Following an attempt by hoodlums to hijack the #EndSARS protest in Dutse Alhaji area of Bwari Area Council in Abuja, no fewer than six people has been confirmed dead.
One of the deceased was said to have been among a group of people who attacked the #EndSARS protesters, the identity of his killers were not known, but five other people were reported killed by security operatives.
The development, led to the Police post in the area being razed down by irate youths and caused panic in the area.
Meanwhile, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the FCT Command, Mariam Yusuf, however , did not immediately respond to media enquiries as she neither picked her calls nor replied to the text message sent to her phone.
An eyewitnesses accused security operatives of turning a blind eye to attacks by hoodlums while swooping on #EndSARS protesters.
Earlier in the day, there was tension in some parts of Sokale and FO1 areas of Kubwa on Tuesday morning following invasion by soldiers who fired sporadically into the air to disperse some #EndSARS protesters who had gathered to begin the day’s protest.
While passers-by scampered to safety, residents who were still in their houses immediately shut their doors and windows even as motorists on the Bwari-Dutse Alhaji road became stranded due to the ensuing gridlock on the route.
The protesters had erected a barricade at the Sokale roundabout area and Winners road and had begun settling into the protest before the invasion by soldiers in three trucks.
While some hoodlums also took over some parts of the Apo Mechanic village, attacking motorists and attempting to loot some shops in the area.
The hoodlums who had earlier attacked #EndSARS protesters the previous day were said to have mobilised to the area on Tuesday morning to halt the peaceful protest against police brutality.
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) , Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter said, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Taskforce/Marshal had overstepped their bounds in the course of their operations.
Hence, the AMAC Taskforce on traffic control was disbanded and their services transferred to the AMAC Marshal.
Saying , it has become imperative to introduce technology in enforcing road traffic regulations in AMAC.
This was contained in a communique signed and issued by Ochiaka Ugwu, Secretary, NUJ FCT Council and the Chairman, Organizing Committee Omeiza Ajayi, at the end a one day Town Hall meeting on AMAC Taskforce/Marshal held at the NUJ FCT Council Secretariat, Utako, Abuja.
At the end of the town hall meeting , the following resolutions were reached: Participants agreed that there is need for synergy among relevant government agencies, motorists and other stakeholders in the transportation sector;
It was agreed that the taskforce had overstepped their bounds in the course of their operations and it was time to introduce technology in enforcing road traffic regulations in AMAC;
Participants agreed that enforcement of traffic regulations must be done by well trained officials who would only do so in a civil manner rather than in a gestapo manner; and It was further resolved that private consultants should no longer be used for enforcement of road traffic regulations in AMAC.
The town hall meeting was necessitated by concerns from members of the public, particularly motorists, over the high-handedness, extortion and harassment by the taskforce.
AMAC authorities had severally stated that not all revenue collectors are genuine, however, the NUJ felt there was need to critically examine the character of the Taskforce and sift the wheat from the chaff.
The event was declared open by former Chairman of FCT Council of the NUJ, Mr Malachy Uzendu, who also chaired the occasion.
It had in attendance the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council AMAC, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido, his vice, Lawrence Onuchukwu, the council secretary; Director, Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage DOAS in the FCT Administration, Dr Babagana Adam; FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma who was represented, FCT Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC, Ayuba Gora Wobin, Director Operations of the FCT DRTS, Mr Dele Yaro, Executive Director of CASER, Barr. Frank Tietie, representatives of various transport unions, members of the NUJ and the public.
Not less than six people were said to have died at popular Apo Mechanic village in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday, following clashes between #EndSARS demonstrators and yet to be identified hoodlums.
Our correspondent gathered that, Houses, vehicles and shops were also set ablaze.
An eye witnesses stated that, trouble started when some miscreants appeared and accosted the peaceful protesters at Kabusa village junction down to Apo market.
It was , however , gathered that the demonstrators resisted the invaders who came with all manner of dangerous weapons, and instead of retreating from the scene, they (intruders) were bent on committing mischief, and began to burn vehicles on the road.
Findings further revealed that the incident was said to have been extended to the machanic village, where the hoodlums also attacked many people, burning shops and property within their reach.
According to an eyewitness, who did not want his name in print, the shop and vehicle owners who felt aggrieved by the actions of the hoodlums, went berserk and started engaging the hoodlums which later resulted to death of six persons.
The Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi has said that construction work on the Kano-Maradi railway corridor will commence by February. 2021
He disclosed that the contractors have commenced the Front-end engineering process to ascertain the technical requirements, main cost of the execution phase and evaluate the potential risk of the projects which would be ready by January ending.
Speaking during inspection tour of the Lagos-Ibadan railway over the weekend Amaechi said he has given the contractors marching order to begin to acquire the right of way, pay compensation and clearing right of way as the government would wait till end of January to commence work.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had recently approved contract of about $1.96 billion for the development of the proposed Kano-Jigawa-Katsina-Jibia to Maradi rail line in Niger Republic.
Amaechi said “Kano-Maradi is at the stage of negotiation, we are fast tracking it. They (China Civil Engineering Construction Company) are doing front end engineering even before the loan, we believe that the front end engineering would have ended before the end of January, so we have between October – January window.”
” But we have told them we can’t wait till the end of January for them to start. They should start now to acquire right of way, pay compensation and start clearing the right of way so that they can prepare ‘, he stated.
This is just as the Lagos-Ibadan railway construction is nearly completion as the Minister said all things being equal the contractors are working to beat the January deadline for the completion of the railway tracks and the station buildings.
According to the minister, the contractors have assured that the small station buildings would be completed by October ending while the larger stations would be completed by November. The Ebutte Metta and Apapa station is expected to be completed by December.
In his response, the Managing Director, Nigeria Railway Cooperation (NRC) Fidelis Okhiria has assured that commercial activities will kick start on the route by November to reduce stress of commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan express road.
He said the cooperation would no longer be operating free train ride on the route as intending passengers would have to be paying an undisclosed amount for the service.
On the safety of railway communities, Amaechi said “The first thing for us is to complete our over passes and under passes so that when any accident happens, we will say Lagos state government is liable because, we have completed our own. If we don’t complete our own and anything happens, we will also be as liable as the Lagos state government.
However, the Chairman, Board of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, said in the course of the project, the management of NRC sat with Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and agreed on areas where overhead crossing and bridges would be constructed. “We agreed that some bridges and overhead crossing will be constructed by the Federal Government while others will be done by state governments. “For instance, we constructed new two line bridges at Costain and brought down the old ones to enable us have access.
“As we are coming, you can see that passengers’ movement are under the track, while in some places we could see overhead bridges from Lagos to Ibadan in consideration of human and goods trafficking along the corridors,” he said.
Musa said that although people were still asking for more access to the corridor,their request would, however, would be considered based on merit and the finances available on ground.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has ban the #EndSARS protest in the nation’s capital.
Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the FCT Minister gave this order at the end of the Security Committee meeting, to review the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory with a view to addressing identified challenges.
The Security Committee reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to ensure that all residents are safe, secure and able to go about their lawful businesses without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The Security Committee reiterated the commitment of the FCT Administration to ensure that all residents are safe, secure and able to go about their lawful businesses without fear of intimidation or harassment.
The Committee, which was chaired by FCT minister stated that they , however, recognizes the rights of citizens as regards freedom of association and movement as enshrined in the constitution, while observing that the unruly conduct of the crowd and manner of demonstrations are in complete violation of the COVID-19 safety protocols which were put in place to safeguard the lives of citizens.
According to the committee, “These violations endanger the lives of not just the demonstrators, but also other citizens going about their legitimate concerns.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the COVID-19 guidelines regulating public gatherings recommend physical distancing, temperature checks, the use of facial coverings, amongst others. Clearly all these guidelines were flouted by the protesters.”
Consequently, the Committee directs that due to the dangers posed by COVID-19, all street demonstrations, protests and processions will not be allowed anywhere within the FCT.
The Committee also noted the progress being made in the fight against robberies in illegal and unregistered, commercial motor vehicles known as “one chance” and is committed to the introduction of innovative measures that will ensure the safety of commuters.
It however advised commuters to continue to exercise caution and remain vigilant while boarding commercial vehicles.
With the advent of the “Ember” months, the Committee reiterates its commitment to ensuring the safety of road users across the FCT in accordance with existing guidelines by relevant agencies.
It however seeks the cooperation of residents to obey all extant traffic rules and regulations while travelling during this period.
Similarly, the Committee also noted with satisfaction the successful re-opening of schools after the forced closure due to COVID-19. It however calls on parents, students and school authorities to continue to comply with the extant COVID-19 safety protocols.
After extensive deliberations, the Committee came up with the following resolutions:
The Committee noted with satisfaction the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Inspector-General of Police to disband the Special Anti-Robbery Squad {SARS} as well as other reforms aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the Nigerian police.
It also noted that in response to the directive of the President and the yearnings of the Nigerian people, the Inspector General of Police has dissolved the SARS across the 36 State Police Commands and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) where they hitherto existed.
However, the Committee noted with concern that despite the pronouncement by the Inspector General of Police scrapping the FSARS, the #ENDSARS protests continued in parts of the Territory. The protesters caused inconveniences to law abiding citizens.
The meeting which was chaired by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello had in attendance, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, heads of the various security agencies and military formations in the FCT, senior members of staff of the FCTA, representatives of religious and traditional institutions as well as Area Council Chairmen.
Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) has charged the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib to ensure he end vaccine preventable disease in Nigeria.
ANHEJ gave this charge in a statement jointly signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) President Hassan Zaggi and General Secretary Gloria Essien.
In the next four years, ANHEJ expects that all child-killer diseases including measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases are totally eradicated from Nigeria.
ANHEJ also expects that Nigerian children and mothers will get nothing short of best healthcare services in all PHCs across the country regardless of the location.
The statement reads in bits; “On October 6, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the reappointment of the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib, for a second and final term of four years. The re-appointment is with effect from January 10, 2021.
“Indeed, this did not take the Association of Nigeria Health Journalists (ANHEJ) by surprise considering the achievements Dr. Shuaib recorded in the past four years.
“As journalists covering the activities of the NPHCDA and the entire health sector, we can attest to the fact that since assumption of office 2017, Dr. Shuaib brought with him a unique management style and an unprecedented experience that improved the performance of the agency.”
The statement continues; “ANHEJ can also attest to the fact that the 4-point agenda which include closing out on polio, strengthening Routine Immunization (RI), PHC revitalization, strengthening governance and accountability introduced by Dr. Shuaib, aimed at reversing the country’s poor health indices, have yielded fruitful results.
“Monitoring closely the 4-point agenda, ANHEJ discovered that governance and accountability has improved greatly at NPHCDA compared to the way Dr. Shuaib met it; RI has also improved tremendously.
“The introduction of the National Emergency Routine Immunization Coordination Centre (NERICC) to work out modalities of improving RI, indeed, became a turning point in Nigeria’s immunisation coverage.
“As at 2016, before Dr. Shuaib was appointed, the MICS/NICS report showed the national coverage of routine immunisation of only 33%, however, SMART survey in 2018, indicated an improvement to 57% and a further positive rise to 70.8% in 2019. This, to ANHEJ is a great feat.”
Under Dr. Shuiab’s leadership, polio has become a non-issue in Nigeria and our Primary Health Centres (PHCs) are having a new look.
The ANHEJ therefore, commends the President Muhamadu Buhari-led Federal Government for such well-deserved re-appointment.
However, ANHEJ believes there is more to be done for the health sector to get to where we want it to be.
Our expectations on Dr. Shuaib in the next four years are huge- the achievement made in the area of accountability and transparency must be sustained.
One most important expectation is that, Dr. Shuaib must build on the achievement of his first tenure to attain 100% RI immunization rate in Nigeria. This is doable.
The statement further stated that; “On our part, ANHEJ will continue to support, monitor and follow closely the programmes to be initiated by the NPHCDA in the next four years.
We are going to invoke our investigative skills to ensure that all lapses and areas that need urgent attention are brought to limelight so that actions are taken to address them.
We, therefore, appeal to the federal government, local and international donors and key stakeholders in the health sector to continue to support the NPHCDA for the sake of our children and mothers.
Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu. Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, has said that laws are underway to ensure that established cases of rape are no longer bailable in the country.
This, according to her is to serve as a deterrent to culprits.
Aliyu made this known during the official presentation of a compendium titled “My COVID-19 Story; Voice Of Hope and Resilience”, which chronicled different experiences of young girls during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, also stressed the need to protect the dignity of the girl child.
The Minister , who was represented by the Deputy Director Administration in the office of FCT Minister of State, Mrs. Maria Ogbonnaya-Ngwu, hinted the FCT Administration has established a centre to address cases of girls who are abused or suppressed.
Her words ; “It is also gratifying to know that our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari, in him lies a man that believes in the worth of the girl child. We have been able to present to him various cases of gender based violence in the Federal Executive Council.
“Let me assure you that laws will soon be rolled out, to serve as deterrent to culprits that are guilty or people found culpable of abuses of the girl child. Unlike before, the rape case becomes ‘bailable’ now we are working towards that it would no longer be a bailable offence.
“In the Federal Capital Territory, we have been able to give succour to the Girl-child, we have been able to encourage the Girl-child, we have been able to make them believe in themselves. The Girl-child is not subordinate to any other child. The administration will continue to boost this, and continue to preach this experience and embark on advocacy”.
While commending Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja for taking the initiative in bringing young girls together to pen down their own experiences during the peak of COVID-19 pandemic, she also expressed the confidence that 25 years of post Bejing conference, the girl child is waxing stronger.
Earlier , the Founder and President of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, noted that the unexpected outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has re-defined global health and lifestyle, stressing that governments across the world have had to adopt concrete measures to stop the spread of the virus and reduce the negative impact on the socio-economic life of their citizens.
She , however, noted that the virus has dymistified technologies of the advanced countries including developing nations, noting that if there anything the virus has thought humans, it is the supremacy of God.
Ahmadu assured that Helpline Foundation for the Needy would continue to champion the rights of the girl child despite challenges posed by the outbreak of the virus.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Wednesday appealed to residents of Jiwa Chiefdom to chide criminals from vandalising the ongoing Abuja Rail Mass Transit project.
Saying, the project which was undertaken by a foreign loan is yet to be fully operational and most of the infrastructures are being vandalized.
Speaking on behalf of the Administration, the Acting Secretary, Transport Secretariat, Mrs. Alice Odey-Achu said they shot down operations because of Covid-19 pandemic and will commence operation as soon as, while adding that the administration has made procurement of two new coaches.
She gave this hint at a meeting with the Emir of Jiwa, district and village heads of Jiwa Chiefdom on the reason why they must own the Abuja Rail Mass Transit and protect it from vandals.
Her words; “Abuja Rail Mass Transithas twelve stations and eight out the the twelve runs through Jiwa Chiefdom and three is operational as we speak.
“Chinese people , who are partners in the project draw our attention to vandalization of the on going Mass Rail project, saying, ” the track are being destroyed, the walls are broken, mental protectors were removed.
“There is nothing, they put on the ground that is not very important . Our fear is that, when they start operations, it’s those little, little things that causes accident and loss of lives and properties.
She continued :”Train is safe. But when these small small things are vandalized, we cannot tell what the consequences may be” she cried out”.
Meanwhile, the Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa who advised the delegation from FCTA to engaged the community men as security guard over the rail facilities, while calling for the speedy implementation of the reports earlier sent to the FCT Administration over the same matter.
He further stated, “It is our duty to ensure that the people and infrastructure are protected….let Government be serious. Abuja is a combination of the good, bad and ugly… Employ those in the community as security guard to protect the infrastructures and let government implement the advise we gave them”
He also charged all District and Village Heads to watch over the infrastructures in their domain or be held responsible.
In to ensure a safe and disaster-free environment for all residents, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents that it will not relent in its efforts at risk prevention and mitigation.
This was made known in a statement issued by the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to commemorate the 2020 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDR), stressed that risk reduction has been at the centre of the FCT’s disaster management’s strategy.
Director General of FEMA, Abbas Idriss, disclosed that FEMA’s resource allocation has always been in favour of risk prevention and mitigation rather than relief and rehabilitation.
Idriss added that the agency has involved itself in conflict management in FCT communities including mediation between cattle herders and Farmers.
He, however, explained that this year’s theme, “Disaster Risk Governance,” according to the United Nations, ‘is about conveying the message that many disasters can be avoided or prevented if there are disaster risk reduction strategies in place to manage and reduce existing levels of risk and to avoid the creation of new risk, which amounts to good disaster risk governance.
According to the statement; “The Agency, is proud to state that from its inception in June 2013, it has been operating on a risk prevention strategy that is driven by synergy with various stakeholders.
“This synergy is derived from a document produced by FEMA and its Stakeholders under the auspices of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in August 2013- the FCT Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), which is reviewed annually to meet the challenges of current and emerging disasters in the Federal Capital Territory.”
The FEMA boss added that as part of its Disaster Risk Reduction strategy, the Agency has created a high level of awareness amongst the FCT residents on a number of emergency management issues, especially the need to avoid acts that increase the people’s vulnerability to disaster risk.
He said the administration has also created strong synergies amongst Stakeholders and Agencies involved in emergency prevention, mitigation and response activities in the FCT. Already, he said the FCTA has established Volunteer/Disaster Vanguard at Schools and communities where 200 volunteers have been registered and 400 vanguards were registered in schools and communities.
More so, the agency has successfully carried out Hazard Mapping and Vulnerability Assessment of the FCT with continuous sensitization of communities across the Six (6) Area Councils on flood (and other risks) prevention, response and mitigation.
He, therefore, appealed to residents of the territory to take personal and collective responsibility in ensuring safety by avoiding risk behaviours that increase the people’s vulnerability to disasters.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured residents of the Dutse Alhaji and Bwari of the administration commitment to ensure that the contractor handling the road project complete it in two months.
Speaks on behalf of the Administration, the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Team on Decongestion of Traffic, Comrade Ikharo Attah, appealed to residents for understanding , saying, he is confident that very soon, the job will be delivered.
According to Attah ; ‘’Without mincing words, am very confident that this work will be delivered in the next two months but we shall continue to appeal to residents to be a little patient and show understanding as all the FCT efforts is aimed at relieving your burdens from this unwarranted gridlock’’.
‘’We believe that the security officers would be very much on ground to ensure a free flow of traffic through out this hard periods, we are appealing to all motorists and commuters to please bare with the administration for the pains because it is for this reason the FCT Ministers and Permanent Secretary decided to expand this stretch of the road’’.
On his part, the FCDA Representative, Engr. Bayo Baderiwa gave the assurance that the company will deliver good job and meet the two months target as the contractor and FCDA authority would be on ground day and knight .
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) along Dutse Alhaji and Bwari have urged the FCT authorities to hasten up the on going road expansion project along that road axis.
They criticized the slow pace of work going on along the Dutse-Alhaji/ Bwari road, stressing that the delay has brought untold hardship and lost of quality man-hours to residents of the area.
The project which was awarded by the Federal Capital Development Authority to Setraco Construction Company (SCC) is part of efforts aimed at reducing the daily traffic gridlock experienced on that road axis.
A resident of Bwari , Mr. Johnson Bello, told newsmen that residents along the road leave home to work by 5.30am daily to enable them get to their work places in Abuja city centre to avoid the perennial traffic gridlock.
Also commenting, a Driver, Alhaji Ismaila Murktar said that they do not only face severe gridlock but also experience daily extortion by traffic officers.
He said, ‘’There is no doubt that the FCT administration is even helping us by expanding the road but we are begging them to hasten the completion of this road.
In her remarks, the Assistant Corps Unit Commander, Duste Alhaji of Federal Road Safety Corps [FRSC], Aderonke Dele, rehretted that the major problem they have in hand is the refusal of Uniform men to obey traffic rules and guidelins.
She noted, “We are capable of easying the traffic here despite the ongoing road expansion works but most uniform officers driving along this road usually follow one way, this is not good enough.”
