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  • Mar, Sun, 2020
Metro

Covid-19: FCTA orders arrest of drivers for overloading

 

Overloading

By Salisu Sani-Idris

Abuja, March 22, 2020 ( NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has directed road traffic enforcement officers across the territory to intensify the arrest of drivers who carry in their vehicles  excess  number of passengers.

Mr Ikharo Attah,the Chairman of  FCT Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Management, announced this at an interactive session with newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

Attah said at a time when the world was fighting the Coronavirus pandemic by advocating social distancing, it would be inappropriate for drivers to have their vehicles jam packed or even overloaded in the  bid to make quick money.

“Those carrying two passengers in front of their vehicles would have their vehicles impounded and driver’s licence seized.

“ Besides the health risks, it is also unsafe as the driver finds it difficult to adjust his gear and hand breaks,” Attah said.

He explained that High Capacity Bus drivers would also be properly checked to ensure that they do not overload their buses.

Attah, therefore, called on operators of all commercial motorcycles and tricycles permitted to operate at the suburbs  to also avoid overloading.

He called on managers of motor parks and transport unions to obey the directive of the FCT minister which limits any gathering to a maximum 50 persons.

The chairman also advised transporters to be observant of their passengers and report those with signs of respiratory challenges to appropriate health authorities for prompt action. (NAN)

SSI/OSA/EAL

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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ekemini Ladejobi

Health

FCTA sensitises Bwari residents on FG free healthcare enrolment

FCTA sensitises Bwari residents on FG free healthcare enrolment

By Veronica Dariya
Healthcare
Bwari (FCT), Aug. 14, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in collaboration with Health Policy Plus, an (NGO), on Wednesday sensitised residents of Bwari Area Council on how to enrol for free medical care.
Mr Peter Osagie, Leader, Health Policy Plus, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of a town hall meeting of health stakeholders in Abuja that the enrolment of the healthcare had commenced.
According to him, Health Policy Plus is supporting the FCTA in key healthcare, one of which is the roll out of basic healthcare funds.
He said that the meeting was organised to enlighten the public on what has been provided, how to get involved and participate in accessing the free service.
The service, Osagie explained, was for all Nigerians but targets mostly the vulnerable, pregnant women, children under the ages of five and old people who are 85 years old and above.
Osagie said that the services would be provided in one selected Primary Health Centre each, of the 62 Wards of the six area councils in the FCT.
He said: “The pregnant women will enjoy free ante-natal service, delivery service including Caesarean Section (CS) where necessary and postnatal services.
“Also, children under-5 years old will be treated of dysentery, diarrhoea, pneumonia, malaria and other non-communicable diseases.
“This will reduce mother and child mortality rate in the country. Also, adults can access free screening for hypertension, diabetes and treatment of malaria, irrespective of age.
“We may not have all the diseases covered but the major ones will be addressed for now and with more funds, more diseases such as cancer may be included in the service,” he said.
Osagie said that enrolment for the service was the only way one could benefit, while urging all to locate the designated facility in their wards to ensure they were enrolled.
He added that beneficiaries would need a passport photograph and a valid identification card like the voter’s card to enrol.
Another card, he said, with a unique identification number would be provided for the benefactor to access the free service at all times.
Osagie encouraged community and religious leaders, market associations and youths in the area to transmit the information to all and sundry so that all could benefit from the government provisions.
“All hands must be on deck as everybody must play their roles effectively, so that we can have an effective health system.
“If the people know their rights and how they can exercise it, they will be able to hold the health providers responsible over the Federal Government’s provisions.
“They can also give feedback on their challenges so that at the end, we have a working health system.”
Earlier, Mr Sunday Goji, Head of Department of Health in the council, said that the service was provided to address the health challenges in the council as it affects the less privileged.
He said that it would help those who could not access medical needs due to financial and economic challenges.
He urged the participants to ensure that they take the information to the grassroots so that all could participate and enjoy the intervention.
NAN reports that the programme was organised by the FCTA Health and Human Services Secretariat in collaboration with Health Policy Plus.
NAN also reports that various stakeholders from all fields were represented at the meeting. (NAN)
DVK/DE/MST
Edited by Dorcas Jonah/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Poor welfare: ARD alerts of crisis in FCTA hospitals

Poor welfare: ARD alerts of crisis in FCTA hospitals
By Ummul Idris
Hospitals
Abuja, May 28, 2019 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has alerted of a brewing crisis hospitals owned by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over alleged poor welfare and working condition of health workers.
Dr Roland Aigbovo, the President of the association, raised the alarm in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Aigbovo said lingering stagnation of health workers, stalled implementation of skipping policy and poor working condition was responsible for the proposed industrial action.
He said FCTA resident doctors had been on the negotiating table with her management over the stagnation of her members occasioned by the non-implementation of the skipping policy.
He said this was thought to have been resolved following a meeting with the outgoing Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Muhammad Bello, and the Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa.
Aigbovo said the management promised to rectify the stagnation and promote all affected staff to their respective new levels, but it was later found to be untrue as promotion screening continued unabated.
The ARD president stated that the FCTA management had tried to fulfill some of the promises made, especially the part payment of skipping arrears, “but on the issue of promotion, it had been all talk and no action’’.
He recalled that the outgoing FCT minister had directed that doctors affected by the skipping should be promoted to their new grade levels.
However, Aigbovo noted that the doctors were promoted to the same grade level they were earlier promoted to thereby resulting in stagnation.
According to him, we have made frantic efforts to resolve this imbroglio, but it seems FCTA management has reneged on their promise.
“It should be noted that the country’s health sector has experienced calmness with regards to industrial actions and FCTA has benefitted from it greatly,” he said
The ARD president therefore warned that with the recent breakdown in dialogue, a show down was imminent.
He however did not disclose when the strike would commence and what form it would take. (NAN)
UMD/CHOM/MST
Edited by Chioma Ugboma/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Metro

FCTA sanctions approved land use violators — Director

FCT-Minister- Muhammad Bello

Land
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, March 15, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to sanction violators of approved land use, an official disclosed on Friday.

Such violators would face prosecution and demolition of illegal structure for their failure to get approval for changes.

Mr Muktar Galadima, the Director, FCT Department of Development Control, gave the warning during an inspection of a property which it sealed in Gwagwalada.

The property, a beverage factory still under construction, was approved for building of a warehouse, but was changed into a water producing company.

Galadima insisted that unlawful change of land use by developers without recourse to the appropriate authority remained a serious contravention of building rules and guidelines in the FCT.

Mr James Babagbale, who spoke for the contractor handling the property, confirmed the change of land use, but said that approval was given by the Federal Ministry of Environment.

The inspection team also visited other places including Trinity Garden, Wuse and Junkyard, near Musa Yar’Adua Centre, and warned against abuse of guidelines.

Galadima also warned other developers and residents to always contact the Development Control department before commencing on any form of development in the Nation’s capital. (NAN)
KM/OSA/IS
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ismail Abdulaziz

General news

FCTA distributes teaching, learning aids to special schools

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello

Aids

By Kabir Muhammad

Abuja, March 7, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Friday distributed 70 teaching and learning aids to special schools in the territory for special students.

Distributing the items in Abuja, the Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Dr Bala Liman, assured stakeholders in the education sector that the FCT Administration would work assiduously to set the pace in inclusive education.

Liman explained that the FCT Administration would do that by ensuring that every child received quality and affordable education.

Items distributed to the School for the Physically Handicapped, School for the Deaf, and Junior Secondary School, Pasali in Kuje Area Council are: 20 hearing aids, 30 guide cans, 10 wheelchairs, 10 talking watches and four first aid kits.

The other schools that benefited are School for the Blind, Jabi; Junior Secondary School, Kwali; Government Secondary School, Kwali; and the School for the Physically Challenged, Kuchigoro.

“This unique step facilitated by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, is in recognition of the global commitment to the well-being of learners with special needs.

“It is one that demonstrates the position of the FCT Administration in promoting equality for all school learners in the FCT.

“This is by deliberately eliminating all obstacles that are capable of impeding learning, especially those of special needs learners in their quest to acquire education.

“To the pupils, it is our hope that you will put this equipment into good use. On our part, we will continue to offer you, within the limits of available funds, any assistance needed for the effective progress in your educational pursuit.

“To the school managers and administrators, especially the departments and units, charged with the task of overseeing these schools, I urge you to redouble your efforts in ensuring that the curriculum delivery process runs unimpeded,’’ Liman said.

The education secretary also reiterated that FCTA’s commitment to protecting, caring for, and promoting the educational well-being of learners with special needs in the schools.

He said that the FCT Administration would increase the number of the special equipment so that more pupils would be able to access them.

The Head, Special Needs, Jonah Aturu, also maintained that the FCTA Education Secretariat would remain unwavering in its commitment to the promotion of education for all as enshrined in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Aturu called on spirited Nigerians, corporate organisations, and Non-Governmental Organisations to partner with government in supporting FCT learners with materials and education services to help them discover their potentials for Nigeria’s development.

According to him, in tandem with inclusive world, the FCT is blazing the trail for inclusive education in all its schools.

Speaking, the Director, FCT Universal Basic Education, Dr Adamu Noma, similarly said that the FCT is mainstreaming inclusive education in all public schools.

He assured that items would be put to good use and promised that the FCTA would continue to take care of students with special needs.

Noma thanked the FCT minister, education secretary and other stakeholders for the support, while appealing to others to also support inclusive education. (NAN)

KM/KTO/YEE

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(Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo/Emmanuel Yashim)

Health

Children Week: FCTA provides free vitamin A supplementation to children

Children Week: FCTA provides free vitamin A supplement to children

By Kabir Muhammad
Vitamin
Abuja, Feb. 27, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is providing free vitamin A supplementat for children between 6-59 months and de- worming of children within 12-59 months.

The Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services Secretariat (HHSS), Malam Adamu Bappah, said this while inaugurating second round of the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week (MNCHW) in the Territory on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to Bappah, within the 5-Day programme mothers are expected to access services offered by the secretariat, including routine immunisation against preventable diseases for children 0-11 months.

Other services are growth monitoring and promotion, food demonstration, nutrition screening of children 6-59 months, birth registration and focused ante natal care for pregnant women.

He said no fewer than 900,000 children in the Territory were set to enjoy free health facilities based services from the secretariat.

The MNCHW is a week set aside to deliver a package of key maternal, newborn and child survival interventions, aimed at reducing maternal, neonatal and child mortalities.

Bappah, represented by Director of Administration and Finance (DAF) of the Secretariat, Mr Musa Abdulraheem, said it was the second phase of the FCT Nov./Dec. 2018 MNHCW.

Bappah explained that emphasis had shifted from stand-alone vertical campaigns to a more integrated approach.

This, he said, exposed caregivers and children to key interventions that improved health status and enable them thrive through both the existing health system and outreach strategy.

“Every single day, Nigeria loses about 2,300 under-five children and 145 women of child bearing age. This makes the country the second largest contributor to the under-five and maternal mortalities in the world.

“I also want to use this opportunity to reiterate the urgency and need for all of us to promote this programme, for improvement in health, well-being and survival of women and children in FCT.

“I rely on everyone to take up the role of MNCHW ambassador to encourage and mobilise women, caregivers and children to health facilities closest to them to avail themselves the interventions provided during the week,’’ he stressed.

Earlier, the Acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Healthcare Development Board (PHCDB), Dr Ndaeyo Iwot, said personnel had already been deployed to nooks and crannies of the FCT for the exercise.

Iwot noted that the event was to take off earlier, but was rescheduled for this week, due to 2019 general elections, adding that the board hoped to perform more than it had done in the past. (NAN)
KM/GOM/MST
Edited by Gregory Mmaduakolam/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Politics

FCTA tasks stakeholders on peaceful, credible polls

FCTA tasks stakeholders on peaceful, credible polls

By Kabir Muhammad
Polls
Abuja, Feb. 17, 2019 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has called on all stakeholders and other FCT residents to ensure peaceful coexistence before, during and after the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, made the appeal on Sunday in Abuja, while addressing stakeholders on the imperative and gains of peaceful elections.

The minister noted that the administration had put necessary mechanism in place to guarantee peaceful elections.

Bello, who was represented by the FCTA Permanent Secretary, Mr Chinyeaka Ohaa, assured stakeholders that with the collaboration of security agencies and the electorate, the election would be violent-free.

He appealed to all stakeholders to always be on the alert and report any suspicious activity to the relevant security agencies for necessary action, even as they join the on-going effort towards ensuring peaceful elections.

While calling on residents to ensure they collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and properly safeguard them, the minister advised them to use their PVCs wisely to elect candidates of their choice.

He enjoined the residents to guard their minds from all fake news by cross check emerging issues in the media, especially social media.

According to him, as one people in one city, the pursuit of peace remained a collective effort that must be keyed into during and after the elections.

Bello also warned politicians against taking laws into their hands in a bid to win the various positions they were contesting for.

The minister said to ensure advancement of peaceful coexistence, FCTA had intensified sensitization of the public and the provision of adequate security before and during the polls.

He therefore tasked relevant authorities to ensure that rural areas within the nation’s capital were adequately manned by security operatives to avoid electoral violence.

One of the stakeholders and FCT Chairperson of National Council of Women Society (NCWS), Mrs Nancy Bulus, said that security agencies must give more attention to the hinterlands.

“As the remote places are the main flash points of electoral violence in the territory, the residents are ready to participate in the elections, but needed to be assured of adequate safety and security,’’ she added.

The Chairman NUJ, FCT Council, Mr Emmanuel Ogbeche, who commended the FCTA for the initiative, reiterated commitment of members of the union to peaceful, credible and fair elections through timely, accurate and unbiased reportage.

Ogbeche however warned journalists against unethical conduct before, during and after the elections, as doing so could adversely affect the society.

The Acting Director, FCTA Department of Information and Communications, Mrs Stella Ojeme, expressed optimism that the FCT would be peaceful, because the territory had always been peaceful in the previous elections.

Ojeme noted that the FCT as a symbol of Nigeria’s unity and oneness belonged to all Nigerians.

“We do not want to be running helter and skelter back to our states. Let’s join hands together and ensure peace continues to reign in the FCT,’’ she urged. (NAN)
KM/AMM/MST
Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Yellow fever campaign: FCTA targets 85% residents

Yellow fever campaign: FCTA targets 85% residents
By Olasunkanmi Onifade
Prevention
Abuja, Nov. 21, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is targeting 85 per cent of Abuja residents during the upcoming Yellow fever preventive campaign.
The Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, FCTA, Mr Abubakar Bappa, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Bappa said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and other international donor partners would support the administration in the mass vaccination.
According to him, the international donors include the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).
He said the campaign, which would be carried out in six states including the FCT, was scheduled from Nov. 24 to Dec. 7.
He said that the target age group was nine months to 44 years.
“The goal of the yellow fever preventive mass vaccination campaign is to reduce transmission by achieving 95 per cent coverage in implementing states and local government areas.
“This is in line with the strategy for the elimination of yellow fever epidemics by 2026.
“The mass campaign is based on the 2008 risk assessment which identified 20 states and FCT as high risk states.
“Similarly, the phase one of the yellow fever vaccination campaign was completed in 2014 and it targeted three states of Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Nasarawa, in which 10.4 million people were covered,’’ Bappa said.
He said in 2018, five cases of yellow fever were confirmed with three deaths out of 15 reported in the FCT.
“I have to let you know that the FCT is ready for this exercise as scheduled.
“The target population to be vaccinated in the FCT is 3,293,438; that is 85 per cent of the total FCT population.
“The total number of teams to be used in FCT is 1,342 including 171 special teams,’’ the official said.
According to him, the vaccination will take place at all government health facilities and temporary posts in chiefs’ palaces and other public places in the communities.
He said that the outreach teams would vaccinate eligible persons in churches, schools and other institutions.
Bappa said the FCTA would use the vaccination campaign to strengthen the state’s health system and immunisation programmes.
“We will strengthen the pharmaco-vigilance system for monitoring adverse effects following immunisation as well as implement a high quality vaccination campaign which takes lessons from previous campaign into consideration.
“The vaccination is by injection, given on the left upper arm. It is free and safe,’’ he said.
Yellow fever, the secretary said, was a viral disease usually of short duration, adding that in most cases, symptoms are similar to those of malaria fever including fever, chills, loss of appetite, nausea and muscle pains.
He said for about 15 per cent of people, within a day of improving, the fever comes back with abdominal pain and liver damage causing yellow skin with increasing risk of bleeding and kidney problems.
Bappa said the disease was caused by the yellow fever virus and is spread by the bite of primarily an infested female Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
The Aedes Aegypti is a type of mosquito found throughout the tropics and subtropics. (NAN)
OEO/COF/MST
Editing by Oluyinka Fadare/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

FCTA grants scholarship to girl hit by Air Force Jet

FCTA grants scholarship to girl hit by Air Force Jet
By Kabir Muhammad
Scholarship
Abuja, Oct. 3, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is to provide scholarship to Miss Elizabeth Elijah who was hit by flying debris from the crashed fighter jet during air training for Nigeria Independence Day celebration.
The Director, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), Dr Adamu Noma, disclosed this when he visited the girl at Maitama General Hospital, Abuja, with some directors who represented the administration on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to him, the FCT Administration has decided to take care of all expenses for her education, explaining that the scholarship will take care of all her schooling.
“As soon as she is discharged from hospital, the scholarship will commence,” Noma assured.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Elijah was said to be in the farm at Mpape near Maitama District, that fateful day when the ill-fated NAF aircraft mishap happened and she was hit by flying debris from the fighter jet.
The ill-fated fighter jet collided with another killing the pilot during air training for Nigeria Independence Day celebration where Elijah was hit and injured at the leg by fragments of the jet.
Noma also assured that the FCTA has granted her scholarship to university level and that they will be ready to foot her bills for as long as she can go in educational pursuit.
He said the FCT Administration would be responsible for her tuition, books, uniform, foot wears and any other requirement needed in school.
Alhaji Ahmad Rani, Director FCT Scholarship Board, confirmed the scholarship, adding that the board is ready to foot the bills and follow her up.
The girl, who is responding to treatment, has been stabilised from the trauma and the injury, and will be discharged soon.
NAN also learnt that Elijah, 15, hails from Kachia, Kaduna State, but reside with her family at Chikoko village in Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
She completed primary six in Chikoko, but poverty prevented from proceeding for secondary education.
NAN also gathered that her father could not afford transport fare from the village to see her at the Maitama Hospital.
Among those who visited Elijah at the hospital where the scholarship form was presented to the family for proper documentation include the Director, FCT Scholarship Board, and Director of FCT Call Centre, Hajia Jummai Amadu. (NAN)
KM/OSA/MST
Edited by Shittu Obasa/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Monarch appeals to FCTA for functional healthcare facility

Monarch appeals to FCTA for functional healthcare facility
By Mustapha Sumaila
Facility
Abuja, Oct. 2, 2018 (NAN) Mr Bulus Wakili, the Chief of Zhiko Community (Esu Zhiko) in Bwari Area Council, has appealed to the council and Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to provide functional healthcare facility to save lives of women and children in the area.
Wakili made the appeal while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview on Tuesday at Zhiko, Abuja.
He said that lack of functional healthcare centre had exposed his people especially women to untold hardship and avoidable deaths.
He explained that women in the community were often conveyed on motorcycles to cover about 20 kilometres to Bwari town to attend antenatal and child deliveries.

The monarch recalled that a woman lost her life recently in the community when she was on labour and could not access health centre on time.
He stated that the road to the community was so bad that no taxi or any commercial vehicle ply the route.
According to him, the road is not passable by cars during rainy season and that makes it difficult for his people to access healthcare.
“I am appealing to the Chairman of Bwari Area Council and FCT Minister to intervene and provide us with befitting health centre and other social amenities.
“You need to see a place they call Primary Health Care Centre in this community like “Juju House”, no health workers there apart from one woman who often comes around.
“A community of about 4,000 persons needs social amenities like potable water, health care centre and good school but we are lacking all these,” he said.
The traditional ruler lamented that politicians would come around to campaign and make promises but had never come back to address the problems of the community. (NAN)
MS/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola