in Abuja and its adjoining markets.

    The government shut the market on May 19 after a crisis was recorded there on May 18.

    The minister told newsmen on Thursday in Abuja at the end of a meeting he had with major stakeholders of the Dei-Dei community that the markets would re-open for business from Friday, May 27.

    He said stakeholders at the meeting agreed that the May18 fracas had no ethnic underpinning, but was ignited by a traffic accident hijacked by hoodlums.

    “We held an important meeting with stakeholders of the Dei-Dei community; the leadership of the five major markets, the head of community, His Royal Highness, Dr Idris Musa, the Sarkin Jiwa and religious leaders.

    “Basically, we reaffirmed the need for peace in that community as well as in the FCT in general.

    “The conclusion of our meeting is that all the communities agreed that what happened was not a tribal or religious crisis.

    “What happened was just an unfortunate accident that was hijacked by hoodlums in the community who created havoc,’’ the minister said.

    He added that the consensus was that every community in the area should flush out miscreants and hoodlums.

    Bello said the meeting also resolved that corrective measures would be taken on structures in the market that were not in conformity with the Abuja Master plan.

    On the activities of commercial motorcyclists, the minister said that their operations would be brought under full regulation and control.

    “Generally, the stakeholders agreed that peace is very important. Without peace, there will not be economic development and without peace, there will be no society.

    Bello announced the constitution of a technical committee that would provide a comprehensive report and a roadmap for the re-development of the whole area for the benefit of citizens.

    The committee, which has four weeks to submit its report, is chaired by Ibrahim Ismaila, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Land, Urban and Regional Planning.

    Members of the committee were drawn from the local and business communities of the Dei-Dei area, security agencies and officials of the FCT Administration.

    The Sarkin Jiwa also sued for peace, saying members of the community are brothers and sisters and should endeavour to live in peace at all times.

    “We should be our brothers’ keepers and endeavour to live in peace with one another.

    “We should instruct our followers to keep away from the past ugly incident and ensure that peace reigns in the area,’’ he said.

    In his remarks, Chairman of the market, Mr Kingsley Orabuego, said: “we have to live in peace as one nation. We are here to make ends meet and we cannot live without one another. We cannot progress without one another.

    “I am urging all the people of Dei-Dei Building Materials Market to live in peace and embrace one another.’’

    Trouble started at the market community on May 18 when a passenger on a commercial motorcycle fell off the bike and was crushed by a vehicle.

    Hoodlums seized the opportunity to loot and raze the building materials shops at the market under the pretext of a consequent protest.