…As Ndume Throws Weight Behind FCTA, Says We Must Obey Rules, Regulations Of Abuja,
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday begun mass demolition of shanties built on green and flood plain areas behind the Old Federal Secretariat and Dunamis Church in Area 1.
Our correspondent observed that, tz wo Development Control bulldozers swiftly crushing over two hundred structures mostly constructed with local bricks hitherto used for residential and commercial purposes.
It would be recalled that the Administration had in February, 2022 issued a demolition notice to owners of the illegal structures with reminder on 1st March to leave the place.
Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah while briefing newsmen on the enforcement exercise said the spate of shanties in the area was worrisome and need serious clean up.
He regretted that the secretariat that houses the Ministers of Interior, Trade and Investment have been taken over by the illegal structures which constituted security threat to the nation’s capital.
Attah explained that the demolition followed series of complains received about the area from security agencies and strategic persons, recently.
His words: ” It is a lot worrisome, we have been receiving series of complains from security agencies and strategic persons, so as part of our efforts to clean the federal capital of shanties we have to start the pulling down of the illegal structures.
“The FCT Administration will not allow shanties to take over ministers of Interior and that of Trade and Investment with other key ministries.
“It would have been done since last year but because of the wet season we had to leave it till now, dry season, even now is not easy but we have to do it. We warned them time without number to vacate the place”
Speaking on claims by owners of the illegal structures that they were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Borno state, Attah said the IDPs were few in numbers at the fringes of the Dunamis church and near the main road.
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume who represents Borno South in National Assembly visited the area during the exercise and called for profiling of the IDPs.
Ndume said, “we are all Nigerians, we must obey rules and regulations, there is nothing wrong demolishing structures serving as security threat to offices belonging to senior government officials, therefore let all of you that know that you are IDPs write down your names for proper documentation” he said.
The Abuja Bureau Chief of the Nigerian Tribune, Dr. Leon Usigbe was on Tuesday night attacked by armed robbers at the Phase 4 Federal Secretariat junction, Three Arms Zone in the nation’s capital city.
The robbers, who were three in numbers, attacked and stabbed him in several parts, living him with deep cut on his right hand and backside.
Recounting his ordeal, Usigbe said, “he had just left a meeting between former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Representatives Caucus hosted by the House Minority Leader, Ndudi Elemelu, at his Lobito Crescent, Wuse residence before his attack.
“The Huasa-speaking robbers swooped on him as he alighted from his car to mount a reflective triangle behind just as the engine suddenly went off at the traffic stop and had problems restarting.
“They grabbed me by his neck from behind and indiscriminately unleashed sharp objects on his body almost, severing his right thumb.
“The robbers succeeded in dispossessing me of my two mobile phones including an iPhone 13 pro and Samsung Galaxy A32 series before disappearing into the waste land opposite the Phase 4 Federal Secretariat”, narrated.
Usigbe continued , ” I was drenched in his own blood, managed to walk to the nearby police post at the Federal Secretariat where some policewomen on duty conveyed him to the State House Medical Centre for treatment.
“My wounds were stitched up before being discharged on Wednesday morning”, he hinted.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in partnership with Nigerian Film Corporation (NFC) has inaugurated a joint sub-committee for the Zuma film festival schedule to hold on the 2nd-9th of April, 2022.
Performing the inauguration at the FCT Minister’s Conference hall on Thursday in Area 11, Abuja , the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola expressed delight over the choice of Abuja as the host city for the film festival, noted that the annual event offers Abuja the platform to rank among elite film festivals hosts across the globe.
He highlighted some of the benefits of hosting the show which includes job creation, revenue generation, boosting tourism, reduction of crime rate as well as the elevation of the status of Abuja as a leading entertainment capital city.
Adesola, however, assured that, the Nigerian Film Corporation of the Administration’s support for the partnership to host a successful film festival come April while urging members of the committee to work vigorously towards the success of the festival.
Earlier, the Nigerian Film Festival Managing Director of Dr. Chidia Maduekwe said the 2022 Zuma Film Festival in Abuja will attract diasporan actors and film makers that will create opportunities for them to share ideas with local film makers towards repositioning the Nigerian movie industry.
He said with the inauguration of the 15 Committees, preparations will be on top gear towards ensuring the success of the festival.
Maduekwe also expressed hope that he Committee will vigorously pursue the implementation of all activities that are associated with preparations as well as the success of the show.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned residents of the nation’s capital to stop buying land from Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Abuja.
It would be recalled that thousands of persons displaced by Boko Haram from Boron state ten years ago settled with their families at the IDP camp in Area 1.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah made this known while speaking to newsmen after the removal of illegal structures behind the old Federal Secretariat at Area I in Abuja .
He said it was quite unfortunate that people were buying land from IDPs and building on swamps, water ways and on perimeter fence of old Federal Secretariat, saying, this is unacceptable.
Attah , however,lamented that it was quite painful that people paid as much as N100,000 to buy land in a place that is full of snakes and other reptiles.
His words, “We came back today to continue the clean up, because Distinguished Senator Ali Udume appealed to us to allow them to pack up their things. We all agreed that they should clear up the place.
“I can’t really estimate how many illegal structures were removed today but the work continues. Many of these structures have been here for many years.
“These structures are built within swamps and water ways and within fence.
“What is very painful is that you cannot come here, until at the peak of the dry season, even our machines here are sinking and despite the fact that there has not been rain in over four months so you can imagine if it were during raining season, that means once there is a single rain fall you cannot access this place.
“The fact that people pay from N30,000 to N100,000 to buy land here is very painful and it does not make it genuine, it is very wrong. The fact that you have been staying here for long and the swamp is giving you cover from the machine doesn’t make it right.
He , however, reiterated the commitment of FCT administration to prosecute those selling illegal lands in the Territory, “Minister of FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, asked us to go and remove them, everyone is here to do his job.
“And those who are selling land we will definitely come after them and those who are buy from them, this is the pain you pay for buying illegal lands, those who are renting, I can tell you some people pay rent as much as N150,000 here and you can get a good house in Dutse Alhaji, Nyanya for that same amount”.
Speaking on sustainability he noted that, “As long as the machines work they won’t come back here. The machine must constantly work as a reminder to those commiting illegality, that they should stop. It like security if you remove them from the streets there will be anarchy. As long as we have law enforcement agencies , those who are commiting crime will do it hidden. As long as there is enforcement, illegality won’t be allowed to prevail”.
A resident Ifie Samuel who spoke to our correspondent said he has lived in the area for over six months, “I work in one of the plazas around here, one of my friends that have been living here for over 10 years brought me here.
According to him, “And I bought a land in 2019 but started building in 2020 and moved in 2021.
“I brought water into this community, I connected the water from water board and it is registered. I paid close to N600,000 to connect the water.
“When I bought the land they didn’t tell me the land was illegal, they told me it is an IDP camp. And there is no access road to this place, those selling the land said they are from Gosa.
“To be sincere I didn’t spend less than N1.2 million to build the house”.
A bill seeking to amend the 2022 Appropriation Act scaled second reading in the Senate.
The bill seeks to amend the 2022 budget by making provision in the sum of N106,161,499,052 for Capital Expenditures and N43,870,592,044 for recurrent without increasing budget deficit.
The bill was sponsored by the Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi (Kebbi North).
Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari, in a letter to the National Assembly dated 10th of February, 2022, underscored the need to remove all capital projects that were replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act.
He disclosed that 139 out of the 254 projects in the budget totaling N13.24 billion had been identified for deletion.
The President also requested that an additional provision for N2.557 trillion naira be appropriated by the National Assembly to fund the petrol subsidy in the 2022 Budget Framework which was revised to provide fully for PMS subsidy.
Buhari requested the National Assembly to reinstate four capital projects totaling N1.4 billion in the Executive proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; and N22.0 billion cut from the provision for the Sinking Fund to retire mature loans needed to meet government’s obligations under already Issued Bonds.
Leading debate on the general principles of the 2022 Appropriations Act Amendment bill, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi gave key highlights of the amendment to include eleven areas such as Funding to cushion the impacts of the recent suspension of the Petroleum Motor Spirit subsidy removal; and Addressing the adverse implications that some changes made in the 2022 Appropriation Act could have for the successful implementation of the budget.
Others include restoring the provisions made for various key projects in the 2022 budget proposal to ensure that critical projects that are cardinal to the administration are implemented and to ensure that those nearing completion do not suffer setback due to reduced funding; Re-instating the N25.18 billion cut from the provision for the Power Sector Reform Programme; Re-instating the four Capital Projects totaling N1.42 billion in the Executive Proposal for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; restoring the N3 billion cut from the provision made for payment of mostly long outstanding Local Contractors’ Debts; and transferring the National Assembly’s expenditures totaling N16.59 billion in the Service Wide Vote to National Assembly Statutory Transfer provision.
The Senate Leader added that the amendment also seeks the reinstatement the N22.0 billion cut from the provision for Sinking Fund to retire Mature Loans; reinstatement of cuts made from provisions for the recurrent spendings of Nigeria’s Foreign Missions; restoration of reductions in provisions for allowances payable to personnel of the Nigerian Navy and Police Formations and Commands; and removal of all capital projects that were replicated in the 2022 Appropriation Act; following the identification of 139 out of 254 such projects totaling N3.24 billion for deletion from the budget.
Contributing to the debate, Senator Gabriel Suswam bemoaned the high tax expenditure in the 2922 budget.
“Tax expenditures are waivers that are given to individuals or companies.
“Mr. President, if you look at the tax expenditure in 2022, it is about N1 trillion and totally unnecessary.
“It is not just what the president has sent here, let us consider those areas that can help them save money, because we might decide to step down those tax expenditures.”
The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, after the bill scaled second reading, referred the same to the Committee on Appropriation for further work.
The Committee was given one week to report back to the chamber in plenary.
Meanwhile, two bills seeking to establish the Federal College of Education Afon, Kwara State; and Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education have also passed second reading.
The bills were sponsored by Senators Yahaya Oloriegbe (Kwara Central) and Ezenwa Onyewuchi (Imo East).
The bills after consideration were both referred by the Senate President to the Committee on Tertiary Institution and TETFUND.
The Committee was given four weeks to report back to the Senate.
The House of Representatives has called for the urgent provision of emergency Clinics along Federal Highways across the Nigeria.
The House also mandated the Committee on Federal Road Safety Commission to ensure compliance.
While urging that the Federal Road Safety Commission to liaise with the Federal Ministry of works and Housing, and States Emergency Management Authorities to ensure that accident victims receive quick medical attention.
The House resolutions were passed sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Hon. Mallam Bukar Gana, (APC, Borno).
Gana noted that Road traffic accidents have become a global public health concern but not enough attention is given to it in terms of public health enlightenment and strategic policies by the government to achieve sustainable control.
He also noted that some accidents are inevitable, and a lot can be done to minimize fatalities through the establishment of functional road traffic clinics across the States of the federation.
He stated that the Federal Government is constitutionally bound to protect lives and properties of its citizens by providing security and essential amenities amongst others, and Section 10(3)(q) of the Federal Road Safety Commission Act empowers the Federal Road Safety Commission to provide roadside and mobile clinics for the free treatment of road accident victims within the nation.
“The Federal Road Safety Commission was established to, amongst other things, rescue road accident victims from the crash site, administer first aid treatment, and operate road accident clinics to treat minor accident cases and stabilize critical victims before transferring them to the nearest hospitals.
The Lawmaker cited a statistic of the clinics that are functioning and the one that are not, he said “there are only forty-seven traffic accident clinics across Nigeria, fifteen of which are furnished but non-functional, fourteen (14) are not furnished and non-functional, while only 18 are furnished and functional.
“According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), 11,363 accidents were recorded in 2016 with a total number of 30,105 injured victims out of which 28,250 were adults, 1,855 were children, while 5,053 people lost their lives.
“We are worried that the deplorable state of major highways and reckless driving occasioned by over speeding, drunkenness, and total disregard of traffic rules by commuters have contributed to incessant road accidents, and the country require functional clinics to prevent needless deaths.
“The available roadside clinics are grossly insufficient to cater for the medical needs of commuters as the functional ones are poorly managed, and commuters will continue to die needlessly for lack of immediate medical attention,” he added.
….. Applauds Principal Officers House of Reps, Sen. Aduda, Sokodobo, Gbefwi , Jiba for their support, courage.
An advocacy group under the auspices of Abuja Grassroots Advocacy Projects (AGAP) has berated All Progressive Congress (APC) Senators at National Assembly over failure to support the plights of the vulnerable people of the Federal Capital Territory by voting against a bill for an act to alter the provision of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, to provide for Office Of Mayor for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Abuja and related matters.
The chief advocate of the group, Comrade Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, in a press briefing also threatened that, if the Senators at the National Assembly continue to ignore sensitive matters that have a direct bearing on the plight of FCT indigenes, the indigenous people of FCT might be pushed to the wall to boycott the 2023 general elections.
He commended the only Senator representing the FCT at the National Assembly for his courage and height standard of lobbying his colleagues to support the Mayoral bill in favour of FCT natives, that he has so far showcased his love and sacrifices for the FCT people,
He also commended the effort and doggedness of the principal officers House of Representatives, Hon Sokodobo, Hon Jiba, Hon Gbefwi for standing by the FCT people to ensure that the bill scaled through in favour of FCT indigenes at the lower Chambers
He further called on Nigerians to question the rationale behind the negative motives of the Senators attitude over the Mayoral status of the FCT, especially the Senators from the far Northern part of the country, while regretting the support the indigenous people of FCT gave to the APC to win two-third of the votes in 2016 and 2019 to clinch the sit of Presidency which he said may be difficult for the APC as a party in 2023.
Yusuf also reminded Nigerians of the July 4th, 1978 policy reversal made by former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo to stop the evacuation of FCT natives as earlier recommended by Justice Akinola Aguda, that the decision affirmed that FCT has never been a “virgin land” or “no man’s land” as misconceived by some Nigerians.
According to him, the sacrifices of the FCT indigenous people should be seen by elites as an everlasting sacrifice that should be paid back by any policy that will favor and reduce the long-suffering of the Abuja Original inhabitant.
“The Senators should review its decision to vote out the mayoral status of the FCT, saying that the FCT mayoral status would foster National Development and enhance adequate representation in governance.
”Section 297 to 307 to be replaced by the establishment for FCT with an elected mayor and Mayoral Assembly which will now replace the president by designating FCT as the Governor of FCT and National Assembly as the FCT Legislators respectively as against the status of executive and legislative functions vested on the president and the National Assembly.
“If we have original inhabitants of the FCT well captured within the constitution of our country we are on our way to working out a better Nigeria where every Nigerian has a right,” he said.
Off takers in the nation’s capital (FCT) on Wednesday tasked to do due diligence investigation before investing in real estate sector.
A Brand Ambassador of KSI Construction and Estate Developer, Oni Lukeman, popularly known as Ambassador Wahala gave the tasks when he was unveiled as Brand Ambassador for KSI Construction and Estate Developer in Abuja.
He said that, one of the biggest problem faced by residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is accommodation and will not be proper to painfully gather money and the money end up with fraudulent estate developers.
His words, ” There are many fraudulent estate developers around and before you do business with them you should do your due diligence to know if the property has all the land title documents from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Department of Lands and Abuja Geographic Information Systems (AGIS)”.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director, KSI Construction and Estate Developer, Mr Koleola Emmanuel said they are out to change the narrative in the real estate sector, saying, there are still good people in the business.
He added that, they don’t make life miserable for those who patronizes them, while adding that there are developers who have been morally upright since they started real estate business in the nintees and this are the kind of people we emulate.
The Deputy Majority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, has hinted that the defeat suffered by the constitutional amendment Bill seeking to create special parliamentary seats for women, was due to gender bias by the male folks in the House.
It would be recalled that the bill which sought to create 111 additional seats for women in both the National and State Assemblies was sponsored by the House Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and over 100 other members, but primarily championed by the deputy Whip. However, members including some of the co-sponsors voted against it on Tuesday during the Clause-by-Clause consideration which was done via electronic voting.
Briefing newsmen in her office on Wednesday, Onyejeocha lamented the situation, saying that it has set Nigeria back many years and kept her in an unpopular position in world ranking of countries with the least level of women inclusiveness in governance.
According to her, “Everybody saw what transpired on the floor of the House, even the Senate yesterday. To say the least, I am very disappointed. Disappointed not because people shut down the bills but because the bills that were shut down have taken this country backwards. Taken it from the basics. Number one. God Himself created Adam and removed a rib and made Eve and said this is your help mate. Nigeria as we speak is boasting with their women who are doing wonderfully well. And of course, you saw that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala contested with world powers and she made it. That’s our blood. Look at Amina Mohammed, to mention but a few.
“We boast of being the giant of Africa, yet we are the least as far as women representation is concerned. I am also worried because we are losing a lot in terms of resources because a lot of nations do not give us the grants that are meant for us because of low level of women representation. You can get those fact from the UNDP. They have the records.
“And as we speak, with a ranking of 184 out of 187 countries, our men should be ashamed of what they did yesterday. That’s the truth, 184 out of 187, Nigeria should not raise their heads high with this kind of outcome. We have pushed for 35 affirmative action. It started in the 6th Assembly. I came here in 2007 and I was chairman of women in parliament and we tried to increase our number and yet, it didn’t work and the reason it was failing was because the men are asking this particular question: which seat do you want to take? I said that this is an issue of preservation which is not supposed to be at all because if you do not come to the House of Reps, you can be anything, governor. They are the people becoming governors in several States, appointed ministers. As we speak, how many Minister’s do we have? Wherever you go, you still find men and they will still find their feet,” she said.
She explained that the quest to avoid competition with the men led to the efforts at creating the additional seats which were to be contested only by women, just as it would help improve Nigeria’s global ranking of women inclusiveness in governance.
“So, I said since the issue is that nobody wants to lose his seat for a woman, let’s create additional seats to accommodate and break the jinx and fill the gap because it is so wide. 184 out of 187, are we a country? How do you explain it? What do you tell the world? Would you tell the world that your coming 184th. And then we are shouting that if we give these women a chance, they will overrun us. How are they going to over run you? We do not over run you in your homes when we are taking care of your children, nurturing you, providing for you, giving you comfort, campaigning for you to win election? I know most men that will not be on this floor if the women don’t gather to support and vote them in? Then you are saying we are not fit, that we will remain on this 184 out of 187 countries? It’s laughable to say the least,” she said.
The 4-time member of the green chamber expressed disappointment at her male colleagues for rejecting the provision, especially those who co-sponsored the bill with herself and the Speaker.
“So, what happened yesterday, for me, was unimaginable. I couldn’t think about it because I was not expecting it because having known how bills are killed on the floor, I decided to let everybody to co-sponsor this bill. And the number sponsor of this bill is our Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and I know in several fora, we have accorded him this he-for-she number one in this parliament even outside Nigeria.
“It is more worrisome that people who signed their signatures to a bill will come on the day of voting to say no. I explained to you that your seat is secured but let us create additional seats that will enable us bring more women so that they will remove us from 184 out of 187 because the whole world was watching us yesterday. At least 187 countries including Nigeria were watching to see how we will break this jinx.
“I came here with other female colleagues, twenty something women, it declined. Today we are 13. So, what’s the guarantee that in the 10th assembly, it will not decline further with this type of gang up, conspiracy and gender bias for inclusion because that’s how I see it. The words may be strong but that is what it is. If it not about bias, I don’t know how to put it.
“…I don’t know how you will explain to me that you sponsored a bill and you are part of the people that killed the bill. What it simply means is that the 88 that we got, remove the 13 women, where are the others? If it is not bias, what will it be? They are bias about women issues. That’s why it played out that even party administration, is there any member going to be a Women leader, a secretary of a party, treasury and yet it was killed. 35 percent representation on party matters, in political party structure, so, what’s wrong in giving them some percentage to help build the party?”, the lawmaker queried.
New strategies adopted by Niger state government to end siege by the many terrorist groups operating in about eight Local Government Areas in the state has yielded desired results with the killing of over 200 of the criminals between Sunday and Wednesday.
The feat was however not without supreme prize paid by security personnel as the joint security forces combating the dare devil criminals lost two of their men while several others were left with various degrees of injuries are responding to treatment.
Niger state Commissioner of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Internal security, Mr. Emmanuel Umar disclosed this while briefing journalists on the cheering news about the decimation of about four terror groups operating in parts of the state.
Umar gave the names of the terror groups hibernating in; Shiroro, Lavun, Mariga, Wushishi, Kontagora, Paikoro, Munya and Rafi Local Government Area to include Ali kawake, Yello jambros, Kachalla Halilu and Bello Turji.
While efforts have been intensified to rid the state of all forms of criminal elements, terrorist groups in particular, the commissioner attributed the successes so far to the new strategies which saw to the killing of the over 200 of them between Sunday and Wednesday.
“Between Sunday and today the joint security forces were able to neutralise over 200 terrorists representing about four groups namely, Kachalla Halilu, Ali Kawaje, Yello Jambros and Bello Turji, including some of their Commanders”.
The Commissioners commended the courage and collaborative efforts of traditional rulers in the state and communities for their resilience, they stood their grounds to protect and defend their land against the terrorists.
“Our gallant joint security forces proved their worth by the recent feat. Many motorcycles and rustled cattle were also recovered during the invasion and we recorded very minimal casualty on the side of security forces, we lost only two security men”, adding that the government took the battle to the criminal’s den.
While expressing sympathy to the families of the security personnel and communities who lost their loved ones, the commissioner is calling on transporters to be conscious of some fleeing terrorists along the highways seeking to be transported to certain locations and report to security agencies.
Niger state government is more than prepared to make the state very uncomfortable for armed bandits, the commissioner further explained and therefore called on the general public to reports any stranger lurking within their domain to security agencies for prompt action.
