National
FCTA Warns of Potential Revocation of Land Rights for Akume, Gbajabiamila, Buhari, and Others
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a warning regarding the possible revocation of Certificates of Occupancy for land parcels owned by notable individuals and corporate entities in Abuja.
In a notification released on Friday, the FCTA indicated that this notice pertains specifically to landowners in the Maitama district, who are given a two-week deadline to settle any outstanding payments related to their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), failing which they may forfeit their property rights.
The FCTA attributed this action to the need for infrastructural development within the district.
The two-week notice, titled “Demand Notice for Payment of Right of Occupancy Bills for Issuance of Certificates of Occupancy on All Lands Allocated at Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja,” has been dispatched to a total of 3,273 allottees.
The communication stated, “The Federal Capital Territory Administration, through the Federal Capital Development Authority, is undertaking infrastructural projects in Maitama II (A10) District. All allottees who have not fulfilled their payment obligations for the Certificate of Occupancy are hereby urged to make full payment within two (2) weeks from the date of this publication.”
Furthermore, the notice warned that failure to settle all outstanding land bills, rents, fees, and charges within the designated timeframe would result in the revocation of the Rights of Occupancy (R-of-O) for the affected plots by the honorable minister of the FCT, along with the potential reallocation of the lands.
Among the landowners affected by this notice are Yusuf Buhari and Zahra Buhari, children of former President Muhammadu Buhari; Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu; Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The list also includes the Minister of Sports, John Eno; Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari; and former Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige.
Former governors mentioned are Theodore Orji, Rochas Okorocha, Ibikunle Amosun, Tanko Al-Makura, Joshua Dariye, Gabriel Suswam, Ibrahim Shekarau, Okezie Ikpeazu, Jonah Jang, Seriake Dickson, Adamu Muazu, and Bukar Abba Ibrahim.
Additionally, serving and former lawmakers such as Dino Melaye, Kabiru Marafa, Stella Oduah, Danjuma Goje, Ben Bruce, David Umaru, Saliu Mustapha, Biodun Olujimi, Andy Uba, Sunday Karimi, Olumide Osoba, Nicholas Ossai, Emmanuel Bwacha, Osita Izunaso, and House Leader Julius Ihonvbere are included in the notification, alongside Wole Oke and Kabiru Gaya.
Others on the list are Beni Lar, Leo Ogor, Darlington Nwokocha, Peter Nwaoboshi, Oker Jev, Lynda Ikpeazu, Khadijat Ibrahim, Obinna Chidoka, Philip Aduda, Smart Adeyemi, Chukwuka Utazi, Timothy Golu, Edward Pwajok, Ali Ndume, Ben Obi, Binta Garba, and Teslim Folarin.
The notification also names former National Chairman of the APC, Adamu Abdullahi, and third Republic Senate President, Ameh Ebute.
The National Youth Vanguard of Nigeria’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has rejected allegations made by Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, who accused the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle, of orchestrating claims of anti-party activities against him.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the group’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr Adeniyi Wale, described Jaji’s accusations as “baseless” and an attempt to distract from his own political manoeuvres.
“Jaji has long positioned himself as a loyal APC member and a unifying force within the party, but his actions suggest otherwise. His political moves appear more self-serving than focused on party unity,” Wale said.
The APC Vanguard emphasised that Nigerians deserve transparent and accountable leaders rather than those who, it said, manipulate public trust for personal gain. The group also questioned Jaji’s credibility, citing what it described as a pattern of inconsistency in his political engagements.
“The remarks made by Jaji not only lack substantiation but also raise concerns about his reliability and judgment,” the statement read. “Leadership is not merely about holding a position of power; it is about demonstrating qualities that inspire trust and confidence among the people.”
The group commended Minister Matawalle for his efforts in strengthening national security and promoting peace. It said his leadership had contributed significantly to fostering unity and improving community relations across the country.
“Minister Matawalle exemplifies the qualities of effective leadership. Under his stewardship, significant progress has been made in enhancing national security and community relations,” the statement said.
The APC Vanguard further criticised Jaji’s leadership approach, accusing him of lacking the foresight and responsibility required for credible governance.
“This pattern of inconsistency not only weakens the integrity of his decisions but also erodes the confidence of party members and stakeholders who seek dependable representation,” Wale added.
The group reaffirmed its support for Matawalle and urged APC members to remain focused on unity and national progress while rejecting divisive rhetoric that could undermine the party’s strength.
National
Nigeria Advocates for Collaborative Border Control Efforts with Sahel and West African Nations
Nigeria is seeking enhanced collaboration with Sahelian and West African nations to facilitate effective information and data sharing for improved border control measures.
During a press briefing on Tuesday at the Border Security Summit in London, Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo emphasized the necessity for regional cooperation.
“There is a critical need for countries within the Sahel and West African subregions to collaborate more effectively for better international partnerships and information dissemination,” he stated.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo highlighted the importance of proactive strategies to not only address ongoing issues but to prevent future occurrences. “The major takeaway from this summit is the emphasis on proactivity rather than mere reaction, as nations increasingly aim to criminalize irregular migration.”
He described the summit as a significant opportunity for border control ministers to collaborate in safeguarding their nations’ borders.
The minister pointed out that organized immigration crimes are not confined to individual countries but are a collective issue requiring shared solutions. He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to combating border-related crimes through the implementation of effective strategies.
“Nigeria has developed a comprehensive border control solution, recognizing that we are not just a transit point. Our systems have been automated with numerous measures introduced to secure our borders and eradicate irregular migration,” he affirmed.
“We cannot afford to lose the battle before it begins, and we are confident that, through this summit, we can present a united front to effectively tackle this challenge,” Tunji-Ojo assured.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to enhancing its immigration policies and collaborating with global partners to combat transnational crimes, including human trafficking, smuggling, and document fraud.
According to NAN, the summit convened over 30 world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, to address significant issues related to border control and organized immigration crime (OIC). The event served as a platform for international cooperation on migration policies, security threats, and strategies to counter illegal immigration activities. (NAN)
The Nigerian electricity sector slowed in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with the electricity production index declining by 1.64% year-on-year (y-o-y).
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says this marks a reversal from the 5.55% growth recorded in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).
Average estimated electricity generation rose by 2.34% to 4,206.50 megawatts per hour (MW/h) from 4,110.47 MW/h in Q3 2024.
Similarly, electricity consumption saw a modest increase of 2.63%, reaching 4,105.66 MW/h from 4,000.24 MW/h in the preceding quarter.
This is as the Nigerian economy witnessed widespread expansion in the fourth quarter of 2024 (Q4 2024), with 21 out of 22 subsectors recording positive growth.
On a quarter-on-quarter (q-o-q) basis, however, the subsector showed signs of recovery, as the index rose by 22.50% compared to a significant decline of 49.46% in the previous quarter.
The broad-based economic expansion in Q4 2024 can be attributed to several factors, including improved business confidence, increased consumer spending, and enhanced performance in key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and telecommunications.
The government’s fiscal and monetary policies, aimed at stabilising inflation and boosting investment, also contributed to the positive momentum.
According to the CBN, the improvement was largely attributed to enhanced gas supply to thermal power stations and the continued implementation of the Siemens Power Project, which has positively impacted power generation, transmission, and distribution networks.
Notably, the oil and gas sector benefited from relatively stable crude oil prices and improved domestic production, which provided a boost to overall economic output.
The data also stated that the non-oil sector, particularly fintech and digital services, also played a significant role in driving economic activities.