After giving several warnings and legal quit notices, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) stormed another place in the Gwarimpa District on Monday and demolished multiple illegal constructions that were allegedly built along road corridors.
Unauthorized constructions used for both residential and commercial purposes were widely distributed at the important intersection connecting Gwarimpa to the Karasana and Kafe Districts.
The team’s head, Comrade Ikharo Attah, a senior special assistant to the FCT minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, said that the administration had come to depend on reclaiming the route corridors within the districts.
More concerning about the location that was demolished, according to Attah, are reports that numerous illegal activities could be linked to it.
According to him, while there are plans by the administration to implement the road projects within that corridor, there was need for the environmental nuisances to be cleared.
Attah said, ” There is excessive encroachment to the road corridors and there have been too much reports of criminal activities.
” We marked this place two years ago , remarked it last year, it was also marked again in May this year.
” I t is sad that the people waited after these markings and warnings. The only structures that will not be touched here, are the ones belonging to indigenous people”.
One of the victims, Mr. Peter Livinus who stood on the rumbles of his demolished house, looking confused however denied that he was given a quit notice.
On further probing, the victim admitted that some of the houses in the area were marked, but not his own.
While he condemned the actions, saying he has been thrown into untold hardship, he also appealed to government to help and alleviate their sufferings with some palliative.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has praised the level of infrastructure improvement at the FCT College of Education in Zuba.
When he visited the institution’s permanent location for an inspection over the weekend, he provided this praise.
The Provost of the College, Dr. Muhammad Gambo Hamza, and other top administrators of the organization escorted the Minister on a tour of the campus.
The Minister expressed his appreciation to Dr. Gambo Hamza for his tireless efforts in ensuring that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) provided a significant portion of the infrastructure at the College. The Minister was obviously impressed with the caliber of the infrastructure and other facilities.
The Minister in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Anthony Ogunlelye stated that: “All the projects by TETFUND were pursued, and granted due to the singular efforts of the Provost. It is because of his strength of character, capacity and above all, his ability to reach out in all areas.
And when the history of the College of Education, Zuba is written in future his name will feature prominently” The Minister added. The Minister, thereafter, through a motion supported by all, proceeded to name the newly built 1200 capacity hall after Dr Muhammad Gambo Hamza.
Bello also commended the management staff and students of the institution for maintaining a high educational standard, saying that the quality of the output of the FCT College of Education has been acknowledged nationwide and urged them to ensure it is sustained.
He equally commended them for maintaining a harmonious working relationship within the institution as well as peaceful co-existence with the host community of Zuba.
He also extended the appreciation of the FCT Administration to TETFUND and pledged the Administration’s continuous support for the growth and development of the institution.
Earlier in his welcome address, Dr. Gambo Hamza acknowledged the Minister’s continued efforts at creating a conducive environment for the College’s well-being and existence.
According to him, the College has received priority attention from the FCTA in staff training and development, as 101 staff, comprising of 54 PhDs and 75 academic and administrative staff, have been within and outside of the country.
The Provost stated that the College has increased its academic and professional relationships, saying that it has signed an MoU with the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for award of bachelor degree programmes in seven departments and has obtained the requisite NUC approval.
He added that the College has also established a mutual collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to fight corruption on the campuses, even as it has set up students’ anti-corruption vanguard to fight education-related corruption practices.
Dr. Hamza however appealed for the Minister’s intervention in the speedy completion of ongoing projects, especially the completion of the schools of education, sciences, vocational and technical; as well as access road.
The Provost disclosed that, the College, which was established in 1997, has current students’ enrolment of 7,224, a total graduate output of 22,296, and has full accreditation for its 29 academic programmes.
Registrar of the College, Dr. (Mrs.) Grace N. Tyoden, in a vote of thanks described the visit by the Minister who is also Visitor to the institution as “historic and a huge encouragement”.
The Minister was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Mohammed Bashir Mai-Bornu, The Executive secretary, of the FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed, FCTA Education Secretary, Hon Sani Dahiru El-katuzu, and other senior officials of the FCTA.
As a result of the unwholesome activities occurring in parks, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) announced that it would begin full enforcement of the park policy across the city tomorrow, Monday.
Comrade Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement to the Minister of the FCT, commented on this and urged that all park operators must shut down in compliance with the policy every day at 7 p.m.
He announced this over the weekend, claiming that conformity with the policy centered on maintaining sanity will result from enforcement.
According to Attah :”The issue of the park policy is very clear, the FCT Administration is very clear on it, the coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council with the Director of Parks and Recreation have clarified the issue.
“Minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello have given the marching order to implement the park policy and it is clear, from 7pm all parks are to remain closed that is what the Park policy contain, also with the kind approval of the minister, from tomorrow, Monday all parks should remain close from 7pm.
“Parks that refused to close from the stipulated time and team will be going round to ensure that parks comply with the policy.
“I have received calls from some of them that people what to enjoy after closing from work till deep in the night, but I say no. Anything someone wants to enjoy go early enough so that by 7pm when the park is closing, so that those in charge of the park can clean it and prepare for another day business.
“The City will have to adjust to the fact that parks close by 7pm, when it’s dark everybody can adjust to it”
It would be recalled that the coordinator Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Umar Shuaibu, had recently announced the decision ordering park operators to open 8am and close 7pm.
Shuaibu said the enforcement is on the sideline of the implementation of the FCT park policy.
According to him, the exercise will enable the administration to have data of Parks and checkmate their activities especially the ones that violate the laws.
A heavy truck on Sunday ran into four vehicles near the popular Karu Bridge of the Abuja-Nyanya Keffi Expressway.
The multiple-crash catastrophe, according to our correspondent, caused heavy traffic on the highway.
As soon as they got on the scene of the crash, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Police Force Karu Division personnel shifted traffic to a parking lane.
However, the FRSC Sector Commander for the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Samuel Ogar Ochi, responded to the incident by saying that no one was hurt and that the accident occurred at around 9:30 a.m.
According to him, “Those that sustain injuries were rushed to the hospital for treatment.
” The Unit Commander of FRSC and some of our personnels were at the scene of the crash. Actually our truck is on it way to remove the wrecked on the road but nobody die.
” They will clear the road, they have diverted traffic from the main road to parking lane. FRSC Ambulance has evacuated the injured persons to Asokoro General Hospital, Abuja for treatment.”
Meanwhile, Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) was not comfortable with the happenings on that road.
According to him: ” Since the road is almost completed and with the smoothness of the road you will recalled that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has spoken to the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to ensure speedy completion of the road.
” And see after the road was completed, the speed by drivers on the road is worrisome and the rate of accident involving trailers is getting very disturbing.
” If you observed on Saturday, July 2, just 24 hours ago we had a multiple accident involving Truck and Sheron vehicle and now this Sunday morning we are experiencing this disturbing one again.
” We thank God no life is loss,” Attah said.
Attah, however, called on truck divers to put their truck in order and ensure that if they notice any wrong with the truck as they decend from Abacha Barracks, they should quickly stop and parked.
He enjoined truck drivers to always move slowing while descending from Abacha barracks to Kugbo down to Karu and Nyanya.
He insisted that all the truck flying the everbusy Abuja-Nyanya Keffi Express way must be in a very good condition.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has promised that the FCT Administration will support the initiatives of the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation in the FCT.
He made this known during a courtesy visit by representatives of the foundation’s board of trustees and management to the FCT Administration,
Bello recalled how the late Sir. Ahmadu Bello had a significant impact on his life as a child and student as well as the lives of many other Nigerians. Additionally, the Minister thanked the Foundation for its charitable efforts in the nation’s capital, particularly for its donation to the FCT at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Bello was also decorated as an Ambassador of the Foundation during the visit by the Chairman of its Board of Trustees, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu who led the delegation and commended the good work the Minister is doing in the FCT while also thanking him for his support for the Foundation.
Speaking on the activities of the Foundation, Dr. Aliyu said it was deeply involved in the education sector with the provision of scholarships to indigent students whom he said were doing very well in their academic pursuits.
He also used the opportunity to call on Nigerians with the means to sponsor indigent students through school, to do so.
He equally spoke on the legacies of Sir. Ahmadu Bello whom he described as a detribalized Nigerian. He said “There was no discrimination in terms of religion or tribe. All the stories you hear were of unifying the people”.
“We need to remind our children and ourselves that there are values in the northern region that you must stick with if you want to remain united and develop properly”, he added.
Present at the meeting were the Secretary of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, its Director General and CEO, Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi, and other officials of the Foundation and the FCTA.
In order to increase both local and global effect, Rotarian Hajia Zainab Omowunmi Owonikoko, the Rotary Club of Abuja Garki Neighborhood’s first female president, has announced its sustainable objectives and programs for the year 2022-2023.
The Club’s priorities typically revolve around promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, helping with education, boosting local economies, and protecting the environment, she said in her speech at the official flag-off of the Rotary year 2022-2023 on Friday in Abuja.
According to Owonikoko, who will be in charge of managing Club activities in District 9125 Nigeria for the foreseeable future, family health outreach initiatives are one of our Club’s yearly projects. Competition for a career lecture and quiz competition for schools in FCT, organizing Polio /Covid-19 seminars, rallies, road shows as well as ponsorship of 20 Youths to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA).
She added that others are: “Water & sanitation project (A joint project with our sponsored interact Club) tree planting/environmental Sanitation in our sponsor schools in FCT, economic & community development projects (women empowerment, donation of sewing machine, donation of grinding machine).
“Donation of Wheel Chairs to School of the Blind, donation of exercise books and school, donation of Laboratory equipment to our sponsored schools, donation of Medical Equipment to Health Center in our adopted Village, 1 year full scholarship to 30 indigent students and donation of Computers and Accessories to our sponsored school in FCT”.
“Having kept all our objectives of development of acquaintance and fellowship to promote vocational excellence and pursuit of service above self since 1905.
“Rotary International has therefore contributed to the promotion of peace and understanding globally through uncountable humanitarian services and project. We are united by common values and vision for the future as we sharpen our focus with targeted specific causes that will reach communities most in need.
“We therefore invite the kind hearted public and private organizations to partner with us in donating/sponsoring of club programs/projects during the year 2022/23″, she stated.
Owonikoko, having emerged as the first female Club President officially assumed office Friday, July 1st, to pilot the affairs of the Club and work towards the actualisation of Rotary goals and ideal of service during the year.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) carried out its threat to destroy over 135 of such structures, including homes and entertainment centers, on Friday in the Dutse Makaranta neighborhood of the capital.
The residents of the area, which has a history of floods, were painted a gloomy image by the 2022 Flood Outlook.
Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, who was in charge of the demolition team, claimed that the government had kept sending notices to the affected residents, the majority of whom had evacuated with their belongings but few had stayed.
According to him: “We were here on Wednesday and commenced operations. We came back today to remove other structures along the flood plains.
“Like I said earlier, we thank God the rain fell last Sunday afternoon at about 1pm and 2pm when many had left the churches and schools were closed. The water got to the window levels but thank God the people had fled. The casualties here would have been extremely massive. The casualty figure would have been very alarming of the rain had fallen at night.
“Many of the men here told is that most of these areas used to be a football field, but somehow, somebody sold the football field to them to build structures and that is very painful and pathetic.
“We targeted pulling down over 100 buildings and structures but from what we have seen now, having entered inside the street, there could be week over 200 structures that may need to give way.
“From what we did on Wednesday and today, we have so far pulled down over 135 structures with many billed to still go down. The more we go in, the more we see extremely damp structures around the banana plantation. You see houses that are damp up to the roofing level and this is unacceptable. It is not safe and we won’t won’t for flood to occur before we take measures”, he stated.
One of the residents of the area who simply identified herself as Ngozi admitted that her drinking spot was located on a flood channel, saying she did not build permanent structures because she had foreseen the action of government.
“I foresaw this and so, I evacuated my belongings. On behalf of my colleagues and residents here, we are only asking for more time to relocate”, she stated.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Coordinating Committee on the Recovery of Outstanding Ground Rents of N29, 506,643,943.98 commences work and vowed that property owners who have failed to pay risk prosecution, revocation, or outright forfeiture.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) set up this Coordinating Committee after several appeals and notices served the affected property owners, yet they remain adamant.
It would be recalled that the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Adesola Olusade, recently established a debt recovery committee with the goal of collecting unpaid debts owed to the FCT Administration, with a focus on ground rents and other miscellaneous fees in the Land Administration and other departments with a connection to land.
This was contained in a statement by Director, Information & Communication, FCT/Chairman, Media & Publicity Sub-Committee, Muhammad Hazat Sule which a copy was made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Accordingly, the Committee is expected to formally start communicating to the affected persons and corporate bodies as from Friday, July 1, 2022, after which those who failed to comply by paying their outstanding debt would be prosecuted.
The Administration is forced to adopt these measures due to the non-compliant by the affected individuals and corporate organizations.
Government, therefore, wish that the affected debtors will come forward and clear their outstanding debts to avoid prosecution, revocation, and forfeiture of their property.
The Recovery Committee has already swung into action and perfected modalities towards achieving this onerous task, because the government needs resources to execute essential infrastructural projects in the Federal Capital Territory.
The Committee, which has since been meeting to fine tune strategies for the task ahead, also warned debtors of dire consequences should they allow the committee to fully execute its mandate, if they refused to pay the outstanding land fees.
The Committee wishes to assure that it will rigorously carry out its mandate to the latter, because ‘no stone will be left unturned’, in carrying out the assignment.
Park operators have been issued one final warning by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency (AMMC) to settle their ground debt or face revocation.
They lamented the amount of debt owed to the FCT administration by pack operators at the time, claiming that some haven’t made payments since the land was assigned to them in 2007.
Furthermore, operators who refuse to benefit from the administration’s kind offer and keep missing payments risk having their Parks taken, their licenses canceled, and their facilities transferred to operators who comply with the law.
The AMMC Coordinator, Tlp. Usmar Shuaibu, spoke on behalf of the administration during a press conference on the verification and updating of Park Data on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him: “The recovery of outstanding revenues will be carried out with a human face as government in its magnanimity has granted indebted operators discounts and the option of paying in installments in order to cushion the financially devastating effect of block payment on the activities of operators.
“Operators may obtain details of this discount arrangement as well as information on installment remittances from the Parks and Recreation Department of the FCTA
“Park Update Forms should also be collected, filled by Operators and duly returned to the department in order to facilitate the update and verification of all park records. We need to make it clear that operators who refuse to take advantage of the Administration’s humane gesture and continue to default on their payments may have their Parks withdrawn, licenses revoked and their facilities transferred to compliant operators.
“We wish to state that the 2019 FCT Park Policy has categorized Parks into Neighbourhood, District, City and Regional Parks all with their various designations. The Policy is now fully operational.
“In line with all Park operators, Shaibu warned that the Park Policy regulations for their activities stipulates that their daily operation must end at 7.00pm. As the rights of the neighbors for protection against excessive noise must be sacrosanct”, he said.
In her contributions, the Director FCT Parks and Recreation, Hajiya Riskatu Abdulazeez said: “The 2019 FCT park policy is now fully operational, we are calling on the operators to pay their outstanding bills, before the policy came into existence their were suspension of the revenue collection but now is on.
“We have discussed with the operators, we asked them to come up and pay but they have not started. So, those who are yet to come and pay their outstanding, to pay in bulk wont be easy for them but let them pay in installments, because of COVID-19 we have waived year 2020 even in 2021, only 50% is expected” she said.
