The House of Representatives committee on Federal Capital Territory has faulted the park and pay arrangement of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA.
In an interactive session with the Mandate Secretary in charge of the transportation secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, the house committee on federal capital territory noted that residents and motorists in the nation’s capital are being harassed by those employed to enforce the policy.
FCTA reintroduced the park and pay policy into the nation’s capital in August 2023, after signing an agreement with two concessionaires.
The policy was aimed at decongesting the city and making motoring a more pleasant experience.
The policy was suspended in April 2014 after a high court judgement stopped the FCTA from collecting fees from residents for on-and-off-street parking within the metropolis. The court ruled that the policy was not backed by law.
At the interactive session on Tuesday, the Committee Chairman, Muktar Betara demanded details of how the reintroduced park and pay arrangement was established, who authorised it, and how remittances are made to the coffers of the FCDA.
Responding, Elechi said the policy is regulated and supported by a legal framework and that only designated areas serve as parking zones.
“The park and pay is by regulation. We have a legal framework. It is part of the ways of controlling traffic. So, under the park and pay scheme, designated areas are meant to be parks. So, it is legal,” Elechi said.
“It is (revenue) paid through concessionaires. There is usually a ratio between the concessionaires and the FCT. So, for areas where we have the concessionaires, there is a percentage that goes to the concessionaires. It is 60 percent and 40 percent goes to FCT. The infrastructure for the work is usually provided by the concessionaire. It (revenue) goes straight to the revenue account of the FCT, not transportation.”
The committee chairman queried the mandate secretary about the contract process. “How was the contract established? In appointing your concessionaires, what procedure did you follow? How much has been remitted to the FCDA from January to date Who gave you the approval.”
Responding, Hussaina Olayemi, the Director of Legal Services of the transport secretariat, explained that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Abuja Investment Company (AIC), the FCT organisation responsible for public-private partnerships, were involved.
“After their involvement, the concession was submitted to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, for approval. So, we have the FEC approval,” Olayemi stated.
The committee criticized the FCDA for allocating 60 percent of revenue to concessionaires while the government receives only 40 percent, demanding clarification on what infrastructure the concessionaires are providing.
Responding, the mandate secretary said the concessionaire is responsible for marking roads. However, the committee chair countered, asserting that no roads in Abuja have been marked by the concessionaire.
“The way they (concessionaires) operate in Abuja, they harass people on the streets. I would have advised you people to have given the VIO this concessionaire. Let them take up this so that the whole revenue would go to FCT. Why are you personalizing this for an individual,” Betara said.
The committee ruled that, on the next appearance, the mandate secretary should bring a copy of the agreement with the concessionaires and details of the remittances received from January to date.
The committee also questioned the FCDA officials over abandoned motor parks in the nation’s capital.
Paschal Agbodike, a member of the committee, specifically expressed concerns over the condition of the Nyanya park.
“When motorists don’t have parks, they operate anyhow. We noticed that Nyanya Park has been abandoned. When are you going to address this, and what caused its abandonment? he asked.
In response, Elechi said the park has not been abandoned, adding that the government is taking one project at a time, with an initial focus on rails.
“Nyanya Park is not abandoned. We cannot do everything at the same time. When we came on board, the rail was a priority, but now our attention has shifted to the development of parks. We are currently focusing fully on the bus terminal,” he said.
The committee also sought details on the financial allocations and expenditures for various projects. However, the transport officials struggled to provide concrete figures.
Kama Nkemkanma pressed for specifics on the budget for road mapping from the airport to the city centre while Betara questioned the transport director about the funds provided in 2022 and 2023.
The mandate secretary and director of finance could not provide specific figures on the various projects.
“It is quite unfortunate that everybody keeps saying they can’t remember the figure. You are the CEO. It is not good for us, and it is not good for the committee and your agency. We are talking about Nyanya Park here, and a lot of money has been expended, but there is nothing to show for it. Even the committee knows how much was budgeted for this particular project. This does not speak well. If you don’t know the figures, how then can you manage the whole of Abuja? It’s impossible,” Nkemkanma said
The committee demanded a comprehensive report detailing the total budget and expenditures for the years 2022, 2023, and 2024 to facilitate proper scrutiny and oversight.
Reps committee queries FCT park and pay policy, demands details of revenue
Reps committee queries FCT park and pay policy, demands details of revenue
Activists, others laud McArthur Foundation’s country director, Kole Shettima
The Akin Fadeyi Foundation, on Wednesday, honoured an anti-corruption crusader and Country Director at the McArthur Foundation, Kole Shettima.
The commendation was made during the Impact Series, a virtual event organised by the foundation.
Speakers at the event lauded Shettima’s leadership and unwavering commitment to societal betterment.
A former First Lady of Ekiti State, Olabisi Fayemi, described the activist as a beacon of integrity and purpose.
“Shettima’s values resonate deeply with the greater good of society. He is a deliberate leader whose impactful work in human advocacy should inspire the new generation,” Fayemi remarked.
The Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Sadiq Raddah, also praised Shettima’s contributions.
He highlighted the vital support provided by the McArthur Foundation in bolstering PACCAC’s efforts against corruption.
“Kole Shettima’s name is synonymous with progressive activism in Nigeria. His unwavering support was instrumental in advancing our anti-corruption initiatives during the Buhari administration,” Raddah noted.
Co-Founder of Women Radio 91.7 FM, Toun Okewale, thanked Shettima for supporting her organisation.
She credited him and the McArthur Foundation for supporting the establishment of the Women Radio Centre, which equips female journalists for investigative reporting.
In his remarks, the convener of the series, Akin Fadeyi, revealed that his foundation’s partnership with McArthur Foundation began after Shettima read an article by the Board Chairman, Simon Kolawole.
“We can’t fully articulate the extent of support we’ve received from Shettima and the McArthur Foundation,” Fadeyi stated expressing appreciation for the enduring support received.
Responding, a visibly emotional Shettima thanked the organisers and speakers.
He emphasised the importance of humaneness in professional settings, saying, “Organisations are run by humans, and we must pay attention to their well-being and feelings.
“The McArthur Foundation has provided me a platform to make a positive impact, and I have learned a lot from those I’ve worked with.”
Why FG don’t want protest — Minister
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, explained on Wednesday why the Federal Government opposed planned protests over prevailing economic realities in Nigeria.
He said while Nigerians have the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest, the government was aware some people were planning to hijack the demonstration to cause trouble.
Idris, who stated this when he received the Charismatic Bishop Conference on a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Wednesday, said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration acknowledges the rights of every Nigerian to engage in protests.
According to him, the government is equally committed to ensuring that these activities do not disrupt public order or violate the rights of others.
“You see, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu believes in everyone’s freedom within the laws to do what he thinks is right for him. Therefore, the President is not an opponent of protest of any kind but the President is an opponent of violence and anything that will negatively hamper the wellbeing of Nigerians. He believes and he has always been saying that within the tenets of democracy, you have every right to do whatever you want to do provided that right does not infringe on another person’s right.
“Why everybody is very cautious and very weary of this national protest is because we have seen what has happened around the world. We know that it’s almost impossible to hold this protest and then have peace at the end of the day. We cannot do that because some people are waiting to take the laws into their own hands,” the minister was quoted as saying in a statement by his spokesperson, Rabiu Ibrahim.
According to him, Tinubu is fully aware of the genuine concerns and complaints expressed by Nigerians across the nation and he is actively working to implement effective policies aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by the citizenry and bringing relief to all Nigerians.
The minister said Tinubu was fashioning out a policy of paying stipends to all young university and polytechnic unemployed graduates in the country pending their formal employment in any sector of the economy.
“But beyond that, there is also another new policy that the President has formulated, which will begin to be seen very soon and that is that all young men and women who have finished universities and polytechnics and have certificates and have done their mandatory NYSC and have not been able to get jobs, will have something from the government to keep them afloat until the time they get jobs,” he said.
In his remarks, the President General of the Charismatic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Leonard Kawas, dissociated the conference from the planned national protest, saying they had been approached by some groups to join the protest.
“Your Excellency, recently we received some calls from some other religious organizations and other organizations asking us to join in preparation for a nationwide protest, which would start from 1st August 2024. We are here to let you know that we do not think the same. That we have rather decided to go all out and call for a truce.
“We have decided to sue for peace and humbly request that our brothers and sisters who are aggrieved in one way or the other, that they should give us some time while we continue to communicate and negotiate with this government on areas that are pertinent to them,” he said.
It will be recalled that some Nigerians under #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria# have threatened to embark on protest over the prevailing economic hardship from August 1 to 10, 2024.
Hardship: Nigeria will be great, don’t protest – Ondo govt begs students
The Ondo State government has appealed to Nigerian students to shun the planned protest against hardship in the country, saying Nigeria shall be great.
Making the appeal, the Senior Special Assistant on Students’ Affairs to the state government, Kevin Olaolu, said the government urged its citizens to embrace peace and dialogue.
The state government also urged its citizens to give the administration of President Bola Tinubu more time to address the pressing issues facing the nation, including the economy, security, and education.
“We urge all students to support the Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to bring about positive change and development in our country.
“In the spirit of unity and progress, we call for peace among all Nigerian students and emphasize the importance of constructive engagement and dialogue in addressing our challenges.
“It is important to note that Ondo state students firmly dissociate themselves from any planned protests, violence, or destruction of public properties belonging to the government. We believe that change takes time, and as the saying goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to the progress and prosperity of our great nation. Together, we can overcome our challenges and build a better future for all. Nigeria shall be great,” the state government said.
Hardship: Nigeria will be great, don’t protest – Ondo govt begs students
National Museum Lagos receives 32,369 visitors in 2024 — Commission
The National Museum, Lagos, announced on Wednesday that it hosted no fewer than 32,369 visitors in the first half of 2024.
The Head of the Department of Educational Services and Training at the museum, Oloruntosin Olanrewaju, disclosed this to newsmen in Lagos.
Olanrewaju said this was an appreciable increase compared to the 17,442 visitors recorded within the same period in 2023.
According to him, the visitors included foreigners, children, and adults of different age groups.
“We have been able to attract a good number of tourists to the museum in the first half of the year; we had 32,369 visitors. We hope to surpass this figure in the second half of the year.
“We have more pupils and students coming from various schools to learn and complement what they have been taught. People also come for research purposes,” he said.
Olanrewaju urged Nigerians, especially Lagos residents, to visit the museum, saying it accommodates artefacts, antiquities, monoliths, and other materials with huge cultural and historical significance.
NAN
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Hardship: No protest will hold in Urhobo land – UPU youths
Cultural Organisation, Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Youth Wing, Worldwide, has distanced itself from the proposed nationwide protests against the economic hardship in the country.
The UPU Youth wing, in a communique signed by the National President, “Osu re Ighele”, Activist Blessed Ughere, on Wednesday, said engaging in protest would be counterproductive, calling on all sons, daughters, and residents of Urhobo land to boycott the protest.
According to the communiqué, “Given the current security challenges affecting Delta Central (Urhobo Nation) and Urhobos in other parts of Delta State, we firmly believe that engaging in protests now would be counterproductive.
“Therefore, we categorically state that we will not support any form of protest across Urhoboland in Delta State by any group or individuals. Engaging in such protests risks exacerbating the existing security challenges in the country, creating opportunities for criminal elements to exploit innocent citizens and instigate further chaos.
“We appeal to all concerned groups and individuals to refrain from organizing any protests within any Urhobo kingdom in Delta State. We also urge all Urhobo sons and daughters, as well as residents in Urhobo land, to boycott the proposed protest.”
Speaking on the issue of insecurity, the communique noted that the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing Worldwide is currently in discussions with the Delta State Government.
It said it has made recommendations for the establishment of permanent military checkpoints in key areas to help mitigate the security challenges in the state.
The UPU Youth wing advised all citizens to be cautious, vigilant, and alert while accessing areas that require urgent security attention, especially Egbo, along the Agbarho-Ughelli Road and the Ughelli-Patani Highway, among others.
It also urged leaders and other stakeholders in the region to join hands in assisting security agencies to maintain law and order, which it said are imperative for the prosperity, peace, and progress of the state and country.
Hardship: No protest will hold in Urhobo land – UPU youths
I’ve paid my dues, not moved by social media attacks — Abiodun
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, said he had paid his dues in politics and was not moved by several social media posts and commentaries claiming he was not performing as a governor.
He said becoming a national lawmaker at 35 years meant that he was not a novice in the game and does not need to blow his own trumpet for people to feel his impact.
Abiodun stated this when he met with the coalition of youth organisations in the state at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
He said his administration had done well in health, education, infrastructure, and security, which, without them, no meaningful socio-economic development could take place.
Abiodun, who also spoke on the recent attacks on his person and administration on social media, said: “I normally don’t get disturbed by such things because one of my mentors in politics told me that in politics, you must make sure that you are mentioned either for the right or wrong reasons, but be continuously mentioned because if you are not mentioned, you are just part of the crowd.
“For me, I am not bothered that I have been under attack by faceless people on social media because I know what I am. I know who I am. I know what I did before I became governor. I know how long I have been on this journey.
“I became a senator before I was 35, the youngest at that time and I have been on this space in the state contesting on different platforms from that time until God decided that He was going to make me a governor and someone would imagine that after all that I had gone through to get to this position, all I will do is to be biting my fingernails. That person must be a joke.
“I became the governor under the most torturous and most difficult circumstances. I can’t go through that baptism of fire to get to the office and become complacent. Our Internally Generated Revenue was around N50 billion a year before. But in four years, we have grown it to almost N200 billion, and someone says Dapo Abiodun is just sitting in Ogun State and doing nothing. That has to be a joke.”
While taking time to explain some of the policy thrust and the direction of his administration in the last five years, Abiodun said emphasis was placed on Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Wellbeing, Education, Youth Empowerment and Job Creation, and Agriculture as encapsulated in the ISEYA mantra.
He appealed to Nigerian youths to constructively engage the government in finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s problems rather than engaging in protests that could cause further harm to the country.
It will be recalled that some people under #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria# had threatened to embark on protest over the prevailing economic hardship from August 1 to 10, 2024.
The governor, who recalled the destruction of lives and properties occasioned by the EndSARS protests across the country in 2020, said protests could only aggravate issues without necessarily finding solutions to them.
He said: “There is a Yoruba proverb that says ‘beheading is not the solution for a headache’. If there are issues, let us discuss them, let us find a way around them, and let us manage and correct them. Let us not cut off the head or attempt to cut off the head because of a headache. That will amount to decapitation,” Abiodun advised.
He said Nigeria, like many countries across the world, was going through a difficult time, hence the need for the youths to bring in their vibrancy, zeal, ingenuity, and technical know-how to solve the problems.
Nigerian govt resumes mass trial of terrorism suspects
The Federal government on Wednesday said it had resumed mass trial of persons reportedly involved in terrorism and suspects of other heinous crimes against the Nigerian state.
A statement by the spokesman of the National Counter Terrorism Centre, Abu Michael, noted that the resumed trial was “In pursuance of government’s commitment to promoting social justice by entrenching transparent administrative system.”
“The ongoing trial, which is in line with the International Criminal Justice system is being administered by the Federal High Court of Nigeria with the Complex Casework Group (CCG) of the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation in collaboration with other critical stakeholders under the coordination and supervision of the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Office of the National security Adviser (ONSA).
“More than 300 suspects are on trial with 5 reputable judges manning the 5 courts and Chambers set up for speedy administration of justice on the ongoing trial in terrorism and other related cases in the country.
“The trial involves multiple stakeholders, CCG prosecutors, and defense counsel from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria (LACON).
“Before now, over 800 case files have been reviewed, and charges are drafted for efficient prosecution in order to ensure that justice is appropriately served.
“Between 2017 and 2018, the trials so far resulted in 163 convictions, 882 discharges and 5 accquitals. Suspects that are inculpable are being deradicalised, engaged in profitable ventures, and efforts to reintegrate them are being sustained.
“The NCTC-ONSA is working assiduously with relevant authorities in fulfilling its mandates and to boosting the efforts of the incumbent administration towards realising good governance and a just society,” the statement reads.
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Hardship: Mischief makers behind planned protest – Gov Uzodinma
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma has said the planned protest over hardship in the country is being hatched by mischief makers who are bent on embarrassing the government.
He said there was no point where all citizens of the country gathered to say they wanted to proceed with a protest over the hardship being faced in the country, adding that the people of the southeast region would never be a part of such action.
Uzodinma gave his views on Wednesday when he led former Senate President and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim to the Presidential Villa over his defection to the All Progressive Congress.
He said Nigerians should exercise some patience with the Federal Government as it grapples with the challenges it met on the ground.
Hardship: Mischief makers behind planned protest – Gov Uzodinma
Dangote refinery must not fail – Kwankwaso to Nigerian govt
Foremost politician Rabiu Kwankwaso on Wednesday charged the Nigerian government not to allow the Dangote refinery to fail.
Kwankwaso said creating unnecessary fuss around the integrity of Dangote’s refinery by some government officials was unfortunate.
Founder of the refinery, Aliko Dangote had accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited of allegedly frustrating the functionality of the refinery.
Commenting on the saga between Dangote and the Nigerian government, Kwankwaso said the Nigerian government must exhibit fairness towards such a monumental project.
Posting on X, Kwankwaso wrote: “I was privileged to visit the magnificent Dangote Refinery, and I was marvelled by the sheer commitment that went into the quality of its establishment.
“This 650,000 bpd refinery is essential for our energy needs and economic stability, and it must be protected from all forms of threat.
“The creation of unnecessary fuss around its integrity by some vested interests is very unfortunate, and it stands to undo all the years of hard work to maintain the fragile investor confidence in our economy.
“It’s time for us to rally around this National Asset to ensure that the monumental project does not fail. It cannot fail, and the Nigerian government must understand this by demonstrating fairness and confidence in both domestic and foreign critical investments.
Dangote refinery must not fail – Kwankwaso to Nigerian govt