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.
Following a recent fire near Kubwa Village market in Abuja’s Bwari Area Council that claimed six lives, officials from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have decided to start massive demolition of structures that are causing obstructions in the area.
Traders, shop owners, and others encroaching on major corridors and undesignated areas around the market and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Kubwa were given a 24-hour vacation ultimatum by the FCTA on Monday.
Kaka Ali, the Acting Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said that during a pre-demolition exercise in the area, the FCT Department of Development Control will demolish all structures that fall within the non-regulated areas for trading.
According to Ali : “We are here to sanitise the market and environs, following the recent incident of fire outbreak caused by explosion of an illegal kerosine tank depot in the area.
” We are trying to enlighten them on the dangers of selling within or around the market or within residential areas, which are completely forbidden, and there are specific areas of selling such things. We have spoken with the market managers on the need to sanitise and put all things in order.”
Also , the Director, Development Control Department, Garba Kwamkur, stated that they have a matching order from the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello in view of the ugly incident that happened three days back.
He said , ” In and around the market are residential buildings, but people have resorted to breaking their windows and doors, turning those houses to commercial, thereby making everywhere to be rowdy. We can’t allow that to continue, that’s why we are here to insist on what the Masterplan says.
“We have given them 24- hour ultimatum to revert to what they were originally meant for.
“Six people lost their lives in the fire incident , and that’s why we have to come back here on Wednesday, and insist on the restoration of Kubwa Masterplan; because, Kubwa being a satellite town of Abuja has a Masterplan.”
Meanwhile , Comrade Ikharo Attah, Chairman FCT Ministerial Taskteam on City Sanitation, disclosed that there are old abatement notices served by relevant agency on most of the affected structures, adding that early last year, they cleared obstructing structures in the area.
His words: ” We cleared that particular place, but within the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, the people returned back to the same spot where the disaster happened.
“Now, with the support of the FCT Minister and Directors of AEPB and Development Control Department, as well as join team of security personnel, we are going to purge and purify the entire neighbourhood of the NYSC area in Kubwa, in order to remove all illegalities.
“Now, we are ready to commerce removal action, we have told them that we have given you demolition notices as Development Control Department and AEPB issued them notices almost six years ago, we have no option but to give them 24 hours within which to vacate the affected structures”, he stated.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warned traders on Saturday not to sell highly inflammable materials in undesignated areas, citing global best practices.
She also expressed her condolences to the victims of the Kubwa market fire, which claimed the lives of six people and left ten others with various degrees of injuries.
The minister, who was accompanied by the FCT Director of Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, and other top management staff from the FCT Emergency Management Agency to the scene, praised the FCT Fire Service and other critical stakeholders for their proactive actions.
Those who were injured are being treated at Kubwa General Hospital and National Hospital, respectively.
She, on the other hand, bemoaned the high number of casualties, while also expressing concern about frequent fire outbreaks in major markets across the territory.
Aliyu also revealed that the FCT Development Control would be directed to remove all shanties along road corridors to make way for emergency operations.
According to her, “First, I want to on behalf of the FCT Administration and that Mr. President sympathize with the families of those who lost their beloved ones in this unfortunate fire outbreak. However, it is regrettable that six persons have been confirmed dead despite the proactive steps taken by FCT Fire Service.
“But I want to appeal to our residents to be law abiding when government make policy statement on certain issues. Before now, government has warned residents not to sell kerosene, diesel or any inflammable chemicals in an unauthorised areas. Abuja is a planned city and they are designated areas marked out for such trade.
“I will direct the Development Control to come here and remove all the shanties that blocked the access road leading to the market. I was told that fire fighters find it difficult to even access here due to illegal structures and shanties. All these will be removed by next week and I want you to show understanding in carrying out this exercise,” Aliyu affirmed.
Conducting the minister round the scene, the Director FCT Fire Service, Malam Sani Sa’idu, told the minister that the cause of the fire outbreak could not be established, but stressed that the fire outbreak was said to have started from a shop where kerosene was being sold.
Sa’idu also informed the minister that as soon as the Service received the distressed call from residents of the area, personnel were deployed from the nearby Maitama market Fire Outpost in Kubwa for rescue operation, stressing that if not for quick intervention of the Service, the casualties could have been more than the number recorded.
A trader, Mrs. Obilor Chidinma, who lost her 16 years old son, and a daughter who is still in critical condition was taken to Kubwa General Hospital on the order of the FCT Minister of State.
Residents in the Anifowoshe area of Ikeja, Lagos State, were assured on Wednesday by NNPC Limited that a gas pipeline that had been reported leaking in the early hours of the morning had been isolated and the general area cordoned off to ensure their safety.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, Garba Deen Muhammad, NNPC’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, stated that the pipeline is a 6-inch gas pipeline supplying gas to Mainland Power Ltd near Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
“The NNPC Ltd hereby informs the general public, especially those living within the Anifowoshe area of Ikeja in Lagos State, that a gas pipeline that was reported leaking in the early hours of today has been isolated and the general area cordoned off.
“The incident was caused by road construction and rehabilitation activities in the area.
“Preliminary findings indicate that at about 8.40am, Wednesday, 3rd November 2021, a pipeline gas leakage was reported around Anifowoshe, Ikeja Underbridge, Lagos State. The pipeline is a 6-inch gas pipeline supplying gas to Mainland Power Ltd, near Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.
“The NNPC immediately moved in by engaging Gaslink Ltd, its franchise partner operating the pipeline, mobilized to the location, cordoned off the area and successfully isolated the gas pipeline at Oba Akran Valve pit.
“In the meantime, residents of the area are urged not to panic as all necessary safety measures have been put in place to avert any further escalation of the incident; while NNPC’s team of maintenance engineers are collaborating with Gaslink team at the site to ensure that gas supply services to areas affected by the incident resume within the next 48 hours” the statement stated in parts .
The National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) trained and empowered 300 youths in Kano State, advising them not to use social media to spread hate speech and incitement.
From November 1 to 3, youths from the Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency attended a capacity-building program at the Federal Secretariat in Kano.
The youths will serve as NFVCB’s ‘Community Ambassadors’ against unclassified films and harmful video content, having been trained by relevant professionals, board officials, and seasoned entrepreneurs.
Over 300 people were trained in basic entrepreneurial skills and the know-how they needed to be successful artisans, according to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Media to NFVCB’s Executive Director/CEO Joshua Olomu. They were also given startup packs with soft grants to help them get started.
Under the board’s “Strategic Empowerment Programme” for Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency, 150 other youths received either an agricultural water pump or a power generating set.
The power generating set, according to the organizers, was for the young creative entrepreneurs to run their local film viewing centers as NFVCB Ambassadors.
The training was designed to complement the NFVCB’s capacity building program for youths in the creative industry across the six geopolitical zones, according to Alh. Adedayo Thomas, Executive Director/CEO.
The programme, he said, was the final phase of the board’s Media Literacy and Capacity Building modules for the state’s Shanono/Bagwai Federal Constituency.
He said the program was facilitated by Hon.Yusuf Badau, a member of the National Assembly’s House of Representatives in Abuja who represents the constituency.
“This is part of the concluding phase of the series of the NFVCB’s capacity building packages for this constituency.
“This capacity building initiative is in line with President Muhamadu Buhari’s empowerment plan to ensure that young Nigerians are self-reliant.
“When youths are gainfully engaged it will curb crimes and other vices threaten the peace unity of our nation, because their role is very crucial in national economic development.
“We do not only train them but we are also assisting to these selected youths with empowerment kits, including grants as part of our support for stakeholders in the industry, especially the young ones.
“This is to enable them startsomething and become self reliant and creators of jobs as well,” he said.
Thomas added that as Nigerian grapples with a lot of security challenges, it was crucial to advise young Nigerians against the moral and social implications of sharing of unwholesome visual contents.
He noted that many crisis in some parts of the country were escalated as a result of fake news, hate speeches and videos spread on social media.
He therefore commended Hon.Badau for embracing the collaboration with the board towards youth empowerment for the region.
“This training is born out of the need for NFVCB, both as an industry regulator, and a decision maker to build the capacity of youths who mostly watch films and video contents.
“It is difficult for us to have offices in every local government and community, and that is why these empowered youths are now our ambassadors.
“At every point, they must be able to condemn a bad film when they see one, and report to any of our offices or officials,” he said.
Earlier in his speech, Badau commended the NFVCB for the collaboration which his constituency has so much benefited from as part of his Zonal Intervention Programmes.
He therefore urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the startup packs for them to become economically self-reliant, and advised them against selling the items they received.
A participate, Umar Shanono, expressed delight that the empowerment was clear a indication that the Federal Government has not forgotten them in the rural areas.
“I am very lucky to be selected for this capacity building programme this time around, because these people have been coming to empower our women and youths for some time now,” he said
…Transporters Insist Park Duly Allocated By FCTA Transport Secretariat
Hoodlums and commercial transporters attacked Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) officials on a clean-up operation in Zuba, Gwagwalada Area Council, in the nation’s capital on Wednesday.
Seven people were seriously injured when personnel who were in the area to clear out illegal parks and shanties in Zuba were viciously attacked.
Officials from the Department of Development Control, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), and the Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) have been tasked with clearing Zuba of all illegal parks and shanties.
The issue arose when DTRS officials began impounding vehicles shortly after the park at the Zuba interchange was demolished.
The commercial motorists became enraged and began throwing stones to disrupt the ongoing exercise.
Seven of the officials were reportedly injured, while the entire staff scurried for safety and rushed into their vehicles fleeing for safety, according to our source.
The team’s security agents fired tear gas canisters into the air to disperse the criminals, who also attacked and injured innocent motorists.
Other areas that were supposed to be removed were not touched because the personnel were fleeing for their lives.
A member of the task force from the DTRS who spoke under the condition of anonymity said, “The Security personnel we went with was not enough. Zuba is a danger place when it comes to clean up.
“We only demolished the park but couldn’t proceed to other locations. Even from the office we expected it but the “Ogas” just pushed us into danger. We hope to return back with a stronger force another day.”
However, a leader of the transporters, Jubrin Kyari insisted that the park was duly allocated to them by FCTA Transport Secretariat and they have document.
His words; “We have document to this effect, but without any revocation order the minister came and demolish it.”
He accused the FCTA of not giving them alternative palace before removing them from the roads.
According to him; “The FCTA has finally push all transporters to the main road in Zuba which certainly will cause heavy traffic gridlock.
“The major park loading vehicles to the north has been demolished while others as we gathered, will also be demolished.
“People must travel to the States in the North, and Zuba is a transit point. We will keep loading on the road until government provides an alternative”,he said.
Meanwhile, those injured include one Jeremiah Timothy, a Police Inspector and Suleiman Musa, an AEPB staff among many others.
Commuters, led by the Road Users Development Network of Nigeria (RUDNN), have threatened to stage a protest over the neglect of the dilapidated portions of the Abuja-Keffi expressway, which result in daily nightmares for residents.
The group demanded that the contractor in charge of the ongoing Abuja-Keffi road expansion step up and maintain the existing carriageway within the next 14 days, or else they will be forced to mobilize other road users to protest their hardship to Mr. President.
RUDNN, in a statement signed by its Caretaker Committee Chairman, Chimezie Obi, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, also decried the excessively slow pace of expansion work, which has had a negative impact on the lives and businesses of users of the road, which is one of the busiest in Nigeria due to its proximity to the Federal Capital Territory.
RUDNN, on the other hand, observed that, while the road expansion work is taking forever to complete, heavy vehicular traffic and climate effects are causing potholes on portions of the road, particularly from Abacha Barracks to the FCT-Nasarawa State border, slowing vehicle movement and causing long stretches of gridlock.
The statement read in bits: “The need to draw the attention of the Federal Government once again on the plight of citizens plying the Abuja-Keffi Road have once again become imperative and urgent.
“On a daily basis, commuters along this road suffer untold hardship during the peak hours of the morning and the evening simply because the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works have failed to take that road expansion work seriously. Nigerians will like to know whether the duration of the expansion work is forever.
“Otherwise, the Ministry that awarded that contract should sit up and take decisive actions for the interest of citizens subjected to untold hardship daily on that road.
The statement continued :”RUDNN hereby call on the contractor to immediately rise up and maintain the existing carriage way in the Abuja-Keffi Road within the next 14-days, otherwise, we may be left with no option than to call on users of that road to protest their hardship to Mr. President.
‘We also call the Federal Ministry of Works to call the contractor to order to sit up and immediately repair the bad portions of Abuja-keffi Road to ease the sufferings of Citizens living in that axis.
“May we not witness a day when Citizens living in that axis will rise up collectively to protest their untold hardship of living and plying in that road axis, as if they are second class citizens”.
