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Gishiri demolition: Wike gives FCDA ultimatum to allocate land to victims
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike during his visit to Gishiri community in Abuja
FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike during his visit to Gishiri community in Abuja
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has given the officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) one week, to allocate land for resettlement of victims of demolition in Gishiri village.
It would be recalled that 455 houses and structures were demolished in the village at Katampe District, Abuja, to make way for a road project.
Wike gave the order when he visited the community on Wednesday, to resolve the disagreement between the community members and the FCDA over the payment of compensation and relocation of the victims.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the problem began when the community members accused FCDA officials of giving them a swampy area to resettle, different from the one the minister approved.
The community members, during a meeting with Wike on Monday, also complained that the amount being given to some of the affected persons as compensation was grossly inadequate.
To address the issue, the minister promised to visit the area to see things for himself.
On arriving at the community on Wednesday, Wike asked the FCT Administration Director of Land, Mr Chijioke Nwankwoeze about the land set aside for the relocation of the affected persons.
Nwankwoeze explained that there were two areas, one, a 12-hectare land with 58 plots around Hope for Survival Orphanage.
He added that the second resettlement site was 1.7-hectare with five plots, located behind Local Education Authority Primary School in the community.
He said that the land had not been allocated to the victims because they wanted the minister to see the areas first.
“We felt you will need to see the place first before we start allocating the land to them.
“We will merge the plots and design them into plots before we will give them,” he said.
The director, however, said that no area was completely free in the resettlement site location around Hope for Survival Orphanage.
He explained that the area was demolished a long time ago, adding that people applied for building plans and began developing the area haphazardly.
But Wike interjected the director, saying, “I don’t agree with you, and this should be the last time I will hear this complaint.
“I give you people one week. Go and allocate the land to the affected persons. If it is not enough, we will find another alternative.
“All this grammar, grammar, grammar, I don’t want to hear it.”
The minister also asked the Director, Resettlement and Compensation, Mr Nasiru Suleiman about the compensation payment to the victims.
Suleiman explained that payment has not begun, adding that it would commence when the land had been given to the victims.
Reacting, Wike directed the director to commence the payment and urged the community leaders to collect the money, or he would not give them the land
“If you don’t take the money, I will not give you the land again.
“Go and collect the money so that when you get the land, you will start developing it,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FCT Administration had earlier provided N655 million for payment of compensation to the affected persons, based on approved valuation rates.
Considering the current economy situation in the country Wike increased the amount to N1.3 billion.
This means that every affected person would get double of what was initially earmarked for him or her. (NAN)
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has engaged in a high-level security meeting with a leading Chinese manufacturer of advanced anti-terrorism and high-tech defence equipment, aimed at enhancing Nigeria’s defence capabilities.
The meeting, which took place in China, underscores the Federal Government’s commitment to modernising the nation’s security apparatus to combat insurgency and other threats.
According to a statement signed by the minister’s Personal Assistant (Media), Ahmad Dan-Wudil, and made available to journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the engagement focused on formalising a strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Chinese firm and the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
The collaboration is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Nigeria’s security sector, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for a comprehensive overhaul of the country’s defence framework.
The MoU outlines a robust partnership, with the Chinese company committing to significant investments in Nigeria’s defence infrastructure.
According to the statement, Key components of the agreement include the transfer of cutting-edge defence technology, the establishment of local manufacturing capabilities for advanced military equipment, and capacity-building initiatives to enhance the technical skills of Nigerian personnel.
“This move is seen as a step towards building a self-reliant and globally competitive military-industrial base.
Dr. Matawalle emphasised that the partnership represents a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s defence modernisation agenda.
“This collaboration will not only strengthen our fight against terrorism but also position Nigeria as a regional leader in defence technology,” he stated.
The minister highlighted the government’s determination to leverage international partnerships to address the nation’s evolving security challenges.
Under the terms of the agreement, new production lines will be established for various ammunition types, including 7.62x51mm ball cartridges, 7.62x51mm blank cartridges, 9x19mm pistol cartridges, and machine gun ammunition.
Additionally, manufacturing workshops and facilities will be set up in Kaduna and Kachia, Kaduna State, to produce essential defence components such as brass casings and bullet jackets.
The partnership extends beyond production, encompassing the maintenance and upgrading of existing military hardware, servicing of battle tanks, and the provision of military engineering services.
These efforts are expected to enhance the operational readiness of the Nigerian Armed Forces, enabling them to respond more effectively to security threats within the country and across the region.
The minister’s visit to China follows a series of engagements with international partners, including the United States and Saudi Arabia, as part of Nigeria’s broader strategy to strengthen bilateral defence ties.
In a recent meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), Dr. Matawalle called for increased support in intelligence sharing and counterterrorism efforts, underscoring the need for global cooperation to tackle insecurity.
The agreement with the Chinese firm has been hailed as a critical step towards achieving President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises security, economic development, and private-sector involvement.
The minister reiterated the government’s openness to foreign investment in critical sectors such as defence, steel, and energy to drive technological advancement and job creation.
Gamblers are staking millions of dollars to predict who will emerge as new pope as betting sites place odds on the candidates as the Catholic Church cardinals sweat to pick a new pontiff.
Polymarket, an American cryptocurrency-based betting site, has placed odds on candidates who will emerge.
Similarly, Kalshi, another American betting site, is coordinating predictions on who emerges as the new Catholic pope.
On Polymarket, over $21 million worth of bets have been staked in the conclave election, in which Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle are considered the leading candidates.
Mr Parolin leads with 27 per cent odds, while Mr Tagle comes second with 23 per cent odds. Matteo Zuppi, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, and Peter Erdo came third, fourth and fifth with 11, 10 and 7 per cent odds, respectively.
On Kalshi, where over $8milliom has been staked, Mr Parolin leads with 29 per cent odds, followed by Mr Tagle’s 22 per cent odds and Mr Pizzaballa’s 10 per cent odds.
This comes as 133 cardinals from across the globe commenced a conclave to decide who would emerge as the new pope on Thursday.
Though conclave elections have been highly unpredictable for years, gamblers throw in thousands of dollars for a possible kill should their candidate emerge.
In 2013, contrary to projections on the possible emergence of Cardinal Angelo Scola, who was then regarded as the favourite, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio emerged as Pope Francis.
On Wednesday, thick black smoke billows from the Sistine Chapel chimney at the end of the first meeting of the cardinals, signalling that no pope has been elected.
The election of the 267th pope, which commenced on Wednesday. A new pope will poll a two-thirds majority to emerge during the election process.
Then, white smoke will be released from the Sistine Chapel chimney.
President Bola Tinubu has mandated the formation of a Presidential Task Force aimed at eliminating numerous checkpoints that impede free movement.
Ambassador Musa Nuhu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, revealed this initiative during a visit to the Nigeria-Benin Republic border in Seme on Wednesday.
“We are commencing with the Seme-Badagry Corridor. A committee has been established under the auspices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and we will soon begin addressing this matter.
“We have taken note of all the concerns raised, and I assure you that the Nigerian government will tackle the other issues mentioned subsequently.”
Numerous complaints have surfaced regarding the excessive checkpoints along the Badagry-Seme corridor, which adversely affect the seamless movement of individuals and goods between Nigeria and the Benin Republic.
Ambassador Nuhu emphasized, “This is the most trafficked border in West Africa regarding the flow of goods, people, and services. If free movement is to be effectively implemented in West Africa, it will be evident at this border.”
Motorists attending the meeting expressed their frustrations about the numerous checkpoints and the extortion practices by security personnel along the route.
In response, Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, stated that any fees paid by motorists should be accompanied by official receipts.
He expressed concern that the proliferation of checkpoints and the extortion of citizens within member states undermine ECOWAS’s goal of fostering a more integrated region.
“While we must inspect passengers and road users, we should move beyond arbitrary charges that lack receipts. If payments are necessary, they should be properly documented.
“It is one thing to request that someone open their bags for inspection, but it is entirely different to demand payment that is not receipted.”