Wike Names Galadima as New SSA on Development

ControlThe Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has approved the appointment of Mukhtar Galadima as Senior Special Assistant on Development Control and Planning. The announcement was made on Wednesday in Abuja by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Public Communications and Social Media. Galadima, a seasoned town planner, brings more than three decades of professional experience in urban planning and administration within the FCT Administration. Over the years, he has served in strategic capacities, including the Department of Development Control and the Satellite Towns Development Agency, before his appointment as Director of Development Control under the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council in 2016. He retired from the civil service in November. Olayinka noted that Galadima has served on key committees such as the Abuja Masterplan Restoration Task Team and the Committee on the Review of Revoked Land Titles and Change of Land Use. The appointment, he added, takes immediate effect.

FCT Ground Rent: Wike Gives Final Warning To Defaulters

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike has given a final warning to defaulters of ground rent payments in the FCT, insisting that something would happen soon to them. Wike gave the warning when the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by its President, Dr Chris Isiguzo visited him in Abuja. The minister said that “something will surely happen” contrary to the erroneous assumption that the ground rent directive was an empty threat. The FCT Administration in September published land titles of individuals, organisations, and agencies owing ground rent. In the publication, the FCTA reminded allottees of lands within FCT of their obligations as stipulated in the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to pay in advance without demand from Jan. 1 of each year. The FCTA had warned that a breach or failure to comply with any or all of the terms stated in the Rights of Occupancy shall be liable to the revocation of the title. The administration, therefore, advised all allottees, property owners, and beneficiaries of the sale of Federal Government Houses in the FCT to settle their outstanding ground rents or lose their titles. Wike assured the defaulters that he would match his words with action at the end of the grace period by revoking such plots. “The law has been there before I came. The only problem is applying the law. The Minister of State and I have the capacity and political will to do what is right. “You know Nigerians are funny, believing that nothing will happen. Something will happen. We can’t continue that way; we can’t. “We have given defaulters a final notice to go and pay and they said it is initial “gra-gra” (false bravery) but something will happen. “By the time we give the final notice, and you don’t pay, the law will be applied,” he said. He added that FCTA was able to save significant Internally Generated Revenue since the removal of the Administration from the Treasury Single Account, adding that the era of abandoned projects in the FCT was over. He explained that some of the hash decisions being taken by the FCTA was for the good of all in the long run, adding that the government would step on toes in the efforts to right the wrongs in the FCT. The minister pledged continued support to the media as critical partners in the development space. Earlier, Isiguzo commended Wike for his transformational potentials as exemplified in Rivers State when he was the governor. He also commended the minister for his media-friendly disposition and pledged the NUJ’s support through free and responsible journalism. He appealed to the minister to support the union’s capacity building programme, its forthcoming National Media Conference, and provide a plot of land for the construction of a Media Village in Abuja. The procedure for the payment of the ground rent is e-payment through the REMITA portal to generate a REMITA Retrieval Reference (RRR). Affected persons are expected to log onto the REMITA portal https://remita.net and click on “Pay TSA & States, then select Federal Capital Territory Administration. After that, select Abuja, Geographic Information Systems and choose the revenue head to be paid which in this case is FCC Ground Rent. Fill the required information, submit, and print the RRR slip, after which payment can be made in any commercial bank. 

FCT To Construct 30km Roads In 6 Area Councils –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, says a total of 30-kilometre roads will be constructed across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Wike, who stated this when Sen. Philip Aduda and Mr Zakari Dobi visited him in his office in Abuja on Wednesday. Aduda was the immediate past Senator that represented FCT in the Senate in the 9th Assembly under the Peoples Democratic Party. He recontested the seat along with Dobi, who contested under the All Progressives Congress but lost to Senator Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party. The minister said that the 30-kilometre roads, five in each of the six area councils, would be concluded before May 29, 2024. This, according to him, is to decentralise development efforts from the city centre to rural communities across the area councils. “President Bola Tinubu had directed that at least five-kilometre roads must be constructed in each of the six area councils before May 29. “This is part of his renewed hope agenda to ensure that people in rural communities were not left out in the development efforts of the current administration,” he said. Wike commended the visitors for working as a team irrespective of political party differences to work for the development of the FCT. He promised to routinely consult them to tribute their quota in developing the city, adding that the FCT Administration would work with everybody that has something to offer. The minister explained that the establishment of the Civil Service Commission for FCT was part of the renewed hope agenda by removing every bottle next to carrier progression. He added that FCT was equally pulled out of Treasury Single Account (TSA) to encourage development in the capital city. “The goal is to rebuild the lost hope among residents of the FCT,” Wike said. Earlier, Aduda explained that the visit was to congratulate Wike on his appointment as Minister of the FCT and commend him for the good work he was doing. He added that the visit was also to thank Tinubu for appointing a son of the soil as a Minister and pledged their full support to the development of the FCT for the interest of all. “We are also here to commend you for the bold step in establishing the Civil Service Commission for FCT, removing FCT from TSA and establishment of. Women Affairs Secretariat to address women’s concerns,” Aduda said. 

Environmental Degradation: Sanwo-Olu Seals Mile 12, Owode Onirin Markets

Lagos State government has sealed the Mile 12 International Market and the Owode Onirin Market on Friday for creating environmental malfeasance. The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources stated in Ikeja, that the markets were sealed because of indiscriminate dumping and burning of refuse, the filthy environment, and blocked drains. It stated that the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, directed the Lagos Waste Management Agency and “KAI’’ to seal the markets. “The reasons for sealing the markets are not unconnected with the indiscriminate dumping and burning of refuse, filthy environment, blocked and littered drains. “The action also followed illegal and indiscriminate parking and abandonment of trucks on the highway leading to the two markets, impeding free flow of traffic,’’ the ministry stated. 

2nd Abuja Airport Runway: We’ll pay N825.8m compensation –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCT Administration (FCTA) will pay N825.8 million as compensation for the construction of second runway for Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Wike stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, while briefing newsmen at the end of a closed-door meeting with members of the Jiwa community and other stakeholders. He said that the amount would be paid through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) for compensation and resettlement of the people of the community affected by the project. He added that as part of the incentive, 12 people from the community would be employed by the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development and its agencies and 10 by FCTA. He added that the government would also construct the Tunga Madaki bridge along with a five-kilometre road from the bridge to the community for easy movement of the people. The minister explained that the project would be captured in the 2024 budget of the FCTA. Wike also said that FCTA would equally provide a modern health facility to provide quality health care services for people of the community. He said that an undertaking would be signed based on the agreement between the government and the community. He identified the signatories as the permanent secretaries of FCTA and ministry of aviation, the Chief of Jiwa, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Council and the Commissioner, Public Complaint Commission. “If that is done today, and tomorrow or next tomorrow the money is paid to them, contractors will no longer delay. They have to move to the site immediately and commence work. “So, the second runway has come to stay,” he said. He said that the current administration was determined to ensure that the second runway was delivered. He commended the Chief of Jiwa, Alhaji Isa Idris, for mobilising his people to attend the meeting to resolve the crises. His counterpart, Mr Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that he met the issue on his table, adding that the project ought to have been delivered in July. Keyamo said that the contractors could not be mobilised because of the issue of compensation. Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola, said that the completion of the project requires the support of all relevant stakeholders. Adesola commended Wike for the intervention to ensure a quick resolution of the issue. Dr Emmanuel Meribole, Permanent Secretary, Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, said that the project was approved by the Federal Executive Council in March 2022. Meribole said that the project was awarded to four contractors in April, with CCECC Nigeria Limited as the major contractor. He, however, said that the project was stalled because of the disagreement over compensation to the affected community members. Earlier, the Chief of Jiwa, said that the ministry of aviation through its consultant had earlier pegged the compensation at N2.5 million per hectare, for the 12,000 hectares allocated for the project. Idris further said that the amount was later reviewed downward to N700,000 per hectare when FCTA took over the discussion as the rightful authority to determine how much compensation to be paid. He said that the community took the matter to the Public Complaint Commission with a view to resolve the issue amicably. The community leader said that his people were concerned that the N700,000 being offered per hectare would not be enough for the affected persons to acquire another land.

We’ll deliver millennium tower project in 2 years –Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike declared that the ministry will deliver the Millennium Tower project in the next two years. Wike stated this in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT. The Millennium Tower at Central Area, Abuja, is a multifunctional edifice with facilities for cultural exposition, tourism, socialisation, recreation, hospitality, and commercial activities. The project is being handled by Salini Construction Nigeria Limited but was abandoned due to lack of funds. He said that the tower was a very important project that would change the landscape of Abuja city. “It is a very ambitious project, but again if we are talking of Abuja being one of the best cities in the world, then we must have such a facility. “I can tell you it is not easy to go into that project, but we have decided that whatever it takes, it is going to be one of the legacy projects for President Bola Tinubu. “In fact, we are looking at the next two years, if the way we are going to structure our payment is agreeable with the contractor,” Wike said. NAN reports that the project, conceived in 2005 had reached 40 per cent completion, and is expected to, upon completion, self-finance itself from revenues generated from all the commercial activities in the complex. The scope of the project comprises a cultural centre with four museums, an expansive arcade consisting of 40,000m2 platform for hosting national and other events. It also consists of a five-star hotel with 55 luxury rooms and nine suites for about 130 persons, offices, passive and active recreational facilities, 1200 capacity auditorium, conference rooms, Others are exhibition halls, shops, a sport centre with an indoor pool, gyms, fitness, squash courts and a two-level 1,200 capacity basement car park. The millennium tower itself is a 170-meter-tall structure accommodating a revolving panoramic restaurant for more than 130 diners. The minister added that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team have revealed that most of the projects were abandoned for lack of funds. “The Minister of State, myself, the permanent secretary, and directors have concluded that it is not possible to carry on with the entire projects in the FCT. “Therefore, we agreed to take them in order of priority. We have tried to work out most of the projects being handled by Julius Berger and agreed to see that these projects are fully completed,” he said. Wike added that the Villa Roundabout being handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in the next six to eight months. He equally said that the ministry would ensure the completion of the projects being handled by Cetraco Nigeria Ltd, and also put a facelift on Garki, Wuse and part of Maitama in the next one week. He said that the contractors would be mobilised immediately, adding that Asokoro would equally have a facelift in no distant time. On the Abuja light rail rehabilitation project, the minister said that an agreement has been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they can go to work. “We are also discussing with the company on the operation cost, because it will not be good to rehabilitate and then you cannot operate. “We have told them that on Thursday, we are going to meet to talk about the operation cost,” he said. Wike pointed out that part of the problems of the projects was because they were not being funded by the national budget. He said that in view of the funding challenge, the ministry would pick some projects that could be completed within a specific period and then decide on what to do again in the following year.

Wike issues stern warning to property owners distorting Abuja masterplan

*Says, ‘Your houses must be demolished’ The new Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike has issued a stern demolition ultimatum to property owners in Abuja who have contributed to the distortion of the city’s masterplan. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja shortly after his inauguration, Wike emphasized that structures erected in violation of the city’s planned layout would face demolition, regardless of the occupants’ stature. Wike, formerly the governor of Rivers State, left no room for ambiguity, asserting that anyone who has constructed buildings where such development was prohibited should anticipate the dismantling of their property. He made it clear that this directive applies universally, extending even to high-ranking officials like ministers and ambassadors. He stated, “Your house must go down.” The warning also extended to landholders who have encroached upon designated green spaces to erect structures. Wike firmly declared that these areas must be reclaimed, emphasizing the significance of preserving natural green spaces in the city’s landscape. He emphasized, “If you hate green, you must hate yourself,” indicating his uncompromising stance on preserving the city’s aesthetics. Wike’s unequivocal message highlights the urgency of adhering to the planned urban layout and the imperative of maintaining green spaces in Abuja. As the FCT Minister, Wike seems determined to enforce orderliness and curb unauthorized developments that mar the city’s architectural integrity and natural environment.