Category: FCT Update

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has reclaimed over 500 plots of land at Gishiri in Katampe District from individuals who claimed to be owners of the lands.

Mr Hassan Ogbole, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Inspection, FCT Department of Development Control, said this at the continuation of a clean up exercise in Gishiri on Friday.

He said the illegal structures and other activities in the area affected the Abuja Master Plan and must be dismantled to restore sanity.

“This is our third time visiting Gishiri in continuation of the city clean up to restore the Abuja master plan.

“We are concerned with recovering plots taken over illegally by some persons for different purposes, to restore the Abuja master plan.

Ogbole called on the genuine owners of the plots to commence work immediately to stop the return of illegal structures.

“Individuals that are allottees of the plots should take them over immediately to avoid new illegal developments, let the owners come in and start developing,” he said.

On his part, Mr Bello Kaka, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said the board was supporting the demolition to sustain mopping of unauthorised activities.

“Anything that is contrary to the standard would not be allowed, as we will keep the fight against environmental nuisances till the right thing is done,” he said.

“Mr Peter Olumiji, the Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security, said the administration is concerned with having a secured environment for all FCT residents.

“Allowing illegal structures to remain will continue to provide ground for criminals to exist; we can’t leave such structures that will become safe haven for bad eggs.

“We had such experience in Gishiri in the past, so removing these illegal structures will make criminals not to have a place to hide and carry out their evil activities, especially in the night,” Olumiji added.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Adesola Olusade, has described plastic waste as a major threat to human health.

Speaking during a road show to commemorate this year’s World Environment Day, with the theme: “Beat Plastic Pollution”, Olusade, said that the production, usage and disposal of plastic materials were not only polluting ecosystems, but endangering human and animal health.

Represented by Mr Osi Braimah, Director of AEPB, the Permanent Secretary added that plastic pollution also destabilize the climate

World Environment Day is marked on June 5 of every year.

He further stated that globally, the plastic waste situation had assumed a worrisome dimension.

“It has also become endemic, with drainage channels, canals and waterways littered with various plastic wastes.

“This contributes significantly to climate change, which results in short term damage, such as erosion and flooding, due to blockages of streams and waterways.

“This is why the matter is of utmost priority, as the world marks yet another World Environment Day in 2023,” Olusade said.

The Permanent Secretary said that it was pertinent to bring to the fore the awareness of plastic management as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

“Only an integrated systemic shift from a linear to a circular economy can keep plastics out of our ecosystems and bodies.

“The recent United Nations Environmental Report laid out key elements of the required market transformation, rethinking and redesigning products, reusing, recycling, reorienting and diversifying markets,” he said.

A minor fire incident has occurred at the server room of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Unit of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

The Director, Information and Communication, FCT, Malam Muhammad Sule, made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

Sule explained that the fire incident was as a result of electric power surge at about 8pm, Thursday May 18th.

He said the incident, which partially affected the server room, was contained in less than 15 minutes by the combined efforts of Federal and FCT fire services, and security men on duty.

“The Administration wishes to assure its clientele that the incident will not in any way interfere with its daily operations as there exists adequate redundancy.

“To this end, there is no cause for alarm as the incident will not in any way hinder the smooth operations of the ICT Unit nor any function of the Administration.

“The Administration wishes to use this medium to commend the prompt intervention of the gallant officers of the FCT and Federal Fire Service officials for their prompt response and action.”