The FCT Police Command has arrested Badawi Abdullahi Ahmed ‘m’ 38years, a notorious car thief who specialises in stealing cars from where they are parked.
The suspect Badawi Abdullahi Ahmed stole one blue Toyota Corolla with registration number FKJ 625 DV from where it was parked at Aguiyi Ironsi street Maitama on Tuesday 24th August, 2021.
Upon receipt of the information, Police detectives from Maitama Division swung into action and trailed the suspect to Talata Mafara Zamfara state where he was intercepted and arrested in possession of the stolen vehicle.
One (1) blue Toyota Corolla with registration number FKJ 625 DV, two (2) keys thought to be master keys, and a bag containing mechanical tools were seized from the suspect.
Following the conclusion of the inquiry, the suspect will be arraigned in court.
Meanwhile, Commissioner of Police for the FCT, CP Babaji Sunday, advised residents to protect their vehicles with extra security measures, while urging inhabitants of the FCT to stay vigilant about security.
The Command reaffirms its commitment to ensuring the safety of people and property in the Federal Capital Territory.
Residents are also encouraged to call these numbers to report any suspicious movements, emergencies, or distress: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.
Call the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) Line: 09022222352 for a commendation or a report on police officer behaviour.
In an effort to reduce unemployment as well as create sustainable means of livelihood for young people in the nation’s capital and Nigeria at large , the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged youths to go into agricultural farming.
Speaking on behalf of the administration, the Permanent Secretary of the FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola gave the urged during the distinguished excellence award organise to wrap up the 2021 Youth International Day Conference held on Friday,3rd September,2021 at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
He hinted that, their diverse potentials disposition and the fact that they constitute the greater percentage of the work force and as such contributes the highest quota to the Gross Domestic Product(GDP) have already given them enormous advantage.
Adesola who further used the occasion to enjoin stakeholders and particiants to come up with robust and far-reaching programmes and policies that will go a long way to impact positively on the living standard of the youths, stressed that doing this, will serve as a recipe for crime reduction.
He explained that the FCT Administration on its part, has over the years been partnering with relevant Agencies to provide employment opportunities, training and empowerment for teeming youths in the Federal Capital Territory. Hetherefore, appealed to the youth to ensure they remain productive, diligent, resourceful and law abiding.
He, however, assured the youth that government would continue to engage and interact with them on regular basis, thanked the organizers for bestowing on him Award of Excellence for his contributions to humanity over the years.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Youth Congress, Mr. Blessing Akinlosotu said that Nigerian youths have been known to be hardworking, intelligent and resourceful. Hetherefore, implored the Government to create the enabling environment for young people to excel in their chosen careers and also contribute their quota towards the growth and development of the country.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has urged investors to invest more in the agency, citing the agency’s strategic position, well-structured transportation networks, access to Africa’s largest consumer market, and avalanche incentives offered by the Abuja Technology Village.
During an inspection of the Project site in Lugbe, Abuja, Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary, revealed this, while adding that the fundamental infrastructure building operations had already evolved to an advanced degree.
He explained that the agency, which is strategically located next to the Nelson Mandela Institution’s African University of Science and Technology and close to other Science and Technology Institutions, provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a massive economic cluster connecting Abuja City Centre and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.
He went on to clarify that the agency was established by the FCT Administration in order to diversify the economy and give significant work opportunities for young people.
Adesola also reassured investors that the administration is committed to getting the project up and running as quickly as possible, claiming that it will be one of the administration’s most significant achievements.
Hajiya Hauwa Yabani, the Managing Director of the Abuja Technology Village, who led the Permanent Secretary and other senior management staff of the FCT Administration on a tour of the project site earlier, listed ICT, Agriculture, Energy, Minerals Technology, and other business opportunities available to investors in the Abuja Technology Village.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced plans to renovate over 500 toilets and other projects in schools and communities throughout the six Area Councils.
The Area Councils Service Secretariat (ACSS) made this announcement on Friday, while inaugurating a committee to decide the best course of action.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Olusade Adesola, who inaugurated the committee, noted that the toilets and solar-powered boreholes needed to be rebuilt to prevent the spread of Cholera and other illnesses.
He said that the administration had carried out many of these programs in collaboration with development partners, but that up to 90% of them had been trashed.
He told members of the committee that the administration was working to alleviate the horrible situation in schools and communities, while pushing them to be diligent in their job in accordance with the terms of reference.
According to him ; ” A recent survey carried out in some communities of the FCT by ACSS, in line with its mandate shows that the 4-compartment toilet facilities and the solar powered boreholes are in a complete state of dilapidation, while over 90% have been vandalised.
” It has become imperative to rehabilitate these boreholes in the FCT schools which will boost the FCT efforts in dealing with COVID-19 pandemic by providing portable water for hand washing and functional toilets in the schools…”, he said
Earlier , the Acting secretary of ACSS, Omolola Olanipekun said the projects is important, as they would also help in the efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic.
She noted that the Secretariat undertook the survey considering the impact which the absence of functional toilets and portable water will make on the communities.
The Precious Metal Gold Processors and Exporters Association of Nigeria has asked the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for help in setting up a gold buying center in Nigeria’s capital.
The group’s National Chairman, Alhj. Muhammed Ahmed Masud, made the announcement while leading a delegation of his executive to the FCT Minister of State, saying, the center would serve as the next gold trading hub, attracting investors from all over the world, similar to the Dubai Gold Souk in the United Arab Emirates.
Masud further hinted that the center’s creation in Abuja will help to build an enabling environment for the center to operate in line with federal government goals aimed at diversifying the economy away from oil, including gold mining, processing, and exporting.
He said , “The establishment of the Nigerian gold buying centre will no doubt generate more revenue, boost sustainable economy growth, increase investor’s traffic and create job opportunities for the country”.
The national chairman, however revealed that gold mining industry contributed over US$171 billion to global economy, noting that as a major stakeholder in the mining sector the presence of the association in FCT would bring all mining stakeholders together under one umbrella.
In her response, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, assured the group that the administration would partner the association and other viable organisations with programmes and policies geared towards the development of the territory.
The minister, who was represented by the Special Assistant on Technical Matters, Tpl. Mudiyu Mustapha, commended the association for the proposed partnership, assuring that the present FCT Administration has keyed into the federal government policy on diversification.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday raided criminal hideouts in Gwarimpa Ql Estate, arresting 49 suspects.
The suspected criminals were arrested during the ongoing demolition exercise at Yan Kasuwa on 6th Avenue Gwarimpa Estate.
Chairman, Task Team on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah, who led the operation, said the 49 suspected criminal stopped passerby and dispossessed them of their belongings at gun point after the joint team had finished its operation.
According to him, “Most of the criminals took advantage of the cleanup exercise and went on looting spree, dispossessing passerby of their belongings with guns and knives .
“This shows why we are demolishing Illegal structures, there are illegal structures, shanties and fence almost everywhere in Gwarimpa Estate, these are criminal hideouts which we will not allow to stay”.
Attah, regretted the increasing shanties in the Federal Capital Territory and warned that the present administration under the minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello would not allow illegality to become the order of the day.
The Task Team chairman condemned the act of post-demolition looting and assault on innocent residents.
Mohammed Awwal an Immigration officer, one of the victims who spoke with newmen said, they forcefully collected my mobile phone and food stuff with cash in the vehicle while I was driving to pass through this place. I have identified one among those arrested”
The 49 suspects who have turned the demolition exercise into looting spree have been taken to Efab Police station, Galadimawa under Gwarimpa Estate for more interrogation and prosecution.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday stormed Gwarimpa (the largest single housing Estate in Abuja) and demolished some illegal markets as well as a renowned tipper garage.
This, according to the administration is part of its continued city cleanup exercise.
The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah, who led personnel to the operations, hinted that the effort, which will last several days, intended to keep Gwarimpa from becoming a slum.
He said that the underground markets and Tipper garage had gradually become a safe havens for criminals and other hoodlums, who constitute both nuisance and security threat.
Attah further added that the daily chronic traffic bottleneck in various portions of Gwarimpa was also related to illegalities resulting from the illegal tipper garage’s activities.
He went on to say that sanitation was even more vital since it corrects violations of both AEPB and FCT Urban and Regional Planning laws committed by citizens.
According to him ; ” We are removing illegal shanties markets and Tipper garage. The most painful thing is that the transit corridors have been taken over by shanties squalors
” It has become a serious contraventions against the Abuja Environmental Protection Board Act and the Urban and Regional Planning laws.
” We gave them notices and warnings since January and for the past one week, we have been coming here to warn them to move out, and they refused to move, we have also warned them to stop contributing money to bribe people.
Earlier , Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Enforcement and Control leader, Kaka Bello, said that measures have been put in place to secure the reclaimed area, so as to avoid a return of the nuisances.
He, however, debunked the allegations that some undisclosed agents of AEPB were collecting unspecified amount of money as bribe to illegally occupy the places.
He also warned that people should stop falling to the schemes of unscrupulous agents who often parade as staff of AEPB , just to defraud the unsuspecting members of the public.
Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu. Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has shared a total sum of N4,119, 421,409.95 billion to the six Area Councils in the FCT and other stakeholders, as its share of statutory allocation for the month of July 2021,
The figure shows an increase of revenue from the N2,660, 740, 632.40 billion disbursed in month of June, to N4,119, 421,409.95 in the month of July, representing over 50 percent increase.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, FCT Minister of State, who presided over the 156th Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) in Wednesday commended all critical stakeholders for their cooperation, despite challenges recorded in the past.
She hinted that the decline 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 N2,209,783,886.19 billion was made available for distribution to the six area councils, while the sum of N1,909, 637, 523.77 billion was made available to other stakeholders, bringing the total sum to N4,119,421,409.95 billion.
The distribution to area councils show that the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), received N435, 351, 708.77 million, while Gwagwalada got N409,111,766.45 million and Kuje received N347,756,153.64 million.
Similarly, Bwari Area Council received N325,387,924.28 million, Abaji got N355,643,246.88 million and Kwali received N336,533,086.17 million bringing the total sum to N2,209,783,886.19 billion disbursed to the six area councils.
Furthermore, distribution to other stakeholders include: Primary Teachers which gulped N1,534, 114,914.46 billion, 15 percent Pension Funds took N226,478,989.57 million, One percent Training Fund gulped N41,194,214.11 million, while 10 percent Employer Pension Contribution gulped N107,849, 405.63 million, bringing the total sum to N1,909,637,523.77 billion.
The minister charged chairmen of the area councils to initiate projects that would benefit the rural communities, just as she decried infrastructural dearth in the area council.
According to her, “With the improved revenue allocation to your various councils, you should begin to initiate projects that will benefit the rural people. The infrastructural dearth in the area councils and satellite towns does not speak well of the administration. Much has been achieved in the city, but regrettably we have seen much in the suburbs. Use what you have now to do something for your people.”
She, however, 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.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday sacked two ministers from his cabinet.
They are the Ministers of Agriculture, Mohammed Sabo Nanono and his Power counterpart, Engineer Saleh Mamman.
This was made known by his Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), Femi Adesina.
He said the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abubakar has been redeployed to the Ministry of Agriculture while the Minister of State for Works, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu is to take over as Minister of Power.
He said the exercise will continue to fill vacancies as prescribed in the constitution.
Dr Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) on Tuesday hinted that, once these vaccines are made equitably available to all Nigerians, then we would need to have a frank discussion about justice, fairness and liberty that exist around vaccine hesitancy.
While adding that, if some individuals refuse to take the vaccine, hence endangering those who have or those who could not due to medical exemptions, then we have to apply the basic rule of law which stipulates that your human right stops where mine begins. So, you have a right to refuse vaccines, but you do not have the right to endanger the health of others.
The Executive Director gave this hint at a press conference to update Nigerians on the progress of COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, saying, the Presidential Steering Committee and the Federal Ministry of Health is exploring ways of making vaccines more available to all Nigerians including Federal Civil Servants and Corporate entities.
He, however , assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is very alert on the safety and efficacy of the various range of vaccines we are using in the country, and that is why we are not compromising on any component of our vaccine logistics at Federal and state levels.
He also appealed to all health workers to remain steadfast in discharging their professional responsibility to Nigerians. The Federal government is working hard and supporting the states in ensuring that Nigerians are protected against COVID-19. This is a collective fight in which we all have responsibility as Nigerians to protect ourselves, our loved ones and our community.
He hinted that evidence of vaccination against COVID-19 is now mandatory for all pilgrims to the holy cities of Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem.
His words; “I therefore urge adherents of both religions who are planning to perform pilgrimage next year or in the future, to get vaccinated now to avoid any delays. This is also to bring to our attention, that as the COVID-19 vaccines become available worldwide, some countries have made vaccination a requirement to gain access to their country.
“Fellow Nigerians, the COVID-19 vaccines are available in all states across the country. We urge all eligible Nigerians to take advantage of its availability and get vaccinated.
“As you get vaccinated, please remember to continue to wear your face masks, observe hand hygiene, observe physical distancing until we achieve herd immunity. Also remember to convince your loved ones, friends and colleagues that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective.”
Similarly , Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative stated that, WHO has called for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September, to enable at least 10% of the population of every country to be vaccinated.
While adding that , “The reason for this call is, vaccine injustice is a shame on all humanity and if we don’t tackle it together, we will prolong the acute stage of this pandemic for years when it could be over in a matter of months; In Africa, the third wave appears to have stabilized but the number of new cases is still very high with almost 248 000 reported in the past week; The trend we see is that each new wave strikes Africa faster and harder, reaching a higher number of new cases more rapidly than the previous wave. This puts an increasing strain on already stretched health facilities and health workers.
“The good news is that, increasing vaccine supplies raise hopes that the continent will meet the target of vaccinating 10% of the population by the end of September; Equitable access to safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is hugely encouraging to see vaccines listed for emergency use by WHO being available for use in Nigeria”.
While commenting on what point would WHO reconsider its position on booster doses, Mulombo said that, “WHO is looking carefully at the outcome, which is of most relevance from a public health perspective, that is the severe disease, hospitalization and death outcome.
“The second consideration is the consistency of the findings. Acting on a single study is just not a sound policy basis. So, we are including the entirety of the evidence; and the third [consideration] is around the issue of the risk groups. Recommendations around the use of booster doses would very much be tailored to risk groups which may experience some change in the performance of the vaccines over a period”, he added.
Meanwhile, the UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Peter Hawkins has urged Nigerians to take their second doze of the COVID-19 vaccine to be fully protected.
Commending states like Lagos, Kastina who ensured that about 60 to 70 thousand people are vaccinated every day and the need to push it up, while calling on other states to emulate so that more people can be vaccinated.
He, however, encouraged health workers to take routine immunization seriously to protect thousands of children from being infected and keep them safe and stronger.
