National
FCTA begins post-development audit of buildings in FCT
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has began a post-development audit of buildings in the FCT.
The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, made this known while inaugurating a Ministerial Committee on Post-Development Audit of Buildings in the FCT.
Obuah explained while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Thursday that the Abuja Master Plan, developed in 1979 provides the roadmap for the orderly development of the nation’s capital city, Abuja.
According to him, the overarching goal is to build one of the most prestigious and modernist cities in the world.
He pointed out that over the years, the FCTA has been able to develop many phases of the city, districts and neighbourhoods.
“We have equally been able to develop critical infrastructures that provide circulatory road systems, metro lines and stations, sewer lines and drainages, among others.
“Today the city can boast of many iconic landmark developments such as the National Mosque, the National Christian Center, the National Assembly Complex, and the Supreme Court Complex.
“Others are the World Trade Centre, Abuja – the tallest building in the city with 22 floors, the CBN Complex, and many other iconic buildings of international repute and reference points for tourists.
“All these attests to the fact that our city has come to stay; our city has developed substantially from Phase 1 through Phase 3 while the other phases are equally being developed.
“Nonetheless, it becomes imperative too, that at this juncture of the city’s development, we take a cursory look at our journey in terms of what we have so far developed, the trend and chart a more robust course for the city’s development,” he said.
He said that it was on these grounds that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved the constitution of the committee to audit the post- development of the city’s buildings.
He said that the committee, which would be chaired by Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, would be expected to provide accurate records of all development permits issued.
This, he said, would reduce the cases of unapproved development, illegal conversion of land use, and land grabbing.
He added that the committee would also provide data on the consumption of the city’s utilities and services such as water, electricity and connectivity to sewer lines.
This, according to him, will expose illegal connections to the facilities which is denying the government its due revenues.
“The committee will also provide data for accurate taxation and enhanced revenue generation by bringing all buildings and properties to the FCT Internal Revenue Tax Net.
“This will generate billions of Naira for the FCT Administration.
“Another task for the committee is the provision of data on research on city planning, development and management.
“Some of the buildings will be subjected to integrity tests to reduce cases of building collapse and hazards,” he said.
The coordinator said that members of the committee were drawn from all the departments in the FCTA and expected to conclude the tasks in six months.
He assured the committee members of the FCT Minister’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics to ensure the success of the exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Galadima noted the need for the FCTA to document all activities, in terms of structures, services, and facilities.
He said that the committee would deliver on its mandate as expected. (NAN)
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s federal structure is not the problem, but rather the lack of collective fiscal responsibility.
He spoke on Tuesday at Leadership Newspaper’s annual conference and awards at the State House in Abuja.
Shettima said the problems attributed to the federal system often stem from poor management of resources, not from any inherent flaw in the constitutional architecture.
He noted that the country’s challenge ”lies less in the structure of our federalism and more in the deficit of our collective fiscal responsibility”.
The vice-president said the issue is not merely how much each federating unit accrues, but how such resources are utilised.
He said the administration, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is confronting this challenge directly through reforms.
“We have chosen the path of reform. It is bold, often difficult, but necessary,” Shettima said.
“To those who argue that Nigeria’s federalism is fundamentally flawed because of its fiscal nature, I urge caution. Federalism, as practised around the world, is not a one-size-fits-all system. There is no universal template. Each country’s federal arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.”
He also mentioned the pursuit of local government autonomy, which he said is being realised through the sanctity of due legal process.
Shettima also cited examples of federalism in other countries, such as Canada, Germany, and Spain, to show that no federal system is perfect and that each country’s arrangement is shaped by its history, culture, and political experience.
He urged caution against romanticising foreign systems or prescribing imported solutions that fail to account for Nigeria’s distinct social, ethnic, and demographic complexities.
“What we seek, therefore, is not a photocopy of another country’s model, but a federal structure tailored to our aspirations. It must reflect our values, ensure accountability, and foster development at all levels,” he said.
“The only road to such a destination is through sincere dialogue, and this conference is a laudable example.
“The policy choices pursued by this administration-from the removal of fuel subsidies to the introduction of tax reform bills-are aimed not only at guaranteeing a fiscally responsible federation but also at creating a system that offers each state both increased allocations and the opportunity to participate in debates and reforms for long-term fiscal stability.”
Shettima said the greatest threats to Nigeria’s progress have stemmed from the mismanagement of resources and corruption.
He stressed that what matters most to everyday Nigerians is not the abstract theory of federalism, but whether governance delivers basic necessities like water, electricity, schools, roads, and hospitals.