News
FCT Minister flags off construction of dual carriageway in Kuje
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike has flagged off the construction of a 5km dual carriageway in Kuje Area Council of the FCT.
Barrister Wike, during the flag-off exercise on Monday, February 5, 2024, said the road project is part of efforts to rekindle the hope of the people and reassure them that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu means well for the FCT.
The FCT Minister who had earlier flagged off the construction of the 7.2 kilometer Paikon Kore-Ibwa road in Gwagwalada Area Council, as well as the 9km Gaba- Tokula road in Bwari Area Council, attributed the achievements to the support of the President.
He said the FCT Administration has been lucky to have the support of the President, who is sparing nothing to ensure that all residents reap the dividends of democracy, adding that the FCTA has no excuse not to perform.
According to the Minister, “I want to say that Mr. President is fully in support of us and his mandate is very clear to the Hon. Minister of State and my humble self. When you people are saying that the Minister of State and my humble self are working, it’s because we have a President who gives us anything we want. He has given us the support and so we have no excuses to give but to let the people know that Mr. President is behind everything we are doing. Every request we have made, Mr. President has always given to us. So, for us, we don’t have any excuse not to do what we are supposed to do”.
Barr. Wike who also assured of the availability of funds to carry out the road projects, therefore charged the contractor to complete them within the specified time, adding that excuses will not be accepted.
He said, “If you take our money, you must do our road. There is no grammar there. I cannot be Minister and you collect our money and say you won’t do the job. For me and the Hon. Minister of State, we don’t have time for dry season, we don’t have time for rainy season. If you collect our money under rainy season, you must also work under the rainy season. You can’t keep our money in the bank, making interest and coming to tell us now is rainy season. Give us back our money, then when dry season comes, we give you the money.”
The Minister also reassured that all abandoned projects in the FCT Area Councils that were awarded by the FCT Administration would have to be completed, to ensure that they impact positively on the people and preserve the resources of government.
Barrister Wike while thanking the National Assembly for its support for the FCT, also disclosed that provisions have been included in the FCT’s 2024 statutory budget for the renovation of schools and hospitals in the FCT.
He said, “We are not only doing roads. Very soon, in the next one week or two, we are going to flag off the total renovation of not less than 25 schools, we are going to do that. So, we are not just talking about roads. We are also talking about schools.
“We are also going to come back to most of our hospitals that have been abandoned. Take for example, the Utako hospital that has not been completed, the Gwagwalada Hospital, we are coming back to put them in order for the use of our people, for the interest of our people. We cannot be answering FCT just by mouth. We must answer FCT and show that indeed this is FCT. We are going to do that”.
FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, FCT Minister Barrister Nyesom Wike, Chairman, Kuje Area Council Hon Abdullahi Sabo, Member House of Representatives representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency and his abuja South counterpart, Hon Abdulrahman Ajiya, during the construction of the asphalt carriage way in Kuje Area Council on Monday
Noting that the renewed hope agenda of the President in the FCT is practical and not just mere talking, the Minister also thanked the FCT Area Councils for their support and cooperation, irrespective of party differences.
He also called for the continued support of the Area Councils in the fight against poverty and insecurity in the FCT, saying that insecurity does not differentiate between political party affiliation or societal class.
Speaking earlier, the FCT Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud stated that the dualization of the carriageway is another demonstration of the FCTA’s commitment to the socio-economic development of the FCT.
Dr Mahmoud who also disclosed that the FCTA is poised to provide motorable road networks across the FCT the Area Councils said it will help to improve access and transport of goods and services, including easy access to markets, schools, offices, places of worship among others.
Stating that rural road infrastructure forms the backbone of rural economy and contributes significantly to the overall development of the nation, Dr Mahmoud thanked the FCT Minister for his commitment to the development of the FCT Area Councils.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, said the Council is very happy that its request for the dualization of the carriageway has been granted by the FCT Minister, adding that the road project will also solve the challenges of perennial gridlock and overflow of drains, especially during the rainy seasons.
The Gomo Kuje, also thanked the FCT Minister for his commitment to the realization of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Kuje Area Council, while bestowing on him the traditional title of Jikan Dan Majidadin Kuje. This will be the third title bestowed on him following the titles from the traditional leaders Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils.
News
Reports of Justice Agim accompanying Wike to UNICAL convocation false, misleading Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has denied that one of its justices, Justice Emmanuel Agim accompanies the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to the convocation at the University of Calabar in the South South Nigeria.
The denial came amid suspicion that Justice Agim who wrote a judgment of the Supreme Court in favour of the 27 lawmakers in Rivers State is close to Wike, hence, his presence around Wike has triggered speculations.
Wike is the former governor of Rivers State and a current of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who controls lawmakers in Rivers.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Supreme Court’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Festus Akande, he refuted the claims, saying Agim attended the event on his own.
The statement described the rumour as misleading, insisting that Justice Agim attended the event as a honoree, urging Nigerians to disregard the social media lies.
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“Hon. Justice Agim attended the convocation as an esteemed honouree and an alumnus of the institution, who the Governing Council had found worthy to be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Law (Doctor Honoris Causa),” the statement read.
“That Justice Agim was recognized for his significant contributions to the legal profession, which reflect his dedication to justice, integrity, and the rule of law.
Naija News reports that the statement highlighted that Justice Agim’s achievements serve as an inspiration for aspiring legal professionals and students alike.
The statement also addressed the claim that Justice Agim had attended the convocation ceremony in the company of Nyesom Wike.
It stressed that this was a false narrative, stating that Justice Agim’s attendance was independent of any government ministry or department and that he was not accompanying any government official.
“Any insinuation to the contrary is not only inaccurate but undermines the judicial independence that is crucial to our democracy,” the Supreme Court emphasized.
Additionally, the statement noted that Justice Agim had been scheduled to attend the burial ceremony of Hon. Justice Stanley Alagoa in Bayelsa State but had sought permission to attend the convocation ceremony instead.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court urged the media and the public to verify information through credible sources before dissemination.
“We encourage the public and media to verify information through credible sources before sharing or publishing to prevent the spread of misinformation,” the statement concluded.
News
State of Emergency in Rivers: $5,000 shared to Reps as ‘Sallah gesture,’ not bribe – Hon. Betara
Member representing Biu/Bayo/Shania/Kwaya/Kusar Federal Constituency of Borno State, Hon. Mukhtar Aliyu Betara has disclosed that he shared $5,000 with members of his committee as a “Sallah gesture”.
Betara who is the Reps Committee Chairman on FCT said the money was not a bribe to pass resolution declaring a state of emergency in Rivers as being insinuated.
The was posted by a Nigerian investigative journalist, Jaafar Jaafar on his X handle.
Jaafar said Betara explained this to him after the lawmaker reached out to clarify that the $5,000 given to lawmakers was merely a “Sallah gesture” and not an inducement.
He quoted Batara to have said the gesture was a long standing g tradition and has nothing to do with the state of emergency I Rivers.
Jaafar wrote:
“The chairman of the House Committee on FCT, Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, has clarified to me that he only shared $5,000 with each member of his committee as a ‘Sallah gesture,’ not as an inducement to support emergency rule in Rivers State.
“According to him, he maintains the tradition—like Santa Claus—every year.
“As we say in Hausa, not thigh but hind leg.”
The clarification by Betara came amid strong speculations that Senators received $15,000 bribe to pass a resolution to sustain declaration of state of emergency rule in Rivers.
The bribe was reportedly shared on Tuesday before they voted on Wednesday.
News
INEC holds crucial meeting to look into petition recalling Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from Senate
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has proceeded into a crucial meeting to study and look into a petition submitted to it by constituents of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
CAPITAL POST gathered, it a top management meeting as it was claimed that over 250,000 constituents signed the petition out of 480,000 registered voters.
The meeting was confirmed on Monday by the Acting
Director of Publicity, Esther Chibuikem, stating that the meeting held at a committee room at the INEC headquarters in Abuja.
It was also confirmed that the Secretary to the commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony, on received the petition against Natasha on Monday.
The petition follwed the nod given by the Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja on Friday where the earlier judgement restraining INEC from accepting the petition was set asid3.
Last week, constituents from Kogi Central were said to have i initiated a recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, but some constituents claimed that they were d3ceived into exercise as they were told to gather with their voters card for 3 powerment.
However, the Court, in a judgement delivered in Lokoja, affirmed that the recall process is constitutionally valid and aligns with the civic rights of the constituents.
The court urged the constituents to continue exercising their rights in an orderly and peaceful manner.
The development was after the court on Thursday granted an interim injunction restraining INEC, its staff, agents, privies or assigns from receiving, accepting or acting on any petition containing signatures of members of Kogi Central Senatorial District.
As at press time, INEC hasn’t release information on the next action as signatures may have to be critically compared with its register to determine validity.
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