…Dismantles Over 100 Illegal Structures At Karon-Majigi Railway Line
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed to demolish all illegal structures on road corridors in Abuja.
The administration also warn all owners of illegal structures located on any of the approved road corridors within Abuja, to remove it or risk having it demolished without compensation.
This warning came on Tuesday as over 100 illegal buildings obstructing road construction leading to Kukwaba II train station, in Karon-Majigi were demolished.
The Senior Special Assistant (Designate) to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah who led the exercise, reiterated the commitment of the administration towards infrastructural development, and warned that every illegal structures standing on the way of any project would be demolished at the owner’s peril.
He ,however, expressed sadness over the loss being continuously incurred by victims of the demolition, saying, government will remain focused to citizen-oriented service delivery in all facets.
He also added that the Kukwaba train station had been completed long ago and ready for use, but the occupants of the illegal structures had refused to vacate the area, thereby slowing the road construction project.
His words , ” We are in Karon-Majigi to remove all illegal structures that are obstructing the road project to Kukwaba train station. We have to clear the houses wrongly built on this road corridors.
” This is against the warnings that we have always given via the media that you cannot buy land from the local Chiefs and build without approval.
” The Minister was very clear when he addressed journalists at the Presidential Villa that all those who illegally buy land and build houses on road corridors will not be compensated.
Meanwhile , Assistant Director at the FCT Department of Development Control, Hope Thompson, who is in charge of the area, confirmed that all indigenous people whose houses were affected had been adequately compensated before the exercise.
He also hinted that non- indigenes who defied urban and regional rules, to build without building approval, won’t be compensated by the administration.
… Picks Ikharo Attah As SSA On Monitoring, Inspection & Enforcement
President Muhammadu Buhari, based on the recommendation of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, on Monday approved the appointment of Mandate Secretaries, Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Heads of Agencies and Personal Aides into relevant positions in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The appointments are in keeping with his commitment to reposition the FCTA into a more robust and service-oriented administrative structure and enhancing its operational capability.
This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday evening by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunleye.
The appointees include: Mandate Secretaries and Heads of Agencies and Departments are: Ibrahim Abubakar Dantsoho Secretary, Area Council Services Secretariat; Abubakar Ibrahim Secretary, Agricultural & Rural Development Secretariat; Sani Dahir El-Katazu Secretary, Education; Dr. Abubakar Tafida Secretary, Health & Human Services Secretariat; Muhammad B. Umar Secretary, Legal Services Secretariat; Hadiza Mahammed Kabir Secretary, Social Development Secretariat; Zakari Angulu Dobi, Secretary, Transportation Secretariat and; Agboola Lukman Dabiri Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and PPP.
Others include:Obinna Francis Ogwuegbu,Coordinator, Satellite Towns Development. Department; Umar Shuaibu Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council. Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed Executive Secretary, FCDA; Ibrahim Damisa MD, Abuja Broadcasting Corporation; Dr. Muhammed B. Kawu General Manager, Hospital Management Board.
In the same vein, the Minister also approved the appointment of personal aides for himself and the Minister of State. They are: Mohammed Bashir Mai-Bornu Chief of Staff (wef 21.8.19); Abubakar Sani Senior Special Assistant (Media) (wef 21.8.19); Abuzarri Suleiman Ribadu Senior Special Assistant (Special Duties)(wef 21.8.19); Imolehin Akintunde Babatope; Senior Special Assistant (Environment & Waste Management.); Ikharo Attah Senior Special Assistant (Monitoring, Inspection & Enforcement) (wef 19.9.19); Ibrahim Ismaila Senior Special Assistant (Lands, Urban & Regional Planning); Isiyaku Tanko Yamawo Senior Special Assistant (Community Relations); Abu Salihu Muhammed Senior Special Assistant (Security).
Others include : Barr. Lawal Yusuf Senior Special Assistant (legal & Multi-lateral Cooperation); Dr. Ejike Oji Senior Special Assistant (Health & Hospital Management); Chika Alexander Nwatu Senior Special Assistant (Community Relations); Ardo Hassan JIbo Special Assistant (Community Relations); Abdullahi Danladi Galadima Special Assistant (Community Relations); Musa Dikko Bwari Special Assistant (Community Relations); Barr. Zainab Marwa Abubakar Special Assistant (Community Relations) ; Hailmary Ogolo Aipoh Special Assistant (Community Relations) and; Isaac David Special Assistant (Youth Matters).
Similarly, aides to the Minister of State include: Prof. M. T Usman Senior Special Assistant (Administration) (wef 21.8.19); Barr. Muhammad S. Sidi Aliyu Special Assistant (Project Implementation/ General Services) (wef 21.8.19); Alh. Abubakar Ibrahim Special Assistant (Special Duties) (wef 21.8.19); Mrs. Atika Ajanah Special Assistant (Logistics & Communication) (wef 21.8.19) ;Mal. Ibrahim Yahaya Special Assistant (Religious Affairs) (wef 21.8.19); Alh. Muhammad Saba Special Assistant (Area Councils) (wef 21.8.19); Abdul Agbadu Special Assistant (Agriculture and Rural Development) (wef 21.8.19)
Others include: Mr Austine Elemue Special Assistant (Media) (wef 21.8.19); Mrs. Simisola Ayoade Special Assistant (Social Development Services) (wef 21.8.19) ; Abdulmalik Baba Ajanah Principal Private Secretary (wef 21.8.19); Arrangements for the swearing-in of the appointees will be announced in due course.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello on Thursday assured the striking Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) FCT chapter that their demands will be meant before the end of 2021.
While adding that the administration will also work with the Six Area Councils Chairmen to settle outstanding entitlements of Local Education Authority (LEA) teachers in FCT.
Bello made this known when he chaired a meeting between the FCT Administration and the leadership of the FCT Wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the FCTA and heads of some security agencies in the FCT. in his office.
He said that, “Efforts will be made to pay all the promotion benefit arrears of the teachers before the end of the year”.
The NUT leadership was briefed by heads of security agencies in the FCT made up of the FCT Commissioner of Police Mr Babaji Sunday, State Director of the DSS, Mr Ado Muazu and the State Commandant of the NSCDC, Dr Peter Maigari. They said measures were being taken to improve the security situation in schools.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola reiterated what the Minister said , “It was agreed that for us in the FCT, the allowances of our teachers will be paid for 2017, since 2016 had already been paid and that consideration should also be given to prioritizing payment for those in the teaching profession of 2018 before the end of the year.
He said, “On the strike action embarked upon by the NUT for the payment of arrears of promotion benefits for teachers for the years of 2016-2018, the Minister informed the union members that the efforts will be made to pay all the promotion benefit arrears of the teachers before the end of the year, following the Permanent Secretary’s submission that all arrears for 2016 had already been paid and those for 2017 were scheduled for payment between November and December of 2021.”
Speaking at the end of the meeting, the NUT Chairman, Comrade Stephen Knabayi said that the Union appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and assurances from the FCT Minister that all efforts will be made to protect the lives and properties of teachers and students within the FCT.
Speaking on the return of teachers to the classroom, the NUT chairman said “from this meeting and from all the resolutions we will go back without waste of time”
He also appealed to the FCT Minister to intervene in the payment of arrears of LEA teachers under the administration of the Area Councils.
It would be recalled that NUT embarked on a 5 day warning strike to press home their demands for enhanced security in schools and payment of arrears of promotion benefits for teachers.
A new international survey by UNICEF and Gallup, released ahead of World Children’s Day to marked annually on 20 November stated that, Nigerian children and young people feel under the most pressure to succeed globally.
Data from the survey reveals that young people in Nigeria are facing a mental health challenge, with 1 in 6 young Nigerians aged 15 -24 saying they often feel depressed, have little interest in doing things, or are worried, nervous or anxious.
As much as 85 per cent say they feel a greater pressure to succeed than their elders – the highest of all 21 countries surveyed, with young people in Lebanon a close second.
The poll, The Changing Childhood Project, is the first of its kind to ask multiple generations for their views on what it is like to be a child today. It surveyed more than 21,000 people in 21 countries, including Nigeria. Nationally representative surveys were undertaken in countries across all regions – Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America – and income levels, across two age cohorts (15-24 years old and 40 years old and up).
The survey – conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic – examines young people’s opinions about their mental health, worldview, trust in institutions, importance of equality, climate change, and digital benefits and risks, among others.
Findings from the survey also show that young Nigerians are more concerned than young people in any other country surveyed about personal information being collected and shared online, at 72 per cent. The next highest are young people in Indonesia, at 63 per cent, and Kenya, at 54 per cent.
Children and young people in Nigeria also show high levels of concern about the risks of meeting someone in person after meeting them online, at 84 per cent, slightly higher than children in the United States (81 per cent) and Brazil (82 per cent).
In the area of finances, young Nigerians again showed a high level of concern, with 74 per cent of females and 66 per cent of males worried they don’t have enough money for food.
UNICEF Nigeria Representative Peter Hawkins said,“Children and young people in Nigeria clearly have a high level of concern about many and varied issues, compared to their peers in other countries”
“We cannot bury our heads in the sand and hope these concerns will go away – we need to take action. And the first step is to solicit their views, really listen closely and allow their concerns and ideas to influence our policy decisions.
“The future of Nigeria belongs to its children and young people – they have the right to be heard, have their needs addressed and their solutions explored. It is only through commitment to understanding and investing more in our children and young people’s presents and futures that we can maximize every child’s potential and ensure they have a full and happy life.”
The poll also shows a gender disparity in the views of young people in Nigeria:Girls are 26 per cent less likely to trust the police than boys; Girls are 10 per cent more likely to think it is equally important for both boys and girls to learn how to understand personal finances; Boys are 28 per cent more likely than girls to think it is acceptable for a parent to physically punish a child ;and Boys are four percent more likely to think it is very important to treat females equally.
Despite these challenges and gender divides, young Nigerians are optimistic about their future.
Compared to their elders, they believe children and young people today receive better quality healthcare, education and access to clean water than their parents did. Almost 70 per cent of males and 80 per cent of females also believe they will be economically better off than their parents.
Young Nigerians also agree that the minimum age for marriage for both boys and girls should be 25, expressing a desire for more time to enjoy their independence before adulthood.
Critically, Nigerians have one of the highest rates young and older generations believing it is very important for politicians to listen to children’s voices when making decisions, at 87 per cent.
Joe Daly, Senior Partner at Gallup said, “We cannot know what is on the minds of young people if we do not ask them. UNICEF’s survey reinforces the importance of hearing from the next generation and understanding their perspectives.”
“The children of today are the leaders of tomorrow; it is crucial for older generations to do their part to ensure our children inherit a better world.”
“This is a clarion call from young people in Nigeria,” said Peter Hawkins. “A call to listen, to learn and to take action to lift Nigeria high. As we celebrate this World Children’s Day, it is critical we listen to young people directly about their well-being – both physical and mental – and their aspirations in this changing world.
…Says Demolition Aimed At Correcting Infractions Of Master plan
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mohammad Musa Bello has the ongoing demolition exercise in the nation’s capital is to correct infractions of the Master plan.
Just as he threw his weight behind the task team on city sanitation.
Bello made this clarification on Wednesday in Abuja while fielding questions from newsmen on his take on the ongoing demolition exercises in the territory.
The Minister ruled out compensation for owners of illegal structures, he, however, assured that the FCT Administration will pay for any land or structure legally acquired by authorities to provide infrastructure or public facilities.
His words ; “Is something that occurs as part of the daily work of enforcement. Unfortunately, in the recent past particularly during COVID-19 when most of the inspectorate staff were not able to cover the city, a lot of people went and started building illegal structures.
“The policies and guidelines for building in FCT is very clear and well documented ,the laws are there.
“So what we are doing is basically to remove infringements on the issue of compensation will not arise because everything is illegal. For instance, people decide to build on the road corridors and in most cases some of this building you will see that the administration might have given many notices to them but they still went ahead to build the illegal structures, so we keep demolishing.
“But there are some areas as part of our urban renewal and upgrade, if we need to take off building either to expand the road corridors or create facilities for essential services for social services obviously this once will be compensated. It has always been happening”, Bello stressed.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday read riot act to plot owners who failed to develop their properties along Mabuchi interchange in Abuja.
This, according to Bello has constituted nuisances in the area and the administration can no longer fold its hands to watch the beautiful city of Abuja defaced with shanties, illegal shops and brothels.
The Minister gave a matching order that the area be clean and make green to bring out its aesthetic.
The FCT Ministerial Task Team on City Sanitation storm Mabuchi interchange for a clean up exercise to restore the area back to its original use.
Fielding questions from newsmen immediately after the clean up exercise, the task team Chairman , Comrade Ikharo Attah said the Minister has ordered that, If land owners around that area fails to develop their properties the land will be revoked and given to the person who can build it.
His words ; “The FCT Minister will not take nonsense ,if land owners around that area fails to develop their properties the land will be revoked and given to the person who can build it.
“The lands were given to them for over twenty years and the FCTA has been spending money to clean this place that has been taken over by mechanics, illegal shops , brothels. Look at today we are spending the whole of the day cleaning up this area. It cost FCTA money, if you are not willing to develop your plots, then the FCT Minister is very disturbed about this place will allocate it to others who can develop it.
“The Minister took us round last week and showed us some disturbing images from this particular spot close to Mabuchi interchange , Police station and close to other Amaden Plaza . There are several illegalities coming up here and the minister gave a matching order to clean this place restore the greens and ensure that plots owners who have not develop their plots do so quickly.
“The minister insisted that the Mabuchi interchange should be totally green from all sides. It’s good we do it very early, once the miscreants comes in so heavily, removing it will become so difficult. That is why we came here today to commence the clean up exercise , we have to come again and again to make sure that the clean up exercise is sustained and ensure that areas that are meant for green areas are green and areas meant for structures are developed by property owners because we cannot leave them for persons to take advantage of them”, he explained.
While speaking on the duration of time given to land owners to get their plots developed, Attah said, the minister had looked at that and the plot owners will be totally briefed and the FCTA will give a time for the developers to come and build.
He added that, “The minister is very passionate about this place close to the Federal ministry of works and housing and he wants it to be a beautiful place because is a connecting point between the Berger bridge linked to Jabi lake , city center and leading to outer northern lane as well as some other junction connecting to Maitama leading to the Kwuba road.
“This ought to be a very beautiful melting point where you can drive through the interchange and what you see around will be totally greens because sometimes what we see are greens bringing out the blossoming red flowers, you still see some offensive shanties that is painting Abuja in a very bad light”, he added.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) , Malam Kaka Ali said the area has been taken over by hoodlums and the administration directed that we reclaim it for public use as a recreational center where people can come during their leisure and relax with their families.
He said, all the agencies are involved, AEPB, Development Control, Parks and Recreation. By the time we clean this place, we hand it over to parks and Recreation to fenced it and hand it over to parks and recreation.
Six days after 7 persons were burnt to death by kerosene explosion, the Federal Capital Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday demolished about 100 illegal shops, shanties built around the Kubwa Village market.
The exercise, according to the Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, was said to have been initiated to correct contraventions that have constituted environmental nuisances.
Chairman of the Committee, Comrade Ikharo Attah said the FCT Ministers, both Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu were not happy with the continued contraventions in the area and have directed that the clean up exercise be carried out, to prevent further life and safety threatening incidents.
Attah stated that even the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji has reiterated commitment to providing security backup for every operations targeted at tackling illegalities and criminalities within the nation’s capital.
He , however, expressed dismay that residents and traders have continued to violate developmental blueprint, leading to deaths of innocent people, also said, that the illegal shops were built directly under electricity high tension installations, while many were used to block access roads, making it difficult for rescue operations, in an event of fire emergency.
According to him, occupiers of these illegal shops had been put on notice for a very long time now, as many of their kiosks and illegal extension structures were removed.
His words , ” We have always been on this road axis for the past three years, trying to clean it up and we have always had intense problems. We have cleared the road to the market which was blocked for about six years.
” But in the aftermath of the fire incident wherein about 7 persons lost their lives , we had no option than to do what we believe is the right thing . We have giving notices for people to quit the illegal shops.
” Even the very shop where the explosion happened, we had removed that tank. We will remove all the illegal shops because the community had been blocked”.
As the Federal Capital Territory Ministerial Task Team on City Sanitation demolished illegal motor parks and shanties in Zuba, an Abuja suburb, petty traders were visibly enraged and sad.
The team’s officials, led by chairman Comrade Ikharo Attah, stormed the popular Dankogi area on the Zuba-Kaduna expressway in the early hours of Tuesday morning and demolished illegal motor parks where traders operate in makeshift tents, posing a security threat to the people.
While fielding questions from newsmen after the ‘clean up,’ exercise, the chairman said that the structures were removed in accordance with the directives of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, in order to maintain sanity in the city.
Saying, the exercise was prompted by directives from the Minister of the FCT to reclaim the Zuba inter-change, which had been abused by traders and motorists.
He regretted that the interchange had been taken over by shanties in the name of trade, causing grit and nuisance.
According to him , “The minister is not comfortable with the abuse of the plan of the inter-change which is supposed to be green but is converted into a transport hub that is gradually becoming a shanty and criminals’ den, the area has also become a plantain market.
“We are removing the illegal structures to reclaim Zuba because some criminals are coming to the spot, so the exercise today is multi dimensional, one is to reclaim the Zuba inter-change, two is to remove shanties where criminals hide, three is to free traffic coming from Kubwa-Dei-Dei axis that connect Zuba and Zuma rock axis on Abuja-Kaduna express way.
“There is a market for the traders, so they should move in, not selling on the road, they feel to sale on the road because it provides quick market for them, we are discouraging that by appealing to them to relocate and leave the road inter-change, or corridor” he said.
Speaking on sustaining the exercise, Hassan Ogbole of the Department of Development Control, said after the clean up, the Department of Parks and Recreation is expected to take over the area for proper management.
“We have done our part it is left for the Department of Parks and Recreation to take over the management of the area, is either they come in as a department, or hand it over to a contractor that will manage it”
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has joined the national effort to eliminate open defecation, improve access to safe water, and improve sanitary practices for all residents of the territory, ensuring that no one is left behind.
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, hinted that 39.4 percent of the FCT population practices Open Defecation, describing it as alarming and unacceptable
She made this known while performing the official declaration of a State of Emergency in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in the nation’s capital.
Aliyu also stated that the administration has established the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA) as the coordinating body for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) activities in the FCT as part of its efforts to combat open defecation.
She emphasized the FCT Administration’s commitment to achieving the Open Defecation Free (ODF) target by the nationally set deadline of 2025, as well as universal access to water and sanitation by the 2030 SDG target.
The minister emphasized the importance of basic water supply in rural communities, but he also advocated for a concerted effort to defeat open defecation.
According to her; “To achieve the goal of ending open defecation by 2025, all hands must be on deck in both the formal and informal sectors. The children, the youth, women and the elderly, all have important roles to play.
“Community-based organisations, religious and traditional leaders, organised private sector entities, development partners, as well as all government agencies are also expected to work in synergy to fight this menace”.
Specifically, she tasked the area councils chairmen to sign and demonstrate their commitment to end open defecation, stressing that they must create the WASH department, fund it, train and retrain its staff, and follow up with rigorous community engagements.
“Additionally, our traditional institutions across the territory are expected to galvanise their subjects in this fight. Community and household members are enjoined to cooperate with relevant stakeholders, and rise up to own this war against Open Defecation in their respective communities,” she added.
In his remarks, the Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said that the country was making steady progress in meeting the objective of ending open defecation by 2025 and improving sustainable access to sanitation and hygiene.
He therefore, charged the institutions at the area councils and communities to drive the campaign through the provision of adequate resources, thereby creating the critical mass of champions across the territory.
Earlier, the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, noted that as part of its commitment, the administration had inaugurated a high-powered committee for the assessment and replacement of about 1,000 water compartment toilets as well as repair of vandalized borehole systems across the six area councils and in public schools.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the traditional rulers, chairman of ALGON FCT, UNICEF representative, and other development partners
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has disbursed a total of N4,726,127,134.71 billion as its share of statutory allocation for the month of September 2021 to the Six Area Councils in the nation’s capital and other stakeholders.
The figure shows an increase in revenue from N4,504,239,740.60 billion disbursed in August to N4,726,127,134.71 billion disbursed in September, a 4.4 percent increase.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, who presided over the 158th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), praised all stakeholders for their cooperation despite previous challenges.
The minister, however, explained that the increase in the allocation was as a result of increase in the statutory revenue allocation from the federation account.
The figures released indicate that the sum of N2,795,422,553.70 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1,930, 704, 581.01 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4,726,127,134.71 billion.
The distributions to area councils show that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), received N517,859,931.00 million, while Gwagwalada got N509, 975, 469.10 million and Kuje received N448, 341, 703.37 million.
Others include, Bwari Area Council received N425, 354, 450.86 million, Abaji got N457, 233, 393.14 million and Kwali received N436, 657, 606.22 million bringing the total sum to N2,795,422, 553.70 billion disbursed to the six area councils.
Furthermore, distribution to other stakeholders include: Primary School Teachers which gulped N1,549, 114,914.46 billion, 15 percent Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57 million, One percent Training Fund gulped N47, 261, 271.35 million, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution gulped N107,849, 405.63 million, bringing the total sum to N1,930, 704, 581.01 billion.
She called for more commitment on the part of all stakeholders, the minister however commended them for showing understanding in the distribution of monthly allocation to area councils and other stakeholders.
Those present at the 158th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), meeting include the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, chairmen of the six area councils, Ag. Secretary Area Council Services Secretariat, Mrs. Omolola Olanipekun, commissioner representing the FCT in Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, Senator Tanko Abari, representative from the Accountant General Office amongst others.
