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Senate applauds FCT Minister over project implementation
The Senate Committee on the FCT has once again commended the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for his commitment to the execution of priority projects in the Territory.
Chairman, Senate Committee on FCT, Sen. Smart Adeyemi made the commendation during inspection of some projects as part of the Committee’s oversight function over the weekend in Abuja.
Adeyemi explained that the oversight project tour was necessary to enable members of the Senate Committee become acquainted with projects the FCT Administration has proposed for implementation in its budget proposals.
The projects visited included the rehabilitation works at the National Assembly Complex, the Operations Control Center of the Abuja Mass Rail Transit System, the Gosa dump site and landfill, the Wupa sewage treatment plant, Solar lighting systems as well as the facilities and equipment of the Department of Development Control.
The Senator, in the course of the tour commended the FCT Minister for his honesty and commitment to duty especially for his initiative of the installation of solar powered street lights in parts of the city to illuminate the streets at night and enhance security.
According to him, apart from providing security for residents and property, street lights also add to the overall aesthetics of the city and enhance the duties of law enforcement officials.
On the revelation that vandals have removed some of the newly installed solar street panels, Senator Adeyemi bemoaned activities of vandals who destroy public facilities and appealed to Nigerians to protect public facilities put in place for their benefit.
He also added that efforts must be put in place to secure and maintain all facilities in the city including traffic lights, rail tracks, manholes and power installations, amongst others and urged the FCTA to include security and maintenance components into budget proposals for proposed projects.
At the Wupa Sewage Treatment Plant, Senator Adeyemi also commended the FCT Minister for his efforts at efficiently running the plant especially with his directives that indigenous technical personnel should be in charge of the critical facility which is the largest in the FCT and treats liquid wastes generated across the city.
In the visit to the Operations Control Center of the Abuja Mass Rail Transit System, he directed the officials at the facility to remove the overgrown grasses on the premises as they pose a fire hazard.
The Senate Committee also inspected ongoing rehabilitation of both the Senate and House of Representatives Chambers, where Sen. Adeyemi tasked the contractor to expedite action on the completion of the project before transition to next government in 2023.
He noted that the National Assembly was critical to democracy, hence the imperativeness for the rehabilitation of both Chambers to be completed on schedule
Speaking in response to the comments by Senator Adeyemi, the Executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmed disclosed that the FCT Administration was working on drawing up a “Waste to Wealth and a Waste to Energy” policy using the waste at the Gosa Dumpsite and landfill.
On the security of critical infrastructure Engr Ahmed said the FCT Security Committee had mandated the FCT Command of the NSCDC to ensure the security of such facilities across the FCT.
Director, FCTA Department of Facility Maintenance, Engr. Omoniyi Olaloye explained that the solar street lighting initiative became imperative due to inadequate power supply from the national grid.
Olaloye revealed that over 4000 units of solar powered street lights have been installed so far across the city, promising that more installations would be made.
Also present during the oversight project tour were some members of the FCT Senate Committee, Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu; the Secretary for Transportation, Hon Abdullahi Candido, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council TPL Umar Shuaibu, Director, Department of Development Control TPL Mukhtar Galadima, Director Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Osilama Braimah and other senior officials of the FCTA.
Another explosion has rocked the Soku oil
facility in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Sunday’s fire is the second in a week after an explosion hit the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo, Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State, thus raising concerns of sabotage.
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria), a prominent grassroots NGO active across the Niger Delta, confirmed the incident on Sunday, March 23.
In a statement signed by Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface, its executive director, YEAC disclosed that its youth volunteers reported an early morning explosion accompanied by fireballs at the facility, which is operated by Nigeria LNG (NLNG) Limited.
“An explosion accompanied by fireballs was heard and seen in the sky from the facility area, which is difficult to reach. The fire is still ongoing as of the time of this report,” Fyneface stated.
The cause of fire at the gas station in Toru LGA was not yet clear at the time of the press, but speculations about equipment failure to sabotage or even deliberate attack was rife.
It marks the third explosion at oil facilities in Rivers State within a week, intensifying concerns over the state’s oil infrastructure.
The first explosion occurred in Ogoni, while the second took place in Oga/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area. The latter incident was referenced by President Bola Tinubu in his nationwide broadcast on March 18, during which he declared a six-month state of emergency in Rivers State.
In response to the escalating security challenges, President Tinubu took decisive action by suspending the Rivers State House of Assembly, Deputy Governor, and Governor Siminalayi Fubara. The move followed allegations that the governor failed to protect the state’s critical oil infrastructure.
Tensions have further heightened following a viral video in which some youths issued warnings against the governor’s impeachment.
The recent string of explosions has raised alarm among stakeholders in the Niger Delta, a region already grappling with environmental degradation and security issues tied to oil production. With fires still raging at the Soku facility, calls for an urgent investigation and enhanced security measures around oil infrastructure have grown louder.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
The wife of Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), Hajia Aishat has offered cash and food items worth millions of naira to widows and vulnerable women across Dekina local government Councils, promises to take similar gesture across the nine local government in Kogi East.
The exercise which was tagged: “Widows Empowerment”, saw the Senator’s wife distributing cash and food items to cushion the effect of Ramadan.
Items distributed are bags of rice bags of salt, cartons of seasoning, maggi etc, which were evenly distributed to widows and vulnerable women across party lines.
A beneficiary who spoke with our correspondent at Odu in Dekina Local Government Council, Hon Fitumi thanked Hajia for her continuous effort in coming through for widows and vulnerable regularly.
She acknowledged similar gesture by Senator Isah Jibrin (Echocho), a fortnight ago at Ankpa when youths in their numbers from three Local Government Areas were trained in Agriculture and empowered, stressing that people are now living testimony to the effort of the lawmaker.
“”We are aware of several intervention projects, empowerment and developmental projects of Senator Echocho and we are not surprised seeing Hajia toeing the similar path.
“The distribution of food items and cash today is not only a rekindling of hope to the beneficiaries, but an encouragement that despite their condition, they were not forgotten.
Hajia Labran, and other APC Women leaders who spoke on behalf of women, applauded Hajia Aisha Echocho and pray Allah to strengthen her to carry on, urged others to emulate her sustainable initiatives.
The women advised other political office holders to emulate what is good and just, which they believed would strengthen the party.
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