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Tag: Wike

  • Wike threatens to unseat lawmaker in 2027

    Wike threatens to unseat lawmaker in 2027

    Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has threatened to unseat an unidentified lawmaker for criticising his successes as the FCT Minister.

    Wike made the threat during the inauguration of the construction of Mabushi Bus Terminal, Phase I, in Abuja on Monday.

    He said that he overheard somebody, a lawmaker in the National Assembly in Arise TV in the morning, castigating the successes being recorded in FCT.

    The minister said that the lawmaker particularly criticised the rot in schools and the absence of quality hospitals in the territory.

    “You, as a legislator, what have you done?  How many bills have you sponsored for us to improve our education and health sector?

    “I challenge that legislator. If you are very popular, in 2027 come and run under Abuja, we will fail you.

    “Do you think that what happened last time will happen again? It will not happen again.

    “Luckily for me, I am the FCT Minister now. So that is my territory and I’m not afraid,” he said.

    Wike further said: “With all due respect, what you don’t know, you don’t know, what you know you know.

    ”The good thing for you is to tell people you don’t know when you don’t know, then people will educate you.

    “The Honourable Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud and my humble self, have not been in office for more than 11months and the person is angry that people are praising us.

    “If you don’t want or you are angry about that, go and hang yourself in a transformer.

    “If we have done well; we have done well. If we haven’t done well; we haven’t done well. I’m proud to say that in the short time that President Tinubu has appointed us, we have done well.”

    The minister warned that if the unidentified lawmaker was angry with the praises they were receiving for doing a good job, “by next year, your blood pressure level will go very high.

    “This is because the praises you would see would be too much.” he said.

    In a related development, Sen. Ireti Kingibe (LP-FCT), who appeared on Arise TV on Monday complained that she was being sidelined in the running of the FCT.

    Kingibe particularly claimed that her constituency was being marginalised, adding that there was no clean water for the residents of Abuja.

    She also said that roads being constructed across the FCT were not addressing the needs of the majority of the people, namely healthcare, water, education and security.

  • Wike names two Abuja roads after Chinua Achebe, J. P. Clark

    Wike names two Abuja roads after Chinua Achebe, J. P. Clark

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to name two roads in Guzape Districts after Chinua Achebe and J. P. Clark.

    Chinua Achebe was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and a central figure of modern African literature, while J. P. Clark. was a Nigerian poet and playwright.

    Wike made the request in Abuja on Saturday, during the inauguration of Guzape Lot II Engineering Infrastructure by Tinubu, to celebrate his one year in office.

    “I want to appeal to you, just like what you did last time when you approved the naming of Arterial N-20 Road after Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

    “There are a lot of Nigerians who also have in one way, or the other, made their own contributions, particularly in literary works.

    “So many of them have made Nigeria proud. People like Chinua Achebe; people like J. P. Clark.

    “Your excellency, I want to appeal to you to name this road after Chinua Achebe and another road within the same district after J. P. Clark,” he said.

    The minister described Guzape as one of the biggest districts in FCT and fast developing.

    He explained that the contract was awarded in 2003 at N14 billion, during the Olusegun Obasanjo administration and divided into two lots.

    He said that Lot I was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe while Lot II was awarded to Gilmor Engineering, adding that the contract was revised to over N18 billion in the third week of May 2023.

    Wike said that Dantata and Sawoe had left the site for a very long time, until the Tinubu administration came on board, mobilised them back to site and work currently ongoing.

    For the completed Lot II, the minister said he had inspected the execution of the project over 15 times to ensure timely delivery of the project.

    He disclosed that the project was delivered despite litigations by some residents to stop the contractor from blasting rocks to give way for road construction in the district.

    He also said that the ongoing work at Guzape Diplomatic Zone would soon be completed.

    Dr Mariya Mahoud, FCT Minister of State, commended President Tinubu for supporting the provision of infrastructure to Guzape and other districts of the FCT.

    The infrastructure, according to Mahmoud, will enhance the quality of life of Abuja residents and benefit generations to come.

    “The sustainable growth and development of any city relied heavily on the infrastructure,” she said.

    Earlier, Mr Shehu Ahmad, Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority, said that the entire Guzape District covered an area of about 1,070 hectares.

    Ahmad explained that Lot I, being executed by Dantata and Sawoe covered an area of 450 hectares, while Lot II being successfully executed by Gilmor Engineering covered 620 hectares.

    He explained that out of the 1,074 hectares total area, about 129 hectares has been encumbered by village settlement, of which about 66 falls within the area executed by Gilmor Engineering.

    He said that the scope of work involved the provision of electrical power supply, including a 33/11 mini-injection substation to power the district one each for Lot I and Lot II.

    He added that other engineering infrastructure included a mini sewage treatment plant, transformers, and street lighting poles that were erected and powered.

    “The district is meant to provide services to about 1,017 plots of various usage and sizes – residential, commercial, as well as parks and recreation.

    “The lot II we are inaugurating today covers 561 plots out of the 1,017 plots

    “The Lot II has 31.3 kilometers network of roads, out of the 73 kilometres of roads in the entire district, while the one being executed by Dantata and Sawoe is about 30 kilomtres.

    “The remaining ones were encumbered by village obstruction areas and attention is currently being given by Wike to hasten the compensation and resettlement of the village obstruction areas,” he said.

  • Rivers Palaver: Amaechi declares stand, says I won’t take sides in Wike-Fubara feud

    Rivers Palaver: Amaechi declares stand, says I won’t take sides in Wike-Fubara feud

    Immediate past Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, at the weekend said that he will not be supporting either Governor Siminalayi Fubara or Nyesom Wike in the current political crisis in the state.

    Amaechi spoke during a visit to a leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Okorinama West at his private residence in Port Harcourt.

    Amaechi further encouraged young supporters to take an active role in shaping the state’s leadership.

    He said, “I can’t stand and join either Sim or Wike. I will not join Sim, I will not join Wike.

    But don’t forget, they are not big without you people, I hope you know that.”

    He added, “What Sim thinks is popularity today is because he is anti-Wike. That’s his popularity, not that Sim is the best man on earth.

    ” It’s because he is anti-Wike and that’s what is happening.

  • Wike, one of best appointees of my administration – Tinubu

    Wike, one of best appointees of my administration – Tinubu

    President Bola Tinubu says, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike “is one of the best appointments ever made in the history of the current administration.

    The President stated this on Wednesday in Abuja, during the inauguration of the Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) and the Outer Southern Expressway (OSEX), known as the first phase of Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Expressway

    Represented by his Vice, Kashim Shettima,  the President described Wike as ‘a force of human nature’, adding, “love him, hate him, but you can’t ignore him, because at every point in time he is redefining the meaning and concepts of modern leadership.

    The President commended Wike and his team, for their dedication and hard work in delivering many projects, including the expressway in less than one year.

    Tinubu reiterated the commitment of his administration to engendering progress and prosperity.

    He said that the extension of the ISEX represented more than just a road, but, symbolized connectivity, accessibility and opportunity.

    ” It also signifies our unwavering determination to bridge the gab between the urban and rural areas in ensuring that development was not confined to city centres but reaches every corner of our great nation.

    ” We celebrates not just the completion of yet another road project by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), but also the commitment of our administration to endangering progress and prosperity.

    “Today’s commission is the fourth completed roads that we proudly unveiled in the Federal Capital Territory, all executed in less than one year.

    ” These roads are tangible proves of our administration vision for modern, prosperous and inclusive Federal Capital Territory.”

    Tinubu assured that in the coming months and years, his administration would continue to prioritise infrastructure development as a corners stone of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    ” We remain committed on delivering on our promises, empowering our people and building a nation that we can all be proud of,” he said.

  • Fubara fires 10,000 civil servants engaged by Wike

    Fubara fires 10,000 civil servants engaged by Wike

    As the political crisis in Rivers State continues to escalate, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has fired 10,000 civil servants engaged by his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.

    Fubara said a new recruitment process would be carried out subsequently.

    Speaking when he received a delegation of leaders and members of the RIWAMA Service Providers Association, on a Solidarity Walk to the Government House Gate in Port Harcourt yesterday Fubara said he took the decision because most of the people employed by his predecessor were over aged.

    He was represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke.

    Fielding questions from the audience, the governor said, “I know that is the first question, the ten thousand jobs. When we came on board we already had details that were submitted to us from the 23 local government areas.

    “You will agree with me that when we subjected those names to proper scrutiny, most of those names, in fact, 60 per cent of those names were over-aged. They were names that people brought for political patronage.

    “But what we are talking about today is employment for the future. I, personally after the analysis of those things, said ‘How will you employ somebody who is 52 years old as a civil servant.

    “How many years is the person going to work before retirement?”

    Fubara assured that the social contract between his administration and the Rivers people won’t be broken as he challenged service providers for the Rivers State Waste Management Agency to redouble their efforts and make sure that refuse wastes are cleared off the streets promptly to have a cleaner city always.

  • BREAKING: Abuja Metro Rail set to operate for free

    BREAKING: Abuja Metro Rail set to operate for free

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured that the Abuja Light Rail will operate free for two months, after its commissioning on the 27th of May, 2024.

    Wike stated this during the ongoing Ministerial Sectoral Update to mark the first year in office of the President Bola Tinubu administration, held at the Radio House in Abuja, on Thursday.

    The Minister had earlier stated that the President, Bola Tinubu will commission the Metro rail project for commercial activities on Monday.

    He however urged residents to begin use of the Metro rails from Tuesday, the 28th of May, adding that the goal was to aid the ease of commuting for residents and that the President may extend the free train rides up to 6 months.

    The Minister also said the FCT Administration will begin the construction of 10,000 affordable housing units tagged the Renewed Hope City from the coking year, 2025.

    The Minister of Youth Development, Jamilo Bio Ibrahim, and the Minister of Transportation, Sa’Idu Ahmed Alkali, are also expected to give briefings today.

    More details later…

  • Rivers crisis deepens as four Wike loyalists quit Fubara’s cabinet

    Rivers crisis deepens as four Wike loyalists quit Fubara’s cabinet

    A fresh wave of resignations has hit the Rivers State Government headed by Governor Siminalayi Fubara as four more commissioners, who are loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have resigned from the governor’s cabinet.

    Those who resigned are Chinedu Mmom (from the Ministry of Education), Gift Worlu (from the Ministry of Housing) and Jacobson Nbina (from the Ministry of Transport).

    Inime Aguma also resigned as the Commissioner for Social Welfare and Rehabilitation saying “there is no room for progressional development in the work place”.

    Mmom and Worlu cited a toxic working environment as the main reason for their exit while Nbina cited “unresolved political crisis” in the state as his reason for exit.

    The four persons were among the commissioners who first resigned from the governor’s cabinet last December in the wake of the political crisis in the state but were readmitted into Fubara’s cabinet following President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.

    Earlier, three commissioners, Zacchaeus Adangor, Emeka Woke and Alabo George-Kelly also resigned from the Ministries of Justice, Special Projects and Works respectively.

    Governor Fubara recently announced a plan by his administration to set up a panel of inquiry to probe the governance of the state under the Wike administration.

    The governor accused his opponents of deliberately sabotaging his administration while he was hoping that the issue in the state would be resolved amicably.

    The move was the latest twist in the political crisis rocking the oil-rich state. The development has seen a deepening of the feud between Fubara and the state House of Assembly.

    Last week, lawmakers loyal to the governor elected a new speaker. Fubara had also issued an executive order relocating the sitting venue of the Rivers State House of Assembly to the Government House, citing safety concerns.

    The feud is due to the fallout between Fubara and his predecessor and current Minister of the FCT Nyesom Wike.

  • ‘We’ll see the nyansh of the fowl’ – Fubara vows to expose Wike

    ‘We’ll see the nyansh of the fowl’ – Fubara vows to expose Wike

    Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has vowed to expose the infractions in the contract awarded by the previous administration of Nyesom Wike.

    He revealed that the state is heavily in debt and that his administration inherited a huge debt profile.

    Governor Fubara stated this on Tuesday during the commissioning of the Aleto-Ogale-Ebubu-Eteo Road, (also known as Old Bori Road in Eleme Local Government Area of the state.

    The governor and Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have been at loggerheads over control of the political sphere in the state.

    Speaking at the commissioning ground at Eleme, Governor Fubara said most projects commissioned by the previous administration were not paid in full, adding that the contractors of the projects not fully funded are returning for outstanding payments.

    He said: “My story as a person will not be complete if Eleme is not mentioned, that is the truth. Maybe, if I have not started from Eleme, I will not get to Level 14.

    “At least I started here before I got to Level 14.

    “And for the records, this contract was awarded to CCECC on the 14th of August 2023 not by “I” but by this administration and as we go further, we will be going with a White Paper showing the record and amounts this project was awarded.

    “This project was awarded at N6.7bn and I can say boldly no kobo is remaining, we have paid the contractor completely without owing. The purpose of this is to let the world know that if there is one problem this administration has it is debts.

    “Most of the projects commissioned (by the last administration), the contractors are still coming for their balance payments running into millions and billions. I have said I don’t want to talk because I am part of that system but when they keep pushing me, I will say it so that we will see the nyansh of the fowl.

    “But let us leave that one until when they are ready, we will also be ready. The small one we are doing now, they are not sleeping, I wonder what will happen when we do the big one.

    “The Problem we have is accumulated debts from the past government.”

  • Pro-Wike group visits assembly quarters, says no need for rehabilitation

    Pro-Wike group visits assembly quarters, says no need for rehabilitation

    A group of Rivers elders and leaders suspected to be loyal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Chief Nyesom Wike, on Sunday visited the state House of Assembly residential quarters.

    The group’s visit is coming a few days after Gov. Siminalaye Fubara embarked on an inspection visit to the facility.

    During that visit, Fubara had said that the essence was to find out the state of the facility for possible rehabilitation.

    Speaking during the visit, Mr Desmond Akawor, a former Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party in Rivers, said that the visit was to ascertain the structural viability of the buildings.

    ”We got information about some leakages on some roofs and other structural defects on your residential buildings.

    ”We are also informed that the governor is set to intervene by breaking down some of the buildings and carrying out rehabilitation where necessary.

    ”For us, we will not want another structure in the state to be destroyed without replacement,” he said.

    Receiving the group, the assembly’s factional Speaker, Mr Martin Amaewhule (Obio/Akpor-1), described the visit as an indication of Rivers people’s concern over the happenings in the state.

    Amaewhule said that they had engaged experts who confirmed that nothing was wrong with the buildings.

    ”This is one of the best legislative quarters in West Africa, it is in good shape, it does not require rehabilitation at the moment,” he said.

    The factional speaker said that the law of separation of powers empowered the assembly to have full ownership of the estate without the governor’s interference.

    NAN reports that also at the visit, was Mr Kingsley Chinda (PDP Obio/Akpor federal constituency) and Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

    It would be recalled that the ongoing political crisis in Rivers has polarised the state into two political groups in support of the governor and the minister respectively.

  • We will deal squarely with land grabbers – Wike

    We will deal squarely with land grabbers – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration will deal squarely with land grabbers, no matter how highly- placed.

    Wike gave the warning when officials of the Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), FCT Chapter, visited him in Abuja on Thursday.

    “Land grabbing is not new. Some of your people are part of it, some staff of FCT are part of it.

    “As a government, we will do all we can to see that we deal squarely with anybody that is involved, no matter how highly- placed he or she might be.

    “It is  a terrible situation we found ourselves in. People grabbing land; people illegally acquiring land, just for the purpose of becoming rich overnight,” the minister said.

    He pointed out that everyday ,people write  the FCTA, demanding for land allocation to develop a certain number of houses in the city.

    He, however, said that many people were doing that just to obtain a land title and at the end of the day, nothing was developed.

    “They will do all they can; take our land and sell it to people for development.

    “For me, that is not helping us to reduce the housing deficit, no. That is just a way of taking government land and enriching yourselves at the expense of the government,” he said.

    The minister added, “Yes government cannot sell land, so why will the government give out land for the purpose of housing estate and then you are selling the land?

    “The government can as well sell the land itself if that is the case.”

    Wike said that to address the challenge, the FCTA had decided that developers must show financial capacity before a land would be allocated to them in FCT.

    He added that a reputable commercial bank must also write an undertaking that the developer has the financial capacity for such development.

    “Two, you will write an undertaking that the project will commence and be completed within a specified time without any condition attached to it.

    “Three, that failure to develop the land, the government is entitled to take back its land.It does not matter what form of development you are putting there.

    “If that is done, then we will be convinced and give you our land allocation with proper documentation,” he said.

    He said that the  measures were necessary to ensure that developers do not steal from the government in the name of development.

    The minister said that there were currently over 1000 litigations in different courts over land matters, with kore being recorded on daily basis.

    The minister also berated real estate developers for not meeting up to their obligations to the government, particularly in the payment of taxes relating to land.

    “Even when you sell your properties, you don’t remit part of which belongs to the government.

    “So, I want to partner with you but on good faith, not partnership that one party would be detrimental to the other, no. It has to be mutual and symbiotic,” Wike said.

    Earlier, REDAN Chairman, Dr Ehikioya Okoruwa, assured Wike of the association’s readiness to partner the FCTA to bridge housing deficits in the territory.

    Okoruwa said that to that end, the association planned to build 15,000 houses.

    He further said that REDAN would invest N262 billion in the housing sector, adding that the FCTA would gain a lot  if they supported the project.

    Okoruwa  said that REDAN was working with security agencies to address land racketeering, emphasising the association’s commitment to ethical practices and accountability.

    “This meeting sets the stage for a potential partnership between the FCT Administration and REDAN, but with clear terms and expectations for accountability and transparency,” he said.