The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike today supervised the demolition of structures obstructing the construction of the Arterial Road N16 in Gishiri village in Katampe District, Abuja.

Addressing the press at the site, the Minister disclosed that the residents were duly served with eviction notices and clearly communicated the necessity of their cooperation with the government. He said this was vital for the contractor, Messrs CGC, to complete the road project and hand it over by the end of May.

He however regretted that the residents rejected government’s offer of compensation and pledge to facilitate their relocation, despite being granted one-week extension as requested by the village chief, thereby impeding work on the road project.

He said the road project was in the public’s overriding interest and not a case of acquiring land for private development, warning that the FCT Administration would not tolerate the sabotage of projects of public interest.
He said he was personally involved in the demolition exercise to send a message that it would no longer be business as usual.

According to the FCT Minister,” We served them with the eviction notice and we told them the need for them to cooperate with the government so that the contractor, CGC will be able to complete this road and then hand it over by May ending.

Speaking further, the Minister said, “The traditional ruler of course pleaded with us to give them one week. The money for compensation has been made available and we did also promise that in spite of that, we will still make available somewhere they can relocate.

“But with all these assurances, it did appear, from what I got in the report, that work is not going on. I informed the traditional ruler that this work has to go on and enough is enough. No government will fold its arms and allow people to sabotage a project for the interest of the public. It’s not as if anybody is coming to acquire land to build houses”.

Addressing concerns regarding the impact of the demolition on residents of the village and public perception, the Minister asserted that ample time had been provided for the residents to vacate. He stated that the government would not halt a crucial project for the sake of a few individuals, having granted them enough time and made funds available for compensation.

He said, “enough time has been given. Are we going to say because of a few people, government will not do their work? No. We have given them more than two, three months. I cannot fold my hands and say let the job stop. No. we will not do that”.

Speaking further, the Minister said, “We have promised to relocate them to another area and even the money for compensation has been given, but they said they will not accept, which means the job will not go on and we will not allow that”.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to relocating the affected residents and providing compensation and advised them to cooperate with the FCT Department of Resettlement and Compensation to finalize the modalities for their relocation.

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has declared that no citizen of Kogi State should go to bed hungry under his watch as the Governor of the state.

In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Ismaila Isah quoted Governor Ododo to have made the declaration at the official flag off of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Programme in Lokoja on Monday.

Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to food security, emphasizing that Kogi State will not only support the federal government’s intervention but also expand its own quarterly food distribution programme to reach more vulnerable households in the state.

He described the Food Outreach programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative as a “timely and compassionate” intervention that aligns with the vision of the Kogi State government to uplift citizens struggling with economic hardship.

Governor Ododo also reiterated his broader commitment to women and youth empowerment, noting that Kogi State has already surpassed the 35% affirmative action for women inclusion in government appointments and elective positions, adding that his administration will continue to implement economic policies that uplift its citizens.

He urged Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, assuring that Kogi State remains fully aligned with the federal government’s economic recovery and social welfare programmes.

On her part, Hajia Nana Shettima, Wife of the Vice President, who represented the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu at the event, emphasized the need for the food items to reach the intended beneficiaries.

She warned against reselling the supplies and encouraged recipients to utilize the support effectively to improve their well-being.

“This initiative is not just about food; it is about restoring dignity, giving hope, and providing relief to the most vulnerable among us,” she stated.

Shettima noted that the RHI Food Outreach Programme programme has already impacted citizens in multiple states, with plans for further expansion.

“Other components of the initiative include grants for People Living With Disabilities (PLWDs), climate change awareness programmes for students, and the ‘Flow with Confidence’ Initiative, which provides sanitary wears to young girls in rural areas to support school attendance,” she added.

Earlier, Kogi State First Lady and RHI State Coordinator, Hajia Safinat Usman Ododo, commended the First Lady’s intervention for her role in easing the hardships faced by the less privileged in the state.

She reiterated the dedication of Kogi women to national development efforts and pledged to collaborate with communities to address their needs effectively.

Spearheaded by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu to combat hunger and provide relief to vulnerable Nigerians, the Renewed Hope Initiative Food Outreach Programme is aimed at providing food interventions for vulnerable groups in communities across the states of the federation.

March 10th, 2025

The Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, PC-NCG being coordinated by Captain Noah Ichaba on Tuesday reacted to reports purportedly issued by one Sekenimde Sunday published in the Vanguard newspapers of Sunday edition, saying there is only one Coordinator of the Nigerian Coast Guard which is Captain Noah Ichaba.

Captain Ichaba described Sekenimdo Sunday as an impersonator and impostor who is out to mislead the public in guise of the Coordinator of NCG currently receiving legislative attention at the National Assembly, hence, the public should disregard his report as he has no right to speak on behalf of the Nigerian Coast Guard.

We want to use this opportunity to inform the public that the Provisionary Committee of the Nigerian Coast Guard under the leadership of Captain Noah Ichaba is quite satisfied with the pace at which the bill was moving at the National Assembly, even as a public hearing on the bill has been conducted in line with parliamentary rules and procedures.

In a statement issued and made available to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, said: “The Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, PC-NCG’s attention has been drawn to a misleading publication in Vanguard Online of 8th March 2025, titled “Coordinator of provisional Nigerian Coast Guard appeals to NASS for bill passage” credited to Sekenimde Sunday.

“PC-NCG respectfully invite the attention of patriotic, impartial and ready to act relevant authorities, concerned groups that were misled, authentic stakeholders and the general public, to note that, the stories of 8th March 2025 and 7th March 2024, regarding the purported harmonization and acceptance of some Registered Private Maritime Security Groups into the Nigerian Coast Guard, were nothing, but, a brazen reinforcement of criminal impersonation, a contemptuous cover-up and a defiant act of confrontation meant to ridicule law enforcement agents and their respective institutions as well as a provocative invitation to acrimonious conflicts.
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The PC-NCG urged the public not to succumb to hoodwinking tactics of Mr. Sekenimde Sunday even as we suspect he has a kind of surreptitious motives in attempt to highjack the NCG in broad day light and particularly midway into legislative processes that would make it to become an agency of government anytime soon.

“The action is a move to tacitly hoodwink the intelligence of the general public, rather than serve the true purpose of harmonization as announced, by the imposturous organizer, who is a non-member of the Provisional Operation and Activities of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard, but, a subversive fellow.

“Patriotic Nigerians are responsively reminded that Sekenimde Sunday had, on 7th March, 2024 claimed that: Federal Government thro Ministry of Transport, Marine and Blue Economy had given him approval to mobilize, recruit and train personnel for Nigerian Coast Guard. That he has also been designated as the National Director of the Provisional Operation of Nigerian Coast Guard.

“Also to be noted is that Sekenimde Sunday neither operates a governmentally recognized Military Training Center nor own a Private Registered and tax paying Military Training Institution, and he is not a certified Expert that is capable of delivering such services to be authorized by the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to mobilize, recruit and carry out military training for the personnel of Nigerian Coast Guard, that already has surplus qualified prospective workforce who are awaiting government’s call. The illegal Nigerian Merchant Navy Training Camp he was attending before it was smashed by Law Enforcement Agents in 2015 did not qualify him to impact such knowledge to personnel of the impending Nigerian Coast Guard.”