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  • FCT minister pushes ahead with controversial N37bn NASS renovation

    FCT minister pushes ahead with controversial N37bn NASS renovation

    By Doris Ferdinand

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mohammed Bello has confirmed the completion of the procurement process for the renovation of National Assembly complex.

    The Minister stated this when the the ministry had her 2021 budget defence with the House of Representatives Committee on FCT.

    It will be recalled that N37 billion had been designated for the rehabilitation but the proposal met stiff objection from Nigerians who saw it as economic waste and financial recklessness by the government.

    But following the revised 2020 budget occasioned by COVID-19 pandemic, the amount was whittled down to N9 billion.

    “The procurement process for the Rehabilitation of the National Assembly complex with the 2020 appropriated sum of N9,250,000,000 has been processed to the Bureau of Public Procurement for appropriate certification to facilitate conclusion of the procurement process. We are engaging with the regulator to expedite the process.”

    The Minister also said that the 2021 budget will give priority to completion of all ongoing projects.

    “In their selection, priority of attention was accorded the completion of on-going projects. Accordingly, the entire projects in the 2021 Budgets are on-going. The funds provided for projects with serial numbers 1-6 in the table above is to achieve substantial completion of those projects.

    “In the case of project with Serial Number 7, the Millennium Tower, the provision made is to achieve substantial completion of the Car Park Section such that full commercial activity could commence therein. The Authority is working on a number of hybrid financing options and strategies to complete the project which would include appropriate dose of public-private partnership”, he said.

    Earlier, members of the committee had tasked the minister on the completion of the projects.

    He also lamented the level of insecurity in some areas of the city where they said miscreants and criminals have taken over.

    They also asked Bello to urgently address the proliferation of shanties, development of satellite towns, and transportation challenges.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of the House committee, Hon. Abdulahi Garba constituted a 7-man sub panel to interface with authorities of the FCT administration and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), over collection of tenement rate.

  • Christian leaders reiterate commitment to peace in FCT

    Christian leaders reiterate commitment to peace in FCT

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    Christian leaders in the Federal Capital Territory have reiterated their commitment to peace in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

    In a press release signed by the FCTA Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye the Abuja Christian leaders made this commitment after a stakeholders meeting with the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello on Friday.

    They pleaded to use the power of the pulpit to encourage their congregants to maintain peaceful co-existence with followers of other faithfuls in the FCT.

    They condemned the wanton destruction of property which occurred in the wake of #EndSARS protests in the territory, adding that it should be halted as the Federal Government has acceded to five demands by the youths and eschew violence in any form.

    The meeting was chaired by the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello chaired the meeting and those in attendance we’re the Chairman of the FCT chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr Samson Jonah, the State House Chaplain, Pastor Seyi Malomo and heads of the various Christian denominations in the FCT.

    Also at the meeting were the Permanent Secretary FCTA Mr Olusade Adesola, the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai-Bornu the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engr Umar Gambo Jibrin, the representative of the FCT Commissioner of Police, ACP Nendel Gomwalk, the State Director of the DSS and relevant senior staff of the FCTA.

  • Hard time awaits hoodlums as FCT minister tours looted warehouses

    Hard time awaits hoodlums as FCT minister tours looted warehouses

    … as police arrests 71 lotters

    By Joyce Remi- Babayeju

    Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCDA, Mallam Musa Muhammad promised to arrest and punish hoodlums responsible for looting warehouses and factories at the Idu Industrial zone of the territory.

    Bello who took a tour of the zone . yesterday to assess the level of damage done to some of the factories and warehouses in the wake of #EndSARS protests was accompanied by the heads of the various security agencies and military formations in the FCT, traditional, community and business leaders as well as senior staff members of the FCTA.

    Mallam Bello who expressed extreme displeasure at the looting and damage to property by the hoodlums pledged that the arrested culprits will be duly prosecuted.

    The Minister assured that the FCT Administration was working with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Idu Industrial Zone is protected because it is the industrial nerve center of the city where thousands of residents are employed along the manufacturing value chain.

    He also called on the residents of the community especially staff of the affected companies to be vigilant and volunteer information to the security authorities as to the possible identity of the looters adding that discussions were being held with the community leaders in the area with the intention of tracking and recovering the looted items.

    He also urged the business owners to cooperate with the security agencies for the recovery of the looted items, many of which he said are specialized machines and equipment that cannot be easily disposed of.

    The Minister urged residents to be more security conscious as efforts are made to beef up the security of the area.

    He said, “All these shanties attached to the walls of factories shouldn’t be here because once they are here, you don’t know who is there. They are neither staff, they are neither people from the city. But if it is inside the factory, we know they are staff.”

    ” So, this is one area we have to work together with you to clear everything so that whoever is here is somebody that is meant to be here”.

    Meanwhile FCT Commissioner of Police Bala Ciroma said that the police command has arrested 71 suspected looters, vandals and hoodlums and recovered some of the stolen items.

    He said “. We have adopted a very strong strategy in most of our neighboring villages where we are liaising with the villages there. Wherever they see items stolen and hidden in the forest, we will be going there to recover them. The company officials are also cooperating with us and giving us every necessary assistance to recover most of the items”.

    Chairman of the Abuja, Nasarawa and Niger Branch of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Mr Odun Emasealu commended the efforts of the FCTA in containing the situation during the vandalisation of warehouses and factories.

  • #EndSARS: Affected victims in Abuja will be compensated – FCT Minister

    #EndSARS: Affected victims in Abuja will be compensated – FCT Minister

    FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello has said that victims of violent End SARS protests in the nation’s capital will be compensated.

    Bello spoke on Thursday when he and the Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu, led an entourage of political, religious, community and traditional leaders on a tour of affected areas.

    At the Kabusa Junction and Apo/Waru areas, Bello commiserated with the traders for their losses.

    He said the government would assess the extent of their losses and work towards appropriate compensation.

    “For those that have been encountered with destruction of their property, by the grace of God, the FCT Administration will ensure that all that needs to be done to ensure that you get adequately compensated will be done”.

    Bello noted that the administration will ensure that peace and harmonious co-existence is maintained in the FCT.

    “All of us came here to earn a living, to find what we can do to maintain ourselves and family. I assure you that the FCT Administration will continue to ensure that your lives and properties are protected.”

    Bello confirmed that some arrests have been made by the police and urged residents to volunteer information to the relevant authorities.

    In her remarks, Aliyu reminded citizens that they were brothers and sisters regardless of ethnic or religious affiliations.

    The minister sued for calm in Abuja, noting that protests for the betterment of Nigeria should not have resulted in violence.

    At Dutsen Makaranta where a customary court and police outpost were destroyed, she said “We feel your pain. This is a court established to give justice to the people.

    “We will be wondering what it has got to do with the protests and properties being vandalized. This goes a long way to tell us that it’s just the work of miscreants or hoodlums targeted at government facilities”.

  • COVID-19 Lockdown: FCT Minister urges security agencies to comply

    COVID-19 Lockdown: FCT Minister urges security agencies to comply

    The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello has urged uniform personnel who are not on duty to comply with the cessation of movement ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The Chairman, FCT Ministerial Task Team on enforcement of restrictions, Mr Ikharo Attah, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen on the level of compliance to the Presidential directive by the FCT residents, on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Attah said the minister had given the team the authority to arrest and prosecute any erring individuals no matter his or her status.

    The chairman frowned at the abuse of the stay-at-home order by some uniform personnel and some residents, adding that many were regarding it as a Labour strike.

    “Some uniform personnel on mufti with their Identification Card, (not on duty) were seen roaming the street busy doing nothing.

    ” I accosted one, and he said, he came out because his kids were disturbing him at home, thereby flouting the directives of President Buhari.

    ” We saw some youths gathering in clusters discussing while some play football in some satellite towns.

    ” This shows that most people do not actually understand why the President lockdown the nation’s capital,” Attah said.

    He, however, said the team had achieved success despite some hitches observed in some satellite towns of FCT.

    The chairman rated the level of compliance with the cessation of movement order to 85 per cent, while assuring that it would improve as the days go by.

    Our Correspondent reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on Sunday ordered cessation of movement in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja for an initial period of 14 days with effect from 11 p.m. on Monday as measure to contain spread of covid-19.

  • FCT not haven for drug traffickers – Minister

    FCT not haven for drug traffickers – Minister


    FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has declared that his administration will not allow the capital city to become a haven for illicit drug operations and users, saying a high percentage of criminality that occur in the city are in one way or the other linked to drug abuse
    A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye said the minister gave the assurance when he received the new FCT National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Commander, Hamisu Lawan in his office.
    Malam Bello promised the continuous cooperation and support of the FCT Administration to NDLEA, adding that the relationship between both organisations has always been cordial and effective based on mutual cooperation, shared goals and objectives.
    He urged the new commander to exhibit the same passion and commitment for the job as exhibited by his predecessor, Mrs. Chinyere Obiajuru, who he said, worked very closely with FCT authorities in the fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
    Earlier in his remarks, Lawan commended the FCT minister for supporting to the agency over the years, especially in the “pin-down” operations being enforced in some dark spots across the city.
    The new NDLEA boss expressed concern over the use of some gardens across the city as venues for drug consumption and abuse and pledged the commitment of the organisation to arrest the ugly situation, reminding all that drug crimes are not only crimes on their own but can also lead to other forms of crime and criminality.
    In attendance with the minister was the Permanent Secretary, Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Basir Mai-Borno and the Director, Security Services Department of the FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary.
    Assembly passes Judiciary Fund Management Bill, 2019

    By Anastacia Eluwa, Asaba
    Delta State Judiciary Fund Management, Financial Autonomy Bill, 2019 was yesterday, read three times and passed by the House of Assembly.
    Speaker Sheriff Oborevwori who presided over yesterday’s plenary described the passage of the bill as a huge milestone for democracy in the state.
    According to him, the bill will strengthen financial autonomy granted to the judicial arm of government.
    “At the committee level, members painstakingly went through the Delta State Judiciary Funds Management, Financial Autonomy bill. Contributions and amendments were made by members which aided us in the consideration of the bill.
    “Without doubt, this bill will strengthen the financial autonomy granted to the judicial arm of government and ensure accountability, transparency and efficiency in the utilisation of the funds which shall accrue to the judiciary from the State’s Consolidated Revenue Fund,” he added.