In an effort to boost food security and production , the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has inaugurated a 16-man committee on organic agriculture innovation platform/technical advisory.

Inaugurating the committee on Wednesday, the mandate Secretary FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS), Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim said the committee would help in strengthening the Organic agriculture initiatives across the territory.

He further stated that with the committee more will be done in the area of food security as well as boosting the production.

Ibrahim noted that the committee members were selected from diverse background based on the recommendation contained in the proposed National Policy on Organic Agriculture which would address the challenges of organic agriculture in the Federal Capital Territory.

His words, “The committee is constituted in line with the recommendation contained in the proposed National Policy on Organic Agriculture in anticipation of the purposeful contributions and crucial roles you are going to play in addressing the challenges of organic agriculture in FCT.

“This inauguration is also an indication that that FCT Administration is desirous to make the practice of organic agriculture a reality in the territory” he said.

The mandate Secretary who heads the committee listed terms of the reference to include to propose programs, policies and regulations for the development of organic produce/ products value.

Others are to facilitate mobilization and organizing stakeholders in the Organic farming value chain into viable cooperatives societies that will be capable of supporting their aspirations of deriving health, economic and social benefits from the sector amongst others.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said the administration is not forcing staff to compulsorily take the COVID-19 vaccination, they either come with COVID-19 negative result test, or prove of vaccination.

The FCT Minister Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikaro Attah gave this hint on Tuesday in continuation of the enforcement exercise.

He said , visits to FCTA
Departments and Agencies showed 70 percent compliance, saying, the turnout of individuals who had took their jab since it began was impressive.

According to him, “Like yesterday, we have massive turn out of staff that are fully vaccinated, we have gone to FCT departments and agencies and have seen that the staff are fully vaccinated. What we will continue to insist is that the vaccination is not by force, we are not forcing people to take the job or vaccine. We are only telling people to come with either COVID-19 negative result test, or prove of vaccination.

“We are happy that there is high level of compliance, as of today the enforcement hit 70%, with the impressive turn up and the ongoing vaccination we are almost there” .

While speaking on staff that stay away from their offices, Attah said that the permanent secretary (FCTA), Mr Olusade Adesola said such staff will be treated as someone who stay away from work.

According to him, “The FCT permanent secretary is clear about that, anyone who stays away from the office will be treated as someone who is on the run, and the civil service rule is clear about it. The Permanent Secretary with Director Human Resource Management, Mallam Bashir Muhammed have made it very clear that if you decide to stay at home because you don’t have evidence of vaccination, or COVID-19 negative result test, you will be treated in line with the civil service rule”

Attah stated that COVID-19 vaccination centres are all over the city, thus people are advised to go for their jab, saying the exercise was for no fee.

Ebikun Adekunle, one of the staff who spoke with our correspondent, said “I’m a Staff here , and I got to know that I won’t entre the office without collecting the vaccine or showing proof negative status. This is the main reason I collected the vaccine”.

He attributed his hesitancy to rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccine especially in the social media.

Similarly, Ebi Blessing, who was on a visit to the FCTA, seen receiving her COVID-19 vaccine jab at the Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Centre in Area 11, said she had no other option than to accept the vaccine, in order to gain access to the government facility.

They wouldn’t allow us to gain access the FCTA premises, except we get vaccinated or present negative COVID-19 test result. So I was not willing but compelled to do so, she said.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has tested negative to COVID-19 virus.

He made this known in a message he sent on his social media handle via his Facebook titled: “I’m now free of COVID-19” on Tuesday.

His message read in parts, “Best regards to all. Pleased to report that after taking my prescribed course of COVID-19 medication, I feel very well and great. The doctors have confirmed that I’m now free of the virus and it’s OK for me to resume all official activities.

“I wish to convey my sincere appreciation to all those who showed great concern on my health status, through various channels of communication.

“I also wish to commend the FCTA Medical team for their commitment and dedication to duty. All COVID-19 patients in the FCT are truly thankful to you.

“Let me use this opportunity to further reiterate that COVID-19 is very much around. I therefore once more, I appeal to residents to get themselves vaccinated. Doing so could save their lives”.

It would be recalled that the minister came down with COVID-19 on the 31st of December, 2021.

…Says It’s Either Jab Or Valid Negative Test, Nothing More

On Monday, January 17th, 2022, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) made good on its warning by shutting out the unvaccinated and those who forgot their cards at home.

According to our source, began installing heavy security surveillance at all entry points to its offices premises, including FCTA, FCDA, and FCT Departments and Agencies, as early as 7:30 a.m. on Monday morning.

Many employees and visitors were spotted stranded at the gate, muttering and pleading for admittance, but their cries went unheard.

Comrade Ikharo Attah, the FCT Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, who leads the surveillance team, promised that the enforcement would continue to achieve maximum compliance.

He added that no staff or visitors are being forced to take the vaccines, every individual must present either a vaccination card or  a negative COVID-19 test result to gain access to the premises. 

He further hinted that, considering the fact that the cases of  Omicron variant was still surging, stringent measures have to be  taken to protect staff and everyone that has anything to do with the administration. 

According to him, “The administration has given staff enough time to choose between any of the options approved, to avoid the stressed of being turned back at the gate. 

” We have given a full week for advocacy,  and we got a van that went round announcing it. Circulars were also circulated in line with the one earlier issued out by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, that staff who are not vaccinated. 

” Those who say they don’t want to be vaccinated,  will get a negative test result.  So if you bring your vaccination card or the negative test result, any of the two can suffice.

” Even if you feel you should not be vaccinated, then get us a negative test result, not more than 3 days old, and that will get access.

” People thought that we are not serious here, but they have come to let them know that when the Ministers, Malam Muhammad Bello,  Dr. Ramatu Aliyu and the Permanent Secretary say something,  they mean it”.

Offices visited includes: Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Central Area, Social Development Secretariat,  Area 10, Garki, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council,  wuse zone 6 and FCT Primary Health Care Board, Water Board among others,  showed strict compliance.

However, Our correspondent observed that, unvaccinated crowd were seen at various points of vaccination both staff and non staff have to get vaccinated.

Following instructions from the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr.Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu to improve sanitary conditions of abattoirs in the nation’s capital, the to Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) has commenced immediate clean up of the abattoirs.

The Mandate Secretary, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim who supervised and participated in the exercise disclosed that the clean up is in line with the commitment of the Minister of State to promote public health safety and to ensure that abattoirs operations and premises measure up with required hygienic practices.

He further hinted that the exercise which will be continuous is taking place simultaneously in all the abattoirs that are under the supervision of the Agric Secretariat.

According to him, “What you are seeing here today is in response to the directive issued by the Honourable Minister of State who has expressed concern on the State of Abattoirs particularly
after the Festive season where the abattoirs were full of activities which resulted to the accumulation of huge waste. Already we have mobilised all our Veterinary and Animal health officials to be part of the clean up and I can assure you that by the end of this week, God willing, the Abattoirs will be totally cleaned”.

In another development, the Secretary met with officials of the FCT Butchers Association to interact with them on the need to cooperate with the Administration in its efforts to discourage the use of tyres in meat processing.

He informed the members that the Secretariat is working towards providing them with affordable and eco- friendly alternatives.

He warned that the Secretariat will not fold its arms and allow practices that constitutes great health hazards to residents.

In his words , “The Secretariat has made provisions in the 2022 budget to procure gas flaring appliances devices which are safer for consumers and cost effective. I hope that you will use your positions to appeal to your members to adopt the new and safer practices “

Speaking also, the Director Veterinary Services Dr. Mrs Regina Ada Adulugba thanked the Hon. Minister of State for matching her words with action towards repositioning abattoir operations the FCT.

As at the time of filing this report, the Secretary has also inspected the clean up exercised at the kubwa Abbatior

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Butchers Association in Karu Abattoir, Ahmed Abdulkadri Cater said , “We are happy to see the ARDS Secretary supervise the cleaning exercise, because during his visit, he promise to do so, and now work has already started.

“And we (Butchers) were called and negotiated with on how to work hand to hand with them to improve hygiene in the Karu Abattoir.

” We have never seen this type ARDS Secretary that handles affairs of the Abattoir like this one, that is why we believe that this government intervention will change hygiene in FCT abattoirs”.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed to investigate the alleged N700 million due to Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).

The Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Council Services Secretariat (ACSS), Alhaji Ibrahim Dantsoho made this known during a familiarisation tour to AMAC .

He, however, promised to investigate the matter of funds raised by AMAC Chairman, Abdullahi Candido.

He added that the government is not unmindful of the prevailing security challenges in the country, saying, all hands must be on deck to ensure that there is peace before, during and after the February 12th, 2022 Area Council elections.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Candido hinted that the alleged N700 million due to AMAC is still being withheld by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA),
saying, there have been conflicting claims between FCTA and AMAC over the body empowered by law to collect certain taxes.

According to him , “There have been conflicting claims between FCTA and AMAC over the body empowered by law to collect certain taxes, especially tenement rates in the city center with Candido insisting that the entire city center, including the very space where FCTA office is located, fall within AMAC’s jurisdiction”.

“But if you refuse to give them, questioning how the volume of the funds will be spent and asking what they will do with the money. I think that is an aberration. When you refuse to speak truth to authority, things will remain unresolved. With the way FCTA relates with the Area Councils, if there is no change, I pity the administration of Area Councils coming behind. Very soon some Area Councils will fold up and go out of business. Things are rough here.

“In AMAC we have salaries close to N200 million. When we get the Joint Area Councils Allocation (JAAC) from FCTA, after one week the money is gone. Constitutionally the council is charged with the collection of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but the FCTA is also interested in certain things that the Area Council is supposed to do. So with this there is conflict. When we as Area Council serve notices to peoples on what is expected of them FCTA also will serve them the same notice, then we end up in court.

“If I speak, they will say I am rude. But I will remain rude until I leave as the Chairman of AMAC so long as I am protecting the sanctity of the Area Councils.”

On the forthcoming Area Councils election, Candido disclosed that AMAC has already concluded and procured over thirty vehicles that will be presented to the Security operatives next week to ensure safety.

He vowed to hold meetings with stakeholders in FCT to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

He, however,blamed the power tussle on some vested interests bent on undermining the provision of the law in order to frustrate his administration’s commitment to delivering dividends of democracy, he vowed not to stand aside while development eludes his people.