The Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has hinted that, it had perfected plans to mobilize contractors back to site.
Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Umar Jibrin said the aim is to ease the perennial traffic gridlock along the Bwari- Dutsen roads axis.
Jibrin gave the hint when he led some top management staff of the Administration on an on the spot assessment of the road, noted that the project was impeded by the incessant rain fall ,but has to be completed to relieve residents of the stress.
He noted that the projects, involving full dualisation of the roads, were not abandoned as speculated by residents, but suffered some set back, due to the COVID 19 and some other challenges.
According to him; “works would resume on the roads within the next three weeks and commitment would be made to ensure its completion.
” When we say complition, we are talking of the totality of what needs to be done here.e have some drainage works to be done and other complimentary works.
” But the one that will satisfy the traffic movement is something that can be done in then next two months. In the next three weeks the contractor will demobilize here. We can never do anything where the rain is here.
He continued” We are only coming to appreciate the level at which the rain has impacted on the road. Now that we are going down, the rain is subsiding, the contractor had to come back and do this work in a very short time. The project is not abandoned. Everything is on cause, the contractor is on-ground”.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said it is important for the Federal Government to generate national and international confidence in our data by conducting more targeted testing before they draw conclusions.
He said, it means that all States and local government areas must cooperate with NCDC by raising sample collection rate, using criteria listed, to increase testing to a desired rate and to report promptly; as we are still far from the target of 2 million tests.
Ehanire made this known on Monday at Presidential Task Force on Covid-19 in Abuja, while saying that, we can support States with community volunteers for contact tracing, case finding and investigation.
According to him, stepping up surveillance and case finding, States can also ensure that suspected symptomatic covid cases are sent for treatment in time or supported before then with medical oxygen, to save lives and reduce fatalities.
“The recommended criteria for tetsing are: persons who have been in contact with a covid positive patient or are associated with a cluster of persons of interest, those who have any of the 4 classical symptoms of fever, persistent cough, loss of sense of taste or smell and breathlessness; anyone facing surgery, as well as for any other compelling reason. Testing for travel is assigned to private laboratories.
“The distribution of oxygen concentrators and ventilators to various health institutions commenced with training of about 176 intensive care specialists, and biomedical engineers, who will use or maintain them in the hospitals. The ventilators and training are courtesy of the United States government and shall complement what we have at our ICUs.
With regard to COVID-19 and growing complacency, it is important to stress that, even though adults, especially those 60 years and above are more vulnerable, complications do occur in all age groups. Records show that 10% of all positive cases we have treated are below the age of 19 years.
“They are also the same mobile group that can be without symptons, but can easily spread the disease. Therefore, as schools begin to reopen in some areas, I urge caution and adherence to the protocols and advisories for reopening schools, in order join us to prevent covid surge.
He continued; “Nigeria has today recorded, 57,242 covid-19 positive cases out of 479,628 samples tested. Patients treated and discharged from hospital are 48,569, while 1,098 citizens have sadly been lost to the disease.
The daily figures of the past few days seem to show a downward trend in numbers of covid19 positive cases as well as fatalities, but we unfortunately cannot afford to rejoice or speak of success, for many reasons. International news media shows scenes of upsurge in covid cases, called the 2nd wave in several high income countries, many of which had been thought to have defeated COVID-19 and which now see threat to their health systems. This is a situation we must endeavor to avoid, and for that, all steps must be taken.”
The Minister also commended fellow health workers in JOHESU, for putting an end to their industrial action. It is my desire to work with them to resolve issues of concern.
He, however, reminded everyone that COVID-19 is with us for the foreseeable future, as DG of WHO has advised, with no definitive cure in sight. People are still being infected and are dying from it. Some countries are imposing or considering new lockdowns or other restrictions because of the second wave.
He further stated that, as we reopen our economy, it is time for us to take preventive measures even more seriously. I have directed all our hospitals to be alert and watch for unusual increase in number of persons reporting at our hospital as emergency Center.
We all must take responsibility for each other by wearing our simple face masks, especially in public places, ensuring physical distancing and respiratory hygiene. Those with preexisting illness and covid-19 evocative symptoms should report for treatment as soon as possible, he stressed.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Nigeria Institute for Medical Research (NIMR) and their partners are conducting household surveys in four states in Nigeria to better understand the burden of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.
These seroprevalence surveys will be carried out in Gombe, Enugu, Nasarawa and Lagos States will provide the best evidence yet, on the extent of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria.
Thus was made known in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the NCDC media team.
Seroprevalence surveys are used to identify the occurrence of disease in a population by estimating the presence of antibodies in individuals who have had the disease.
The statement reads in bits; “This is done by testing blood samples in randomly selected households in selected states. For Nigeria’s COVID-19 seroprevalence survey, household members will answer a brief questionnaire, be tested for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies, as well as for acute COVID-19, if they consent. In addition to this, study participants will also have a rapid malaria test and receive treatment if the test is positive.
“This is the first set of household surveys to be conducted for COVID-19 in Nigeria and as part of ongoing public health research activities. The surveys will increase the current understanding of COVID-19 transmission patterns, the burden of infection in the population, and the age groups most affected.
“This information will help inform COVID-19 response decisions by the Government of Nigeria and partners as part of measures towards ending the pandemic.”
The statement further stated that; “surveys will also estimate the proportion of people who have COVID-19 but are not showing any symptoms i.e. asymptomatic. Through this, the country can identify risk factors for infection and measure the transmission of COVID-19 within households. By administering rapid malaria tests, the surveys will also assess malaria infections and their possible relationship to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
“The results from these surveys will inform the response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Nigeria.
T”he United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC) and the University College London (supported by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) are supporting NCDC and NIMR in implementing these surveys. The US CDC’s implementing partner, the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), will also support the State Ministries of Health with implementation.
“The surveys will be conducted between September and November, and preliminary results are expected to be released by December 2020″, the stated reads.
The Federal Ministry of Health, its agencies NCDC and NIMR as well as the PTF-COVID-19 remain committed to strengthening Nigeria’s response to COVID-19 and controlling the outbreak.
The Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has demolished over 1000 makeshift houses built by hoodlums in Ruga around Kukwuaba District railway corridors in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the nation’s Capital City.
It was gathered that about 2,400 shanties would be demolished at the end of the exercise.
Speaking to newsmen immediately after the exercise, the Director , Department of Development Control Muktar Galadima said the exercise became necessary to curtail festering security threats around the territory.
He, however, noted that apart from security threats to Abuja, the shanties were becoming serious environmental hazard within the railway corridors and it must not be allowed to continue.
Galadima also vowed that the exercise would be sustained with weekly monitoring to ensure that the hoodlums do not reassemble.
According to him; ” The illegal squatters are notorious of defying the laws, and disregarding government orders.
” This is in continuation of implementation of the FCT mandate of the next level by ensuring that we checkmate the issue of security challenges as well as bringing orderliness and sanitation to the nation’s capital city environment.
” So far, we have cleared over three hundred shanties (temporary structures made of batchers and sacks. The work is ongoing, so we will continue till the end.
He continued; ” We had series of consultation with them, because in the spirit of the current administration, we don’t just move in, we are to do some engagement and consultation, so that the people would be fully be aware. And that’s what we have done with the community here.
“We are going to make some investigations, so as to know what is the land is meant for, is it allocated, but if it’s not allocated to anyone, what is the intention of the FCTA over this land, then we can tell the relevant authorities or department to take over and do what is necessary.
” We are going to sustain the effort, because we are not going to abandon the place, that’s why in the next two weeks we will come back, and if we discover that they are back to the place, we will come and do what is necessary”.
However , the Chairman, FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation, Comrade Ikharo Attah said that the place was growing too fast and had certainly became notorious for rape and other crimes.
Attah noted that about 2,400 shanties around the area would be removed and the sanitation would be sustained.
” From my own assessment, what will eventually go here will be about 2,400, because even as at today, the bulldozers are still working”.
Similarly, Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the FCT Minister, Ahmed Rashid said; “This settlement based on security assessment, 90% of crimes been perpetrated in Wuye and Kukwuaba districts are from this shanty settlement. And based on intelligence and due diligence from all the security agencies, I think if we remove this kind of settlement everybody within this area, would go to sleep.
He added that, the exercise is part of the mandate of the Minister to clear up the railway corridors. Just few months ago, some people from this village attacked and broke four of the glasses (windows) of the train on test running.
Saying, It’s good for us (FCTA) to remove the shanties to make sure that the railway corridor is safe and people in Wuye and Kukwuaba Districts and the whole at large.
We made strategic planning with the Department of Development Control and security agencies, so that we will not allow this kind of settlement to come up within the Territory, he added.
He stated that, the Director, Development Control Department has set up a team to do a follow-up cleaning, which on a daily routine, in conjunction with security agencies, so that this kind of illegal settlement will not come up again. This is the best approach for security control of a city like Abuja.
Meanwhile , Secretary to the Chief of Ruga Community, Usman Abubakar said, they don’t have any right whatsoever to question the demolition of structures by the relevant authorities of government , because they are doing the right thing.
According to him, But the only issue is that we are pleading with the government to consider us as Nigeria citizens, as we have been living here for more than twenty-five years, so we are looking for any assistance from the government, in order to stop doing this kind of thing.
“We will be satisfied if government can give us a small land in this Abuja, so that we will occupy and settle down.
“Considering that our children especially youth and our women are living here, but now many of us have nowhere to go from here.
“We are pleading with the government to consider helping us, because the incident has affected at least five hundred households”, he said.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, the Minister of State Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday flagged off sales of buffer stock comprising 7,200 bags of maize and 2,500 bags of guinea corn of 50kg bags each at 50 percent subsidized rate to residents of the nation’s capital.
While also reiterated the commitment of the administration to creation of jobs through the agriculture value chain, adding, that a number of local and multi-national companies are in the process of finalising investment commitments in various agricultural value chains within the FCT.
Amity made this commitment at the official flag off of the public sales of subsidized buffer stock grains and distribution of motorcycles to agriculture extension agents.
The minister maintained that the decisions of multi-national companies and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) to invest in FCT would help boost productivity and integrate production, processing, distribution and most importantly, create jobs and wealth for the teeming youths.
She, however, used the occasion to commend President, Muhammadu Buhari, for his foresight in giving administrative backing towards strengthening local capacities in food production, adding that the administration has placed priority on the agricultural sector in order to unlock its abundant potential.
Her words ; “It is in heeding to this clarion call that the FCT Administration has been making efforts to open-up the Agricultural landscape and attract suitable investment, and I make bold to say that our efforts are beginning to yield the desired results.
“We are presently engaged in the process of fine-tuning discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB), towards the smooth take-off of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) as well as the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).
“This is in addition to a number of local and multi-national companies that are in the process of finalising investment commitments in various agricultural value chains within the FCT”.
In a another development, the FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, also flagged off the harvest and sales of products by beneficiaries at FCT Aquaculture and Allied Trades center for youth and women in Kwali area council.
Aliyu , also revealed that the conceptualization of the projects by the FCT Administration was aimed at addressing problems of poverty by creating viable source of livelihood especially for the less privileged members of the society.
Earlier in his remarks, the Acting Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mr. Ibe Prospect, said the buffer stock programme was an initiative practiced globally, aimed at ensuring the availability of agricultural produce to the public at affordable rate.
He, however, assured residents of the territory of the administration’s continued commitment to quality service delivery, while appealing to residents to cooperate with the committee in the smooth conduct of the sales exercise.
The National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress has endorsed the earlier decision by the Organised Labour to stage a protest alongside nation wide strike on September 28, 2020.
The President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba made this known to journalists in Abuja at the end of the NEC meeting.
The protest which might ground the entire country is geared towards compelling the Federal Government to reverse the increase in prices of fuel and electricity tariff.
Beyond this, NEC which condemned the timing of the increment, also advised the Federal Government to put the nation’s refineries into operations by revamping them with immediate effect.
Ayuba said failure to meet these demands would compel workers to go ahead with their protest on the said date.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) had threatened to shut down the economy if the federal government refuses to reverse the recent hike in petrol price and electricity tariff within 14 days.
Similarly, the electricity distribution companies had hiked their tariffs from about N30.23 to about N62.33 per kWh for Nigerians after the federal government said it would no longer subsidise electricity consumption.
Also, the price of petrol increased from about N145 to about N161 per litre.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and civil societies had also corroborated NLC by pledging to join the protest.
In an effort to resolve these issues, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Minister of Labour and Employment to hold a meeting between the federal government, labour unions and the CSOs
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu Monday inaugurated two committees on the distribution of grains and committee on the sales of fertilisers and other agro-chemical inputs in the nation’s capital.
This, she said is in fulfillment of the Administration’s desire to ensure governance serves the people and to address food security,
While inaugurating the 13-man committees in Abuja, the minister said that the events are in fulfilment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people.
The minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Administration and Strategy, Prof. Muhammad Usman, stated the terms of reference of the committees to includes: “to determine available stock and work out modalities for the sales, and to arrange for the flag-off and subsequent sales of the fertilisers, pesticides and agro-chemicals”.
She, however, charged the committee members to work diligently to ensure that the exercise meet its objective, warning that the committees ensure that “grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
According to her; “I have on behalf of the entire FCT Administration led by Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the singular honour and privilege to welcome those of you from the Area Councils to this event. This morning activities and events are in fulfillment of the administration’s desire to ensure that governance serves the people and that in the true spirit of democracy, governance should be people’s oriented.
“As you are aware, it is an annual ritual practice, that the administration buys off excess harvest from our farmers, therefore, giving them value for their efforts and labour at the end of the season. And before the new harvest, when prices naturally on the increase because of reduce supply in the market, the administration releases the buffer stocks to ensure that prices are regulated if not drastically lower, for the benefit of the residents of the territory.
“This morning, in the wisdom of the administration, individuals have been carefully selected to be saddled with the responsibilities of ensuring that the exercise meet its objective. That grains are released from warehouses, and made available to the residents of the territory in a manner that is free, in a manner that is fair and in a manner that is transparent”.
The minister also stated that the administration would be counting on the wisdom, and the ability of the committee members to diligently discharge those responsibilities.
Speaking on behalf of the committees, both chairmen of the two committees, Mr. Abdul Agbade, who chairs committee on grains distribution, and Mr. Abubakar Ibrahim, who chairs committee on fertilisers and other agro-chemicals respectively pledged their willingness to deliver on their mandates.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister of State FCT for the confidence reposed in us and will not toy with it. We will try as much as possible to discharge our responsibilities with the fear of God and in accordance with our terms of reference.
“Residents of the FCT need to be assisted in this trying times. We are just coming out of COVID-19 pandemic and everybody knows the crisis we are facing in food security. The prices of food stuffs are going up in the market and the people need to be assisted. We will do our best to ensure that these grains are sold to the people in need,” he assured.
…As NCDC, FCTA Reviews Number of Discharge Active Cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Monday hinted that only 526 cases of Covid-19 are now on admission in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
The new figures were published on the official website of the NCDC as at 12 noon on Friday, September 18, 2020.
This follows the reconciliation of figures by officials of the NCDC and FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat over the weekend.
Briefing newsmen on the issue, the Acting Secretary of the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat, Dr. Mohammed Kawu said after release of new guidelines on discharge from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat adopted the criteria to be able to discharge the high number of active cases in the Community.
He , however, noted that, the reconciliation became necessary in order to put to rest the disparity of figures between the NCDC and FCT Administration in respect of the actual number of active cases in the nation’s capital.
According to him , to improve Sample collection during the lockdown period, FCT commenced Active Case Search and Community testing based on available data of confirmed cases.
He stated that with increasing volume of tests in the FCT including persons of interest (POIs), majority refused admission into the treatment Centres, resulting in large numbers of confirmed cases in the Community. These cases continue to contribute to large numbers of active cases being reflected in the FCT Statistics.
According to him; “Based on new guidelines on discharge from NCDC including discharge of active cases in the Community, FCT adopted the criteria to be able to discharge the high number of active cases in the Community.
Out of a total of 5461 COVID – 19 cases as at 13th September, 2024 were admitted in the various treatment centers with 1925 discharged and 36 deaths while 64 were still on admission. An additional 38 deaths were recorded outside the treatment centres. Leaving a total of 3462 cases considered to be active.”
“Also, based on our finding and in line with the NCDC guideline for community discharge, the FCT has actually discharged 2967 cases (2958 alive & well + 9 Deaths) from the community. Therefore, as at 13th September 2020, FCT has only 495 active cases of COVID-19.
Kawu added that “on the basis of the new NCDC discharge criteria, we consider all cases that are 3 weeks or more from the date of confirmation to be inactive and discharged from the COVID-19 pathway. That way, we were able to separate the difference between those cases that were actually treated in our Isolation centres and those who remained in the community for more than three weeks after confirmation”.
With this development, the NCDC website indicates that Lagos now has the highest number of active COVID-19 cases with 3,318 followed by Oyo 1,085, Plateau is third with 922 while FCT now occupies the fourth position on the table with 526 active cases.
The Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU has suspended its seven days warning strike.
This was contained in a statement signed by its National Chairman Comrade Josiah Biobelemoye and made available to journalists in Abuja.
The statement reads that the nation wide strike embarked upon by the health workers will be suspended by midnight of 20th September, 2020.
According to the statement , all health workers under the five Unions that make up Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA) shall return to work on Monday, 21st September, 2020 across all Federal Health Institutions in the country.
The statement reads in bits; “The Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health has continued to exhibit high level of bias/discrimination by refusing to address the demands of its members as presented by JOHESU within the seven days of the warning strike as was done to other bodies in the health sector, the next line of action would be decided in due course by the expanded National Executive Council of JOHESU.
” That rather than call JOHESU for dialogue to resolve the trade dispute, the Federal Government has resorted to intimidation and blackmail of JOHESU leaders using all forms of instruments and faceless organisations.”
JOHESU reiterated that it will continue to use all legitimate means to defend the rights and demands for the welfare of its members in the health sector.
It would be recalled that the Joint Health Sector Unions JOHESU embarked on a seven day nation wide strike on the mid night of September 13, 2020 following federal government failure to meet up with its demands on some of its outstanding allowances.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the management of FCT Women Rehabilitation Centre located at Sabo-Lugbe in Abuja Municipal Area Council of the nation’s capital.
Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, FCT Minister of State presided over the signing of the MoU called on both parties to respect the terms and conditions spelt out in the document, just as she revealed that the centre would be managed by NAPTIP for a period of two years.
She, however, commended the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, for her doggedness in the battle against trafficking in person, also called for collaboration and synergy between relevant agencies in the fight against human trafficking in Nigeria.
According to her; “I want to appreciate our sister, the Director General of NAPTIP, who is always there for the plight of the vulnerable women and youths, and anything against their fundamental human rights. She goes out of her comfort zone to ensure that none is maligned in the society. And today’s event has demonstrated her zeal to go out of her ways to look for more decent accommodation for our vulnerable women.
“These are all the giant strides of a leader and we appreciate you and your team. Hopefully and sincerely, under this period of two years, all that is written here is legally binding on both parties. And as the custodial of state charged with the responsibility to oversee the signing of this document, I sincerely hope that today will mark the beginning of many beautiful things to come”, the minister affirmed.
Aliyu also called on the management of NAPTIP to ensure that the facility becomes a point to reckon with in the management of vulnerable women and youth, while praying that the facility would provides the needed shelter to all those in need.
Earlier, the Director General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, for their support in matters relating to trafficking in person and other related offences.
She, however, assured the FCT Administration that the collaboration between the two parties would yield positive results, stressing that the centre would be a beckon of women rehabilitation and empowerment.
Her words ; “You have been very supportive to our agency. I want to assure you of this existing synergy and collaboration between my agency and FCTA, is going to be bigger and better and we are not going to take it for granted.
“I also want to thank you for giving us the opportunity of getting to this stage of signing an MoU. Thank you for giving us a facility where women will be rehabilitated and empowered, where children of victims of trafficking, victims of sexual and gender based violence will be empowered and rehabilitated.
She further hunted that it is going to be a joint collaboration between FCTA and NAPTIP. While assuring that we are going to make good use of the facility”.
