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FCTA To Rehabilitate Tow Key Roads In Kwali
As part of efforts to address the security challenges that are peculiar to the Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory, the FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom has pledged that the FCT Administration will rehabilitate two key roads in Kwali Area Council
The rehabilitation of the roads is aimed at limiting the activities of criminals in the Council.
The FCT Minister made the pledge on Tuesday, January 23, 2024, during the Townhall Meeting held in Kwali Area Council to address the security challenges in the Council.
Barr. Wike who was informed by the Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya that the Council was experiencing security challenges due to the dilapidated state of the roads along Yebu to Kwaita axis as well as the Warko road, directed the Chairman to furnish him with more details for immediate action. He also promised to complete an abandoned road project being undertaken by the FCDA.
The Minister said these roads were in addition to the earlier ones he had directed the six area councils to select for rehabilitation.
“To add to what you are doing here in Kwali, let me inform you to go and choose two other roads. You go and liaise with your traditional rulers. From what I have heard you say, there is one road you have said that is very important that is not motorable and you want an outpost of the army to be there. From what you are saying, it does appear that that road is very important. So, take that one and any other one.
“You have told me there is one that is FCDA road and it has been abandoned. That one that is abandoned, we will also take over”.
Speaking on the importance of the on-going Townhall Meetings, the Minister said he was directed by President Tinubu to bring messages of reassurance to the Area Councils about the preparedness of the government to address the security challenges confronting them.
Barr. Wike also assured that the security agencies are being provided with the necessary support and logistics to bring the situation under control.
The Minister said, “The President has directed me to let you know that he feels your pain and that’s why he said we must go and see all the Area Councils and talk to them about our preparedness to fight insecurity to a conclusion.
“Yes, it may not have been like this yesterday, but I can assure you, from now henceforth, you will be hearing a different story and the story you will be hearing is a positive one.
“We are fully prepared to support our security agencies. Whatever that will make the council sleep with their two eyes closed, we are going to give to them. Ours is to provide the necessary logistics. As I speak to you, we have almost concluded the procurement of vehicles for security agencies.
“We are going to give every Area Council motorcycles so that you can use it and support your vigilantes so that they will be able to help us and give security agencies the necessary information.”
The Minister however urged the traditional rulers to always provide information about the activities of criminals to the security agencies, saying that not much could be achieved without information.
He also cautioned against misinformation in the social media, saying that the government will never lie to the people about its capacity to tackle the security challenges in the FCT.
Barrister Wike also assured that the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will bring development to the Area Councils in the FCT to discourage rural urban drift.
According to the FCT Minister, “Whatever that is going to bring development, the government has no hesitation. Whatever that is going to improve security, we have no hesitation.
“We can’t talk about development only in the city. Why most people go to the city is because there is no basic infrastructure in these areas. If there are roads, someone can go from here (Kwali) to work and come back.
“Because the Area Councils have been abandoned, that’s why so many people are migrating into the city. We will not have that. We will make sure we develop the area Councils.
“This will be the first Administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that will focus on the development of the Area Councils. Before the end of his tenure, you will see a lot of infrastructure going on in the Six Area Councils”.
On the plea by the Council Chairman for the swearing in of a new traditional ruler in Kwali following the demise of the last one, Barrister Wike assured that he will give approval to the request, if it is determined that there are no disputes or court cases involving the process.
“On the Chieftaincy issue, if there is no dispute, consider it done. If everything has been done, as I go back to the office, I will take the file and make sure it is approved”, the Minister stated.
Also present during the Town Hall meeting were the Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr. Olusade Adesola, former Senator representing the FCT in the National Assembly, Senator Philip Tanimu Aduda, Senator Mao Onuabuwa Rt Hon Chibudom Nwuche, Sarkin Pai, HRH Sani Abubakar Pai, other traditional rulers, members of the FCT Security Committee amongst others.
The Director-General (D-G) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, stated that Africa would be minimally impacted by the tariffs imposed by the President of the United States of America (USA), Donald Trump.
Okonjo-Iweala made the remark during an interview with Nigerian journalists at the Spring Meetings of the World Bank in Washington D.C. on Friday.
She explained that only 6.5 per cent of Africa’s exports go to the USA, while 4.4 per cent of its imports come from the U.S., meaning that the impact on the continent would be minimal.
“The trade of the continent is very limited with the USA. We have done the analysis, and the impact on the continent as a whole is not significant,” she said.
However, she noted that Africa’s limited trade with the USA was also not ideal, as it hindered economic growth.
The D-G emphasised that Africa needed to focus on utilising its own resources to reach its full potential, as aid was declining, and the continent required more investment.
She pointed out that Africa must strengthen internal trade, citing Lesotho as an example.
In spite of Lesotho exporting 200 million dollars’ worth of textiles to the USA, the country faced challenges due to the shrinking U.S. market.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that Africa spent 7 billion dollars annually on importing textiles, suggesting that Lesotho should instead focus on selling textiles within African markets.
She also urged the USA to consider the effects of tariffs on least-developed countries, calling for a reassessment of the reciprocal tariffs in poorer nations.
Okonjo-Iweala concluded that Africa needed more investments and should work towards boosting intra-Africa trade, which remained underdeveloped.
“We cannot trade more externally, where our trade is only 3 per cent of world trade, or internally, where intra-Africa trade is 16 to 20 per cent at most,” she said.(NAN)
Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), the umbrella body of cattle herders in Nigeria, has praised President Bola Tinubu for appointing Mr. Tosin Ajayi as Directo- General of the Department of State Services (DSS), describing the appointment as one of the best by the administration.
MACBAN thanked President Tinubu for creating the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, saying it was a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to the body and would greatly improve the livestock industry in Nigeria.
The body said the DSS handling of the security situation in Plateau, Benue and other states was with outmost professionalism and deserved commendation.
MACBAN’s statement came a few days after the Plateau State government praised the DSS for being it’s most reliable partner in fighting insecurity in the state. Plateau state government said the DSS helped solve several security problems in the state.
In a statement issued Friday in Abuja, MACBAN charged other security agencies to learn from the way the new DSS leadership has been stepping in to secure life and property, saying it was impressed by efforts by the DSS DG to investigate the root cause of the problems across the states.
The statement was signed by MACBAN national president, Baba Othman Ngelzarma.
Said MACBAN, “We salute the professionalism with which the DSS has been handling the delicate security challenges in Plateau, Benue and several other states.
“Only recently, the DSS DG averted what would have been a very serious security crisis in Enugu State where nine young Fulani men were murdered in cold blood and their corpses dumped in the bush.
“It took painstaking efforts by Mr. Ajayi to help douse tensions.
“We are encouraged by the DG’s belief that there cannot be peace without justice. We are happy that he’s been warding off political pressures to paint law-abiding Fulani herdsmen with the same brush used to paint terrorists and criminals.
“To be sure, there are criminal elements as well as good persons among all races and tribes. We are happy that, under Mr. Ajayi, the DSS has been able to draw the line between criminality and law-abiding Fulani herdsmen who break sweat to earn decent living,” noted MACBAN, adding, “we urge other security agencies to take a cue from the DSS.”
According to the largest body of cattle herders in Nigeria, over 20 percent of its members, and four million heads of cattle, have been forced by insecurity to flee Nigeria, with hundreds of families displaced.
The exodus of herders, noted the group, had raised the cost of beef, the cheapest meat source in Nigeria.
MACBAN promised to cooperate with federal and state governments as well as support security agencies to help restore peace to boost businesses and agricultural economic activities.
MTN Group says it suffered a cybersecurity incident that led to unauthorised access to the personal data of some customers in selected markets.
In a statement on Thursday, the telecoms giant assured stakeholders that its core infrastructure — including its network, billing systems, and financial services platforms — remains secure and fully operational.
The company said an unknown third party claimed responsibility for accessing parts of its system, but added that there was currently no indication that customers’ accounts or mobile money wallets were compromised.
“At this stage, we do not have any information to suggest that customers’ accounts and wallets have been directly compromised,” MTN said.
MTN said it immediately activated its cybersecurity response procedures, including informing the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks.
The group said it had also notified the relevant authorities in the affected countries and would continue to work closely with them and law enforcement to support ongoing investigations.
In line with regulatory obligations, the network provider said it had begun notifying affected customers.
The telecoms company urged users to remain vigilant and observe standard security practices, including setting strong passwords, avoiding suspicious messages, and enabling multifactor authentication where available.
“The privacy of information is our top priority, and MTN remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of our systems and the trust placed in us by our customers and other stakeholders,” it said.
“To mitigate any fraudulent consequences, a fraud alert can be placed on an individual’s credit report at any of the major credit bureaus.
“Keep MTN, MoMo and banking apps and devices updated.
“Use strong, unique passwords for accounts and change them regularly.
“Be cautious of unexpected messages and do not click on suspicious links.
“Do not disclose information such as passwords, PINs and OTP when asked to do so by phone, text message or email.
“Where multifactor authentication is available, it should be activated.”
MTN added that it would continue to contain and manage the situation “carefully” while keeping stakeholders updated.