TheNewsGuru

Tag: Wike

  • PDP Chieftain, Bode George gives tips on how to reconcile Atiku, Wike

    PDP Chieftain, Bode George gives tips on how to reconcile Atiku, Wike

    A former National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) Southwest, Chief Bode George has given tips on how to resolve the rift between the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesom Wike.

    According to Chief George, something must have triggered the face-off between Wike and Atiku.

    George made his position known while speaking on Arise Television, noting that Wike is not working against the party.

    George noted that Wike is a bonafide member of the party.

    Asked if Wike is working against PDP, he said: “That’s exactly what I’m driving at. Wike and Atiku just didn’t get out in different directions, something happened. And the party leaders must come down, do an in-depth post-mortem analysis of what happened.”

    Justifying Wike’s appointment in the APC-led government, George said, “Once party A wins an election, it opens the door to say, ‘Let’s have a united group.

    “When Obasanjo won the election in 1999, he invited people from ANPP, APGA, AD,” citing example with the late Chief Bola Ige who served as the Attorney-General of the Federation while he was a member of the Alliance for Democracy.

    “We can’t just have a Berlin wall to say that once you’re a member of this, you can’t serve there. The fact that you’re serving there doesn’t mean you’ve left your party.

    “According to Wike, he wrote a letter to serve in the APC government. He still plays the music. How can he work against the PDP? I don’t believe it,” George said, adding that “there are issues to be sorted out”.

    “I just came back from Ibadan where we had an elders’ meeting in respect to discordant voices that are coming out from Ondo State. People should get back to their various Local Governments and contribute their quota.

    “It’s unfair for committed members of the party to make such assertions in public. Discipline is part of the management in any organisation. What Pearse said isn’t correct,” he added.

  • INSECURITY! Bandits storm Zamfara market, k!ll three, injure many

    INSECURITY! Bandits storm Zamfara market, k!ll three, injure many

    No fewer than three persons have been reportedly killed while several others were injured as bandits invaded a market in Tsafe town, headquarters of Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    An eyewitness narrated that the bandits stormed the market around 11AM on Sunday morning and opened fire on the marketers.

    The spokesperson of the Nigerian Police in Zamfara State, ASP Yazid Abubakar, confirmed the attack to Channels Television via telephone conversation.

    He said the number of casualties in the attack is yet to be ascertained as at this time.

    Abubakar added that the joint military and police forces were deployed to the scene to engage the bandits and normalcy had been returned to the area.

    Yes, there was an incident this morning in Tsafe, the bandits entered the town, there were casualties, but I can’t confirm the figures now. I’m still waiting for the DPO of Tsafe to give full situation report but what I can confirm to you now is that the military and the police engaged the terrorists in gun battle and the area is calm now.”

    A resident of Tsafe town, Abubakar Tsafe, told Channels Television that at least three persons were confirmed dead while several others sustained gunshot injuries.

    “The bandits entered around 11AM and started shooting Indiscriminately towards the people at the market, the DPO of Tsafe gathered his officers on duty and lock the police station, preventing people from entering the place for shelter.”

    Residents also confirmed that the troops of Operation Hadarin Daji deployed to Tsafe engaged the Bandits in a gun duel which forced them to retreat to the forest.

  • “Damagum’s survival is not defeat for Atiku or victory for Wike, it’s for PDP members” – Senator Abba Moro

    “Damagum’s survival is not defeat for Atiku or victory for Wike, it’s for PDP members” – Senator Abba Moro

    The Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District and Senate Minority Leader, Comrade Abba Patrick Moro PhD on Saturday stated that the survival of Amb. Umar Lliya Damagum as Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was not a victory or defeat for anybody but a decision that was unanimously agreed on by the relevant stakeholders for the party to forge ahead.

    Senator Moro’s reaction was against the backdrop of rumor in some quarters that Amb. Damagum’s survival, against call for his resignation, was victory for the former governor of River State and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, and a defeat for PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Alh. Atiku Abubakar.

    Senator Moro said the activities and inactivities of PDP should not be translated to Atiku and Wike. He said the whole issue was not about victory or defeat for anybody but about PDP; about providing an alternative formidable platform for Nigerians to look up to.

    “We cannot translate the entirety of PDP’s activities and inactivities to Wike and Atiku, out of millions of other members of the party across the country who also have their own thinking and reasons for being in the party. The whole issue was not about Wike or Atiku, or victory for Wike or defeat for Atiku, the issue was existential. We came together and reasoned together, that in the present scenario where Nigerians are hurting due to the maladministration of the APC government, what do we do to provide an alternative platform for Nigerians to look up to? In that circumstances, we decided to thread with caution so that we dont throw away the baby with the bath water,” he said.

    On why the National Caucus of the party allowed Nyesom Wike into their meeting, Senator Moro said the Minister couldn’t have been stopped from the meeting since he has not been found guilty of any crime and penalized by the party. He said if the party’s disciplinary committee, headed by Senator Bukola Saraki found Wike guilty of the alleged antiparty activities and have him sanctioned, he will stop attending the party’s meetings.

    “The constitution of our party is very clear on who is a member and who is not a member of the caucus of the party and I dare say, at this point, that as a former governor who is still a member of the party, Nyesom Wike is a member of the National Caucus of the party.

    “If actions had been taken immediately after the elections and people who are perceived to have acted contrary to the desires and yearnings of the PDP have been sanctioned, then we can say that having been expelled or suspended, you can’t be here, but as it is, non of such actions has been taken, so you can’t just ban people from attending meetings.

    “One of the fallouts of the last NEC meeting was the resuscitation of the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committee, which is saddled with the responsibility of identifying the area of antiparty and the dramatis personae involved in the activities, and recommend appropriate punitive measures against those who have been found guilty to serve as deterrent to future occurrence.

    “Unfortunately, that hasn’t been done, and so to that extent, as a voluntary organization, if the members involved insist they are still members of the party, until actions are taken by the Reconciliation and Disciplinary Committe we want to take that they are still members of the party,” he added.

    On expectations from the next NEC meeting scheduled for August 15 as it concerns the position of the National Chairman of the party, the Senate Minority Leader said the party’s constitution had a well spelt out succession plan.

    “The constitution of our party has a well spelt-out succession plan. Section 35 (3C) states that where a vacancy exists, someone from the zone of the immediate past occupier of the office shall be appointed by NEC to complete the tenure of the person who vacated the office.

    “For the position of the National Chairman, we will look at the succession plan of the party, in accordance with the constitutional provisions, and produce a replacement for Senator Iyorchia Ayu from North Central now that he has heeded to our plea and withdrawn his case from the court. We will go to the next NEC meeting with open minds and invoke the relevant sections of the constitution to produce his replacement,” he stated.

    Senator Moro appealed to members and stakeholders of the party to have some level of circumspection and restraints in their actions and utterances so as not to further polarize the party. He assured that everything humanly possible would be done to put the party on its winning ways, to rescue Nigerians from the grinding poverty and sufferings that the ruling APC has plunged them into.

  • FCT minister, Wike, approves scholarship funding for 13,946 indigent students

    FCT minister, Wike, approves scholarship funding for 13,946 indigent students

    Minister of the federal capital territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike

    has approved N280.3 million in scholarship funding for 13,946 indigent students at all levels of education in the city.

    The mandate secretary at the education secretariat of the FCT administration, Danlami Hayyo confirmed this on Thursday.

    Hayyo spoke during the inauguration of the accelerated rehabilitation of 19 public schools across the FCT.

    The inauguration held at the School of the Gifted, Gwagwalada.

    Hayyo explained that the amount was for new and existing indigent students in different schools and at different levels of learning.

    He said the minister has also resuscitated the school sports festival which was abandoned 25 years ago.

    The mandate secretary said the goal is to enhance FCT learning environments and promote excellence.

    Hayyo said the FCT is looking to ensure that students and teachers have access to quality facilities.

    “It is about laying a foundation for a brighter future for our children,” Hayyo said.

    “We are reaffirming our commitment to ensuring that every child in the FCT has access to quality education; to a safe and stimulating learning environment, where they can grow, thrive and transform into the leaders of tomorrow.

    “Let us reflect on the importance of our mission; let us be inspired by the potential impact of our collective efforts.

    “Let us look forward to the successful completion of the project as we continue to work towards a brighter and more prosperous future.”

  • N1.15trn FCT budget to transform Abuja, rural areas – Wike

    N1.15trn FCT budget to transform Abuja, rural areas – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the N1.15 trillion 2024 proposed FCT Statutory Budget was designed to transform the capital city and rural communities.

    Wike stated this when he appeared before the Senate and House Committees on FCT, to defend the proposed statutory budget, in Abuja on Monday.

    He explained that out of the N1.15 trillion, N421.44 billion was earmarked as recurrent expenditure, representing 36.7 per cent, while N726.3 billion was set aside for capital expenditure, representing 63.3 per cent.

    He also explained that the proposed capital expenditure would be dedicated for the development of infrastructure with emphasis on completion of ongoing projects.

    Wike added that out of the N726.3 billion proposed capital expenditure, N80 billion was allocated for SUKUK loan projects, while N29 billion was earmarked for Abuja Light Rail project.

    The minister also said that N500 billion was for commercial loans for the completion of some ongoing capital projects in the federal capital city and satellite towns.

    He said that the balance of N117.3 billion was dedicated to the completion of ongoing capital projects and other counterpart funded related projects, aimed at enhancing socio-economic activities in the FCT.

    Wike said that the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) got the larger chunk of the capital budget.

    He said that FCDA got N457 billion, STDD N116 billion, while other Secretariat, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) got N153.3 billion.

    This, according to him, is to address critical areas like ongoing road construction, completion of water treatment plant and related facilities and few new projects.

    He explained that the N457 billion allocated to FCDA was for the provision of infrastructure within and around the capital city, of which N282 billion was for ongoing projects, while N175 billion was for new critical projects.

    “Some of the critical projects to be executed by the FCT Administration in the 2024 statutory budget proposal are the completion of Roads B6 and B12 and construction of access road and car park for Abuja Light Rail.

    “Full scope development of Arterial Road N20 from Northern Parkway to Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), provision of engineering infrastructure to Guzape, and provision of engineering infrastructure to Wuye District.

    “There is also the extension of Inner Southern Expressway (ISEX) from Southern Parkway (S8/S9) to Ring Road II (RRII), full scope development of FCT Highway 105 (Kuje Road) from Airport Expressway to OSEX with Spur at Kyami District,

    “Construction of Northern Parkway from Ring Road II to Ring Road III (6.2Km), full scope development of N5 and N20 and provision of engineering district infrastructure to Asokoro Island Layout in the FCT.

    “The sum of N198.5 billion is earmarked for the above eight major roads to speed up their completion before the end of 2024 fiscal year.

    “The expansion and rehabilitation of these roads will eventually reduce the travel time and traffic gridlock on our roads within and outside the city,” he said.

    The minister added that the transportation sector got N69 billion, of which N32 billion was for the construction of Bus Terminals Development at Kugbo, Jahi and Central Business District.

    He said that N80.3 billion was proposed for education sector, while the health sector got N45.7 billion.

    “The health budget seeks to complete the construction of hospitals in Gwagwalada, Gwarimpa and Utako Districts to enhance the capacity of some of our hospitals through the procurement of modern ambulances for eight FCTA hospitals,” he said.

    Wike also said that a total of N7.9 billion was proposed for FCT Agriculture and Rural Development sector to improve agricultural production and engagement of youths in agriculture,

    This, the minister said, would enhance food security, income, and better standards of living in the rural communities.

    “We shall invest in the provision of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, agro-chemicals, and fertiliser among others.

    “We shall also develop cluster farm centres in both the livestock and crop production sub- sectors,” he added.

    Wike equally said that N5 billion was allocated to the Social Development Secretariat for the promotion of gender, youths, children development, and other vulnerable groups in the FCT.

    “It will also be used for the promotion and preservation of Nigeria’s art and culture within the FCT, including the development of sports through the provision of sporting, cultural and recreational facilities,” he said.

    Wike also said that the Legal Services Secretariat got N5.6 billion for the provision of legal services, while N1.2 billion was earmarked for the Abuja Geographic Information System.

    The minister further said that the sum of N4.2 billion was proposed for the Area Council Services Secretariat to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for rural transformation, improve the quality of lives of citizens.

    “The secretariat is also expected to strengthen the traditional institutions as effective tools for mobilisation of people at the grassroots to achieve the developmental goals of the FCT Administration,” he said.

    Earlier, the Chairman Senate and House Committees on FCT, Ibrahim Bomai, and Muktar Betara respectively, who commended the minister for the development stride in the FCT, assured him the full support of the National Assembly.

  • Nyseom Wike appoints Chief of Staff

    Nyseom Wike appoints Chief of Staff

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has appointed Mr Chidi Amadi, as his Chief of Staff.

    Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister, announced the appointment in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

    Ogunleye said that Amadi, a former Chief of Staff to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, was appointed for his vast experience in public service.

    He added that Amadi had held several strategic political positions, including Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers, under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    “As Chief of Staff, Amadi will play a pivotal role in supporting the FCT minister in the formulation and execution of policies and programmes aimed at advancing the development agenda of the territory.

    “He will also provide strategic guidance, as well as ensuring the smooth functioning of the minister’s office” he said.

    The director said that Amadi would be sworn into office on March 18.

  • Why I am always at project sites – Wike

    Why I am always at project sites – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says his constant monitoring of ongoing projects in the territory, Abuja, is to keep contractors on their toes.

    Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday, after inspecting ongoing road projects in Guzape and the full-scale development of arterial road ‘N20′ at Jahi District.

    The N20 begins from Northern Parkway (Shehu Musa Yar’adua Expressway) to the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway).

    The minister explained that his constant and unscheduled visit to project sites was to ensure that the contractors deliver on agreed time and with expected quality.

    He said that the contractors had promised to deliver most of the projects by May, adding that he was on their toes to ensure that they deliver as promised.

    “We make sure that we go round to see the commitments made by the various contractors and to see whether they are going to fulfill the promises they had made.

    “On Saturday, we also had this kind of inspection, and today, we went to Guzape, the diplomatic zone and now we are on N20 road.

    “The last time I came here, the work was not up to this extent, and I am very much impressed with what I have seen.

    “This shows that God willing, by May, they will hand over these projects to us and then we will hand them over to the public,” he said.

  • We have turned Abuja to construction site – Wike

    We have turned Abuja to construction site – Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says the Bola Tinubu administration has turned Abuja into a construction site.

    Wike stated this when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Richard Montgomery, visited him in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He said that construction and other development activities had come to a halt in Abuja prior to the Tinubu-led government.

    “Before now, it does appear that there were no activities in Abuja, with many residents complaining that the city is so docile and nothing was happening.

    “However, since we came on board, you can see that activities have come up in terms of infrastructure, particularly road infrastructure.

    “We can proudly say that we have turned Abuja to a construction site, which was not the case in the past eight years,” he said.

    The minister added that the priority of the FCT administration was centred on the priority of the president and his “Renewed Hope” agenda, adding that the administration had recorded some progress, particularly on security.

    He said that the security agencies, particularly the police, had done so well in curbing the activities of bandits and other criminal elements.

    “You can comparatively say today that the level of insecurity has come down so much in Abuja because of the level of support and the commitment of security agencies, particularly the police.

    “We have given the police and other security agencies a lot of logistics support that have effectively helped them to perform their assignments.

    “I can tell you that we have made tremendous progress in terms of arresting kidnappers, and I am sure you are following the news about the everyday arrest of criminals,” he said.

    Wike identified key priority areas of the FCT administration as job creation, tourism, and agriculture.

    He said that the administration was ready to partner with investors to develop the tourism and agricultural sectors of the federal capital to create employment opportunities for the youths.

    “For me, agriculture is key; for me, security is key.

    “If we are able to solve these problems, then we will be able to create a lot of jobs and if you solve the problem of security, obviously you are giving confidence to investors to come and invest.

    “When the environment is not secure, that of course will not allow investors to come in.

    ” So, we think that these two key areas are very very germane for our administration,” Wike said.

    Earlier, Montgomery explained that he was in the minister’s office to seek his views and understand his priorities for the development of the Federal Capital Territory.

    He said that in the past few weeks, the United Kingdom had stepped up its engagement with the Nigerian government.

    Montgomery explained that his country recently signed new defence, security, and enhanced trade and investment partnerships with the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    He added that his country was equally providing technical support in the development of the Abuja Industrial Park, which in the long run would create jobs for Nigerian youths.

    “I absolutely agree with you on the jobs and agriculture focus and I am pleased to say that we actually have a programme on agriculture that is trying to improve the value chain.

    “This is so that farmers can be able to sell their produce to people that can process and package, and therefore, trade easily.

    ” This is something we hope is getting off the ground now to help the agriculture sector.

    “I also hope that the Abuja Industrial Pack will be one of those locations that will create new jobs, provide services for new Small and Medium Enterprises, which is where a lot of jobs come from.

    “I agree that there is no prosperity without security but also there is no long-term security without more jobs and prosperity. So, they are interlinked and I recognise the progress that is being made.

    On economy, the high commissioner said that his country was conscious that the long-term prosperity of Nigeria comes from the tough reforms that the government was putting in place.

    “This, we believed, quite strongly, will put Nigeria on a higher growth path, creating more jobs and better livelihood in the future,” he said.

  • Wike asks illegal occupants in Abuja to vacate

    Wike asks illegal occupants in Abuja to vacate

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has asked illegal occupants at the proposed Abuja Technology Village site, along Airport Road, to vacate the area.

    Wike gave the directive when he visited the area in Abuja on Monday.

    Wike was accompanied by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr Uche Nnaji, on the visit to the site.

    The minister said that he would direct the Department of Development Control to issue the illegal occupants an ultimatum to leave, adding that the indigenous community in the area had been compensated since 2015.

    “I am not impressed with what I am seeing. We don’t lack the political will. If you don’t take action, people will not believe that anything is possible.

    “I will call the Development Control Department and give them an ultimatum for these people to leave. They have been compensated since 2015.

    “I urge those who settled here illegally to know that we will not hesitate to move them out. No amount of campaign will stop us from doing the right thing,” he said.

    He advised the management of the Abuja Technology Village to take position of the space, fence the area and show some level of presence.

    Wike explained that he invited Nnaji to accompany him to the site so that he could take control of the place and see how investors could come in.

    He asked the management of the technology village to send him an estimate of what would be required to erect a befitting office on the site.

    “You are in charge of this place, and you don’t even have an office here, at least to show presence and tell people that we are here.

    “So, if an investor is coming now, he is coming to meet an empty land, and you are renting an office outside the village.

    “Please, let us know what it will take to erect a befitting office, so you can leave that place that you said that you are renting, and if you calculate the amount of money, you spent renting is a waste,” he said.

    Earlier, Nnaji expressed concern over the presence of illegal occupants on the site, saying “erection of illegal buildings in the area could discourage some investors who had expressed interest in investing in the village.”

    He disclosed that an American company had already declared intention to build 200 megawatts of electricity in the technology village.

    “There are so many other companies that want to start right away, but as this encroachment continues, we have to stop it somewhere, and see how we can take over, either to compensate the owners or demolish them.

    “We can’t have this kind of thing here. Our mission here is in the interest of the country, and it is in keeping with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu,” Nnaji said.

    Nnaji said the technology village would be modelled after the London Technology City and the Silicon Valley.

    “So, the infrastructure and technology that this place is going to house in a couple of years would be humongous,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the management team of the technology village, the Acting Managing Director, Mr Yusuf Isa, said their hopes were being renewed by the minister’s visit.

    The Abuja Technology Village is a science and technology park and a Special Economic Zone, being developed to accommodate clusters of science and technology firms from selected sectors and promote technology innovation and entrepreneurship.

    The project site, where primary infrastructure construction works are ongoing, is strategically located adjacent to other science and technology institutions that together create a huge economic cluster along a superhighway connecting the Abuja City centre and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

  • Wike charges FCT Council Chairmen to stay in their domains

    Wike charges FCT Council Chairmen to stay in their domains

    The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has admonished the area council chairmen in the territory to stay in their domains and develop the communities.

    Wike stated this on Wednesday in Yangoji, while inaugurating the construction of 11-kilometre rural road to connect Sukuku Ebo and Yangoji communities in Kwali Area Council of the FCT.

    “Continue to stay at home. Don’t come to the city regularly. Stay there and do the work. My own is to support you.

    “If you don’t do well for rural communities, you will create problems for the city,” he said.

    The Minister assured that the FCT Administration will continue to work with chairmen of FCT area councils to drive development in rural areas.

    Specifically, Wike promised to complete all abandoned projects in the Abaji and other area councils, stressing that era of abandoned projects was over.

    He said: “We are touching rural areas to renew their hope because they have suffered years of abandonment.

    “This is your time to benefit. If we don’t take care of rural areas, then we have failed as a government.”.

    The minister explained that the rural road intervention and other infrastructural development earmarked for rural communities was in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.

    According to him, the current government will be a complete failure if it fails to impact rural communities positively.

    The Minister was conferred with the traditional title of “Kauran” Kwali (fiercest and most courageous warrior) by the Kwali community,

    While thanking the people for the honour bestowed him, Wike promised not to let them down.

    He particularly promised to lead security agencies in the fight against bandits, kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising the city and rural areas.

    Earlier, the Chairman, Kwali Area Council, Mr Danladi Chiya, thanked President Tinubu for approving the construction of three rural roads in each of the six area councils.

    Chiya said that the gesture would complement the efforts of the Kwali area council in improving infrastructure for the benefit of the people.

    He said that his administration had constructed and rehabilitated 11.3-kilometre roads and graded 13 kilometre additional roads to ease the movement of his people and drive economic activities.

    The chairman appealed to the minister to complete the roads and other projects abandoned by the FCTA in the area.

    Dr Olusegun Olusa, Oversite Director, Satellite Towns Development Department, FCTA, explained that the project, awarded to Gilmor Engineering Nigeria Ltd, would be completed by May.

    The traditional leader of the area, the Chief of Pai, Alhaji Abubakar Sani. thanked President Tinubu and Wike for the commitment to provide infrastructure in rural communities, particularly roads.

    Sani said that the road, when completed, would make it easier for farmers to transport their farm produce and improve security in the area.

    He appealed that the gesture should be extended to primary healthcare centres to improve the quality of health services in rural areas.

    NAN