Civil officials have been exhorted to be committed to selfless and efficient service delivery at all levels in order to foster good governance and the country’s embryonic democracy.
This charge was given on Monday in Abuja by Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, the Acting Director of the FCTA Department of Reform Coordination and Service Improvement.
Journalists at Kaura District Market presented Ahmadu with a birthday package as part of the activities that started off her week-long birthday celebration.
The Director, who was recently honored by the Federation’s Head of Civil Service for quality and transparency in service delivery, stated that excellent governance can be achieved when the civil service is properly reformed and staff are suitably motivated.
Ahmadu, who was caught aback by the journalists’ outpouring of love and had to hold back her tears, promised that she would make more sacrifices to help the media propagate good governance ideas.
Earlier, Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman of the FCT Ministers Press Corps, who led the ambush, highlighted the significance of rewarding devoted civil servants who work hard to keep the government running smoothly.
Attah explained that the surprise birthday package was a measure to recognize honesty and hardworking which Dr. Jumai Ahmadu personifies.
He also added that the Nigerian project can be better promoted, when critical stakeholders begin to identify those who make impact in the society and encouraging them.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has advised citizens of the nation’s capital, particularly the Muslim Ummah, to be aware that a third wave of the COVID-19 epidemic is possible.
He, however assured that steps have been put in place to prevent its spread, citizens must also protect themselves by following the non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial covering, hand washing, and physical distance.
Bello gave this advise in his Eid-el-kabir message to the people of Abuja, the nation’s capital, while adding that residents are once more encouraged to enjoy the celebrations from the safety of their homes as attendance of large gatherings increases the risk of contacting the virus.
His message read thus: “The Sallah celebration provides us with the unique opportunity to offer supplications to Almighty Allah for the continuous growth and development of our country. Let us therefore pray for peace and the collective ability to surmount our current challenges.
“I encourage us to use this occasion to meditate on, and give expression to the lifestyle of Prophet Ibrahim especially on the virtues of sacrifice and selflessness which Eid-el-Kabir symbolizes.
“As residents of our nation’s capital, we should consider it our obligation to live up to the dreams and ideals of our founding fathers who also made enormous sacrifices in the quest of making Abuja the Center of Nigeria’s unity and a melting pot of our various cultures, traditions and ideas.
“It is imperative therefore that we imbibe these ideals of sacrifice and nation building as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim and our founding fathers to build an FCT and Nigeria of our collective desires”.
He continued: “This is quite possible especially with dedication, commitment and singularity of purpose from all of us.
“In the same vein I appeal to you all to be security concious in the course of the festivities and report any suspicious activities to the relevant security agencies
“Residents should however be rest assured that the FCT Administration is doing its best to ensure the security of lives and property both during and after the festivities”.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan has hinted that bullets and other forces of arms alone cannot stop armed robbery, banditry and other forms of criminality in the country.
Chief Osia Chidoka, a former Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and Minister of Aviation, was honored with a 50th birthday reception on Sunday in Abuja. A gratitude and Communion service preceded the event.
Combating crime and criminology, he claims, necessitates high-quality government programs, technology, and other strategies.
Jonathan, however, noted that the day Osita was born was the day armed robbers were first publicly shot in Nigeria.
Our correspondent reports that the first-ever public execution in Nigeria took place at Bar Beach in July 1971, when one Babatunde Folorunsho, was shot for armed robbery, alongside Joseph Ilobo and Williams Alders Oyazimo, a sub-lieutenant in the Nigerian Navy.
“The celebration of 50th birthday of Osita shows that he is a special person. So, it is a happy moment for all of us. Osita Chidoka is a blessing to the nation and those close to him know him very well.
“I didn’t know him until when I got involved in politics and get to Abuja as a vice president and when I took over after I lost my President.
“I have seen in him lots of talents, very talented very strategic. And he is somebody that really go for a number of things. He is a gift to Anambra State, he is gift to Nigeria and we wish him well.
“(This is a) Very unique date. The day you (Osita) were born was the day armed robbers were first shot in Nigeria, it speaks a lot. Very unique. Luckily you are not an armed robber. But gone were the days when armed robbers were being shot.
“With the cases of armed robbery and others going on now shows clearly that bullets alone cannot stop it or other criminal activities in human beings.
“It requires top quality programmes of government, it requires technology, it requires a lot to stop armed robbery and all forms of crimes, including corruption that we talk about every day,” Jonathan said.
He said while governments were killing armed robbers, others were robbing the pockets in the same arena and that is the kind of society that citizens are in today.
He said things are becoming more complex with the introduction of IT that is now ruling the world, thus need for collective action to stem the tide of criminality.
Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has stated why the Agency is yet to approve a locally created herbal medicine for COVID 19 treatment in Nigeria.
She does, however, encourage Nigerian ivory tower researchers and other herbal medicine practitioners to avoid marketing unproven, unverified medicinal remedies as COVID 19 cures without first getting approval from NAFDAC.
Adeyeye warned that such an act is a violation of the national regulatory authority’s norms and processes, according to a statement made by NAFDAC resident media consultant Sayo Akintola in Abuja on Sunday.
She claimed that no one treatment has yet been discovered to cure COVID -19, and that current medical items can only aid to alleviate symptoms and increase the chances of survival.
In order to cure COVID–19, Adeyeye cautioned Nigerians from overeating onions and garlic, adding, “If you eat too much, your breath will be smelly, and nobody would want to stay by you.”
She stated that onions, garlic, and any other natural fruits we consume have antioxidants and minerals that can make us feel better.
‘’People might have been using it and they get better. But if it is not documented, it cannot be recognized by NAFDAC for COVID– 19. They work on our cells to keep people healthier. But not to cure COVID – 19. They help our body to function better. There is no cure for COVID -19 yet’’, she insists.
She added that they may boost the immunity and the person may not be easily susceptible to infection, adding ‘’even with that you still have to protect yourself. If you eat Garlic and Onion and you don’t use mask you will get COVID -19. if you are in a very bad environment; If you dont watch your hands, you will get COVID -19. So, everything has to be put together’’.
University of Jos said that there was a herbal medicine, whether its tea or whatever, that can cure COVID 19. They linked it with treatment of COVID -19. They did the packaging, she said.
She added: We did a letter to warn them that they cannot claim something unless it has gone through our listing process. They were trying to sell it to their staff. That is violation of our own regulatory policies. Nobody should say that this one can cure this or that without going through NAFDAC listing process.
According to her, the research into herbal medicine by the academia is normal. She however, quickly added that It is now for the academia to also recognize the national regulatory authority established to safeguard the safety of the Nigerian populace by ensuring that the product that they are working on has to go through NAFDAC if they want to make it available for human consumption.
There have been one or two cases where the product was being encouraged to be used by people without going through us. When that happens, we give the university a sanction because they are supposed to go through the national regulatory authority in order for us to declare it safe for consumption.
The NAFDAC DG insists that her Agency has to approve the clinical trial protocol, stressing that If they dont go through NHREC, if it is a new product; and if they dont go through NAFDAC before they start doing their clinical trial, that is violation of regulatory procedures.
Without clinical trial authorized by NAFDAC nobody can claim that a product can cure COVID 19. Of course, some people might have been using it and they got better, but without being approved scientifically and documented, we may not be able to guarantee that its safe for human consumption Prof Adeyeye recalled that NAFDAC set up an herbal medicine product committee in 2019 March before the pandemic broke out: to advance research in herbal medicine. The goal for that was to make sure that the herbalist and the researcher are collaborating so that whatever the herbalist knows from ancestral history that does not have research to back it up, collaboration with researcher will enable that herbal medicine to be advanced; to be listed by NAFDAC if its deemed safe.
She added that during the pandemic there were a lot of assertions that there were herbal medicines that could be used to treat symptoms of COVID -19. There is no single medicine that has been identified today to cure COVID -19. But there are herbal medicines that could alleviate symptoms of COVID -19.
However, NAFDAC has not granted registration approval for any medicine for that. NAFDAC approves such medicines for listing. It means that its been tested and is deemed safe to use. NAFDAC cannot say herbal medicine can treat COVID -19 until clinical trial is done, she maintains, adding that right now, there is no single herbal medicine that has gone through full clinical trial the way clinical trial is supposed to be done.
To do official clinical trial, she said you must write a protocol, you must pass it through the National Health Research Ethical Committee, NHREC you have to pass it through NAFDAC. We have not received any like that, she said, Nonetheless, she said the Agency has approved some herbal medicines that they claim can alleviate some of the symptoms of COVID -19, stressing that some of them are immune boosters that can increase the immune level of people.
When the immune level improves, Prof. Adeyeye pointed out that it may prevent one from getting the disease, adding that but as far as NAFDAC Is concerned, we have not approved any medicine to treat COVID -19. We have approved medicines that they said can alleviate symptoms and relieve people of some symptoms of COVID- 19.
When the product is listed then clinical trial may start. I used may because its expensive; it takes a lot of money to do clinical trial, she said. She further disclosed that University of Jos has been given approval for its product, Silymarin to commence clinical trial. She however, disclosed that this is yet to commence.
The NAFDAC DG, further disclosed that many herbal products have been submitted for federal government grants because most of the herbal practitioners lack the required wherewithal to do clinical trial.
As we speak many of these herbal products are being subjected to review by different agencies of government in the country. In terms of going through clinical trial official protocols, none has come through yet. That doesnt mean they will not because the process is still on, she said.
Before a herbal product can be used to investigate whether it could be effective for COVID -19, she insists that that herbal medicine must be listed first.
According to her, listing involves submission of information about the herbal medicine, the toxicology study of it, the microbial limit test of it. Prof Adeyeye added that ‘’when they submit all these to us, we will confirm in our laboratory whether the product is safe to use; meaning it’s not toxic, whether it has tendency for microbial growth, we will test that in our lab’’.
The NAFDAC DG further explained that ‘’we will also do some physical testing, some piezochemical testing. We will find out whether it has other components that may be used to alleviate some symptoms. We will also go to the manufacturing site to establish its level of Good Manufacturing Practice GMP compliance. If it does, then we take samples’’.
Adeyeye however, disclosed that the product is approved as listed If everything goes well, adding that ‘Listed’ means temporary approval for two years and renewable as a prelude to the clinical trial process.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has assured residents of the nation’s capital that they will be safe and secure during the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations (FCTA).
The Permanent Secretary, FCTA Mr Olusade Adesola, provided this assurance at the monthly FCT Security Committee meeting.
Patrol activities and intelligence operations will be expanded, according to Olusade, who presided over the meeting. These activities will be carried out separately and together by the various security organizations in the FCT.
The Permanent Secretary, while speaking on some of the meeting’s highlights and resolutions, stated that the security agencies had reiterated their resolve to work together as a family for the Territory’s security, and that this was largely responsible for the Territory’s peace and stability.
With the recent arrest of the leaders of a major “one-chance” gang responsible for many illicit acts in the FCT, he also revealed that security services had made achievements in the fight against organized crime.
Speaking on the on-going removal of shanties, squatter settlements and illegal residences along the airport road Olusade said the exercise which will extend to other illegal settlement across the FCT is intended to ensure that hoodlums that have hitherto dominated those environment will no longer have bases from which to operate.
The Permanent Secretary, “if you don’t have any legitimate business, you cannot use Abuja as your safe haven”.
The meeting, the Permanent Secretary said, also reviewed the public health issues of Cholera and Covid-19 and said the Committee was impressed with the efforts of the FCTA health authorities in tackling cholera and reminded residents that treatment for the disease is administered free based on the directives of the FCT Minister.
He urged residents to continue to follow the prescribed non-pharmaceutical intervention which include facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Olusade also said that the issue of street begging and its security implications was also discussed and called on residents to desist from giving alms to beggars on the streets as this will only encourage an increase in the practice.
According to him; “We also discussed the issue of the proliferation of street beggars. We know it is indeed a rising social problem. But what we enjoin the citizens to do is to make their alms in a legal manner. Go to the hospitals, go to the places of worship, go to the orphanages and make your support there. This will be used for better purpose, because when you give a beggar you don’t know his antecedents as any alms given on the road, could be used for drugs or even arms.
He also called on residents to cooperate with security agencies and fellow citizens to safeguard lives and property in the FCT.
Similarly, the Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison, Maj. Gen. Preye Fakrogha said a lot of emphasis was being placed on synergy amongst security agencies to enhance security operations in the FCT.
The FCT Security Committee is comprised of heads of the various military and paramilitary formations across the FCT, the heads of religious and traditional institutions, Area Council Chairman as well as heads of the relevant Departments and Agencies of the FCTA.
…As FCT Gives COVID-19 Guidelines For EID-EL-KABIR Celebration
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has mandated that all Eid prayers in the nation’s capital be held in open spaces at Jumaat Mosques and the National Eid Ground.
According to medical advice, holding big meetings in open air spaces rather than enclosed facilities is safer.
Bello revealed this when he called an Emergency Operations Committee (EOC) on COVID-19 to assess the present state of the pandemic in the nation’s capital,particularly as it relates to the upcoming Sallah celebrations.
The meeting observed an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases throughout the country and the FCT, as well as the risk of a third wave, and discussed strategies to stop it spreading.
As a result, the following guidelines are hereby provided for the upcoming Eid-El-Kabir celebrations in the FCT, based on the advise of health professionals: All Eid prayers in the FCT are to be held in the open spaces at Jumaat Mosques as well as the National Eid Ground. This is based on medical advice that it is safer to hold large gatherings in open air spaces than in enclosed structures; All open Eid grounds should have multiple entry and exit points with hand washing and temperature checking facilities; The holding capacity of Eid grounds should be reduced to 50% to ensure physical/social distancing;
The guidelines continued : Imams should ensure that sermons are short so that the entire Eid prayers do not exceed one hour; All parks and recreational grounds and facilities shall remain closed throughout the festive period, and Worshippers are enjoined to adhere to all prescribed non-pharmaceutical preventive measures of facial coverings, constant hand washing and physical distancing.
In attendance at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, the Coordinator, WHO FCT Office, Dr Furera Zakari, the Ag Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr Muhammed Kawu, the Chairman, FCT League of Imams Initiative, Dr Tajudeen M.B Adigun ,the Head of Media and Publicity , FCT Enforcement Task Team, Mr Ikharo Attah and other relevant officials of the FCTA.
The Federal Government has flagged off the construction of Kaduna-Kano segment of the Lagos-Kano railway modernization project. Speaking at the Ground Breaking Ceremony in Kano, President Muhammadu Buhari reiterated his administration’s commitment in reviving the Nigerian Railway system. He said the project when completed, will not only drive the nation’s economies through employment from new business opportunities and wealth creation, but will also reduce the deficiency in our nation’s transportation infrastructure.
“This administration recognizes rail transportation as a potent economic driver and as such, has accorded railway infrastructure development the greatest priority it deserves and it is not surprising that several landmarks have been achieved, from the Flag off for commercial operation of Abuja – Kaduna railway in 2016 to the recent commissioning of the Lagos – Ibadan railway project on June 10 2021, thereby maintaining the pace for the actualization of this vital thoroughfare”.
He said, “This project is crucial to the establishment of a supply chain in railway transport within its corridor, Kano – Kaduna – Abuja, as it links the major commercial cities of Kano and Kaduna to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja”.
He further said “this railway connection when completed will establish the ports in Lagos, as the choice for import and export business of the people of landlocked Niger Republic. The railway line will be linked to the second Port in Lagos, the Tin Can Island Port. It is also expected that the Inland Dry Port on these routes will be activated and the ports can now receive imports directly from the international market as ports of destination such as the Ibadan, Kaduna and Kano Inland Dry Ports”.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Transportation Honourable Rotimi Amaechi says the project will no doubt improve the standard of living of citizens within its corridor, and further create employment and promote trade.
He said ” The project will no doubt improve the standard of living of citizens within its corridor, create employment and promote trade. In the long term the railway will help decongest the Lagos Port Complex and increase its efficiency as well as further increase the viability of the Inland Dry Ports located in Ibadan, Kaduna and Kano”.
He said “The scope of the railway project involves a 203km double track standard gauge railway from Kano to Kaduna. The railway along this route traverses the major cities of Kaduna, Zaria and Kano with three (3) railway stations both for passenger and freight services at Rigachukun, Zaria and Kano with varying capacities and categories”.
He further said “This project will link the Federal Capital, Abuja with the Commercial city of Kano and also link the ongoing Kano – Maradi project. The outstanding addendum, Ibadan – Abuja, will link the Sea Ports in Lagos to Maradi, Niger Republic. This I believe will greatly boost trade between the two countries and foster economic development. This railway line, will present an opportunity for Nigerians to traverse between Abuja and Kano via Kaduna with relative ease”.
” The rail line is also provided with accessories and special installations including Power and Water Supply schemes, Signalling System & Communication in GSM-R, Freight yards, Rolling stock depots and maintenance workshops” he said.
The Kaduna – Kano railway project is to link the Lagos – Ibadan Railway project via Abuja, Minna, Ilorin, Oshogbo, Ibadan to Lagos on one end, and Maradi, Niger Republic on the other.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib said its putting in place all necessary logistics for storage, distribution, security, and accountability for the range of vaccines they are expecting.
Saying, to this end, the Federal Government of Nigeria has procured 60 units of U701 ultra cold chain equipment, and as we speak, about 37 of them have been deployed to all the 36 States and FCT in preparation to receive all COVID-19 vaccines that would require ultra-cold temperature of below 40 to 85 degrees.
He hinted that, they have also received communication for the delivery of the following vaccine shipments in the coming months. 3,924,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca by end of July or early August 2021 from the COVAX facility 3,930,910 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in August from the COVAX facility donated by the United States Government 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer-Bio-N Tech COVID-19 vaccine in Q3 from the COVAX facility 29,850,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson (Jassen) COVID-19 vaccine by the end of September, that will arrive in batches from the African Union Commission. We are making every effort and are confident that, with your continued support, Nigeria will be able to make more significant utilization of the vaccines, that would be supplied to the country.
Shuaib made this known at a press conference on Tuesday on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, saying, the leadership of Eminent Nigerians, the Federal Ministry of Health and its agencies are continuing the process of supporting our local partner, Biovaccines Nigeria limited towards establishing local vaccine production.
He, however, appreciated the support of media in educating Nigerians about the misleading theories that anti-vaccination elements have crafted to discourage people from seeking protection against COVID-19.
He added that, “Although it is increasingly evident from independent voices that the conspiracy theories are fake and misleading, we need to remain on alert and continue to provide Nigerians with factual information to enable them see the need to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“We must not allow any information vacuum that mischief makers would take advantage of to further mislead innocent people.
“It is with the support of our mainstream media community that Nigeria has successfully vaccinated 3,938,945 eligible persons across 36 States and FCT, representing 98% utilization of the 4,024,000 doses of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine it received from COVAX facility in March 2021.
“This comprises of 2,534,205 people who have been vaccinated for first dose, and 1,404,205 who have received their second dose of the vaccine.
He continued; “In the course of this exercise, the country recorded 14,550 cases of mild/moderate Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), with only 148 cases considered to be severe. However, we did not record any case of death associated with COVID-19 vaccination.
“Accordingly, the country has officially ended the first phase of its strategic COVID-19 vaccination plan and is now preparing to commence the second phase in the next few weeks.
“It is important to stress that anyone who is 18 years and above is eligible to take COVID-19 vaccine. This includes pregnant and lactating women. I therefore call on every eligible person to register and ensure that they make themselves available for vaccination on due dates.”
Shuaib further stated that the detection of the Delta Variant of COVID-19 in Nigeria, it is important that Nigerians continue to observe non-pharmaceutical or public health measures such as wearing of facemask, social distancing and hand hygiene in order to curb the transmission of the disease, while we await additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) returned to Iddo Sarki today and demolished over 473 illegal structures, just a week after the dust had settled and the tears had dried following last week’s demolition activity.
While warning that those living in unlawful constructions in Mpape, Dutse Makaranta, and Ushafa will be the next targets for this enormous clean-up.
Recall that the FCTA dismantled over 137 illegal structures over the weekend, including blocks of hostels, hotels, and other structures.
An enforcement team composed of the Nigeria Navy, Nigeria Police Force, DSS, NSCDC, NDLEA, Nigeria Immigration Service, and DRTS, is working with five bulldozers, was able to demolish 473 unlawful structures in a single day.
While fielding questions from newsmen on the reason why the administration return to Iddo for the ‘mother of all demolitions’, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said his team had to go back to Iddo to complete the good work it has started in the town.
According to him, abandoning the demolition process halfway, and uncompleted will only encourage reemergence of unlawful constructions and continuance of illegality which would further aggravate the violations of the Abuja Master Plan.
Attah also warned developers and FCT residents against buying land from traditional Chiefs in the nation’s capital, saying that only the FCT Minister (not even FCT Minister of State) is legally empowered to allocate any portion of the FCT’s 8,000 square kilometres of land.
His words; “Why we came back to here was because we did not finish the clean up. We thought we had fine very far, not until we noticed that the Land Use Contraventions have been very high and disturbing.
“So we had to come back here today (Wednesday) to continue the clean up. Thanks to directors of Development Control and Security who put heads together for us to get five machines to work with which made our job easier.
“Some of the illegalities of land contravention include buying land from local Chiefs, building without building plan approvals, building substandard structures and the authorities will not allow these to continue because the city is planned and when we see contravention, it is the mandate of the FCTA to take it out.”
While responding to a question on whether there was any compensation for them, Attah said: “They have been warned before and when you commit illegality…..we even ought to take them to court but we are living them. The Chiefs who gave them the land have denied that they gave them land.”
Attah also sent a strong warning to those residing in illegal structures within Mpape, Dutse Makaranta, Ushafa and others areas to either move out or comply, adding that they were next in line for similar clean up exercises.
He said: “We have to rush this work now because the people of Mpape, Dutse Makaranta and Ushafa -both the residents and landlords are begging the FCT Minister to come and clean up their area, so we will soon be going to assist them.
“We are seeing encroachments even in the Lower Usuma Dam where we get our safe water to drink. We don’t want people to go there and pollute our water.”
Similarly , the Secretary, Command and Control Centre of the FCTA, Mr. Peter Olumuji said another reason demolishing the structures was because they harboured criminals who constitute insecurity within the area and the whole of FCT.
According to him : “one of the reasons why we are here is because such places hibernate criminals because they can get cheaper houses to rent.
“We have had a sustained clean up operation on the airport road and this has led to reduction in the rate of crime and criminality in the FCT”,he added.
The ongoing construction of lock-up shops at the Karu Primary Healthcare Centre, which is being carried out by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) in collaboration with a private developer, has been ordered to be halted immediately by Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The minister who issued the cease work order also declared that the FCT Administration will organize a committee to analyze the profitability of the existing building work at the main healthcare facility during an inspection trip of the facilities.
Aliyu, who expressed severe reservations about the Karu primary healthcare centre’s location, pointed out that the centre was not serene due to the proximity of the abattoir and other commercial activities around the healthcare facility.
She, however, affirmed that construction of additional lock-up shops by the Abuja Municipal Area Council within the premises of the primary healthcare centre could compound the existing situation.
According to her; “It is pertinent to put a stop to this ongoing construction work. A ministerial committee will be set with effect from today for immediate action and the scope will be made known to you.
“Membership will include even the operators of the abatoir. Take a look at the abattoir, you cannot have a primary healthcare facility as strategic as the Karu primary healthcare is, and exposed it to so many hazards.
“Having the abattoir here alone is hazard to the functions of the primary healthcare not to talk of a commercial place again. This is a very big project with so many shops around it will over exposed the facility.
“It could be acceptable to have the Sickle Cell Center or the AMAC health secretariat. We will look at this and other land functions that could be allocated, but certainly it is unhealthy to have these shops here.
“It is already bad enough to have the raw meat sellers within the vicinity and it will be worst to allow other commercial activities to go on here. If we must change the land use, we must engage the community effectively because you cannot have a hospital or healthcare centre where there are so many noisy activities”.
Earlier, the Director of Works, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Arc. Gaza Andrew, informed the minister that the initial project was the completion of the abandoned Sickle Cell Centre and AMAC Healthcare Centre, stressing that with the involvement of Development Control the council later added the design for corner shops.
“Right here is an abandoned foundation of a sickle cell center, it was abandoned for over 10 years. The paramount ruler personally in 2020 wrote to us that due to the growing cases of sickle cell this project should be completed,” he affirmed.
