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Wike Fumes Over Abandonment Of Abuja’s Technology Village

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The Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike on Monday fumed over the abandonment of the Abuja Technology Village (ATV), with illegal occupants already encroaching on parts of the land.

ATV located along the popular Lugbe Airport Road, was conceived in 2004, by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) as a cluster development that will promote rapid economic growth in the science and technology sectors.

The administration, has since provided good network of roads around the large expanse, but left fallow.

Wike who visited the place alongside his counterpart in the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji expressed displeasure that the place was left without any reasonable de to attract investors.

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The Minister also disclosed plans to immediately direct the Department of Development Control, to remove all the structures from illegal occupants who have encroached into the land.

He equally directed the ATV management team to as a matter of urgency, think of relocating its office to the site, so as to begin activities that will open the place up for investors.

Also speaking, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji said his Ministry would like to key into the project and make it a model comparable to other technology’s hubs across the globe.

Nnaji also disclosed that developing Science and technology to build Nigeria’s economy, was part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

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Reps Direct NPF, Banks, Fintech To ensure Victims Of One Chance Get Justice In FCT

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…direct FCT minister to ensure operation of Abuja Urban Mass Transit
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has urged the Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies to enhance surveillance in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and nip on the bud the activities of one chance.
The House also directed the Nigeria Police, all banks and FinTech operators like Opay and MoniePoint in Nigeria to give preference to such cases and ensure that victims get justice by providing on time, all information needed about the owner of the account used for such heinous act, also use their mechanism to get hold of the account and apprehend the criminal.
The House further urged the Federal Government to close down the operation of illegal and unauthorized loan companies in Nigeria used by these criminals.
These resolutions was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Rep. Billy Osawaru on the “NEED TO CALL ON THE SECURITY AGENCIES TO BEEF UP SECURITY MEASURES IN FCT AND ENHANCE SYNERGY WITH THE BANKS IN NIGERIA TO UNRAVEL THE ONWERS OF BANK ACCOUNT USED BY ONE CHANCE OPERATORS”, on Wednesday at plenary.
Rep Osawaru highlighted the heinous operation of one chance and Kidnappers in the FCT, Abuja, which has left victims in a sorry state due to severe torture on them and their bank account emptied simultaneously at gun point.
According to him, the perpetrator’s alleged magical powers used to hypnotize their victims and take them to an unknown destination, where the money in their different bank accounts are emptied with the use of POS and other money transfer devices, and at the same time, inflict pain/injuries on them, rape their female victims and push them out of a speed moving vehicle afterwards.
The motion reads: “Concerned that the victims of this despicable act and bank account used for this criminal purpose seem to be difficult to track or trace, due to lack of synergy between the security agencies and Banks, and also the bank’s unwillingness to help customers and do proper investigation on their own with the excuses of waiting for police extract or affidavit or other requirements that could be frustrating coupled with the money involved in the process which the victims whose money were stolen may no longer afford;
“Cognizance of the CBN directives mandating all Bank operators to ensure that individual or cooperate accounts of every customer are linked to their NIN and BVN which means every transaction done within and outside the bank could be traced;
“Worried that in most cases the phone numbers and bank accounts of their victims are used to borrow money from illegal and unauthorized loan apps of the companies in Nigeria, thereby incurred humongous debt which their victims must offset afterwards;
“Also worried that on daily basis cases of such abound including that of our children/relatives, staff, secretaries etc and if nothing urgent is done to curb the activities of one chance in the FCT, Abuja and other state in general, and its perpetrators brought to book, FCT may not be safe for every one of us to stay”.
The House unanimously adopted the motion and resolved to mandate the minister of FCT to ensure the maximization of the operation of Abuja Urban Mass Transit whose Buses are lying fallow in its office premises; to enable them provide the FCT residents with a reliable transportation system and extend their services to 9:30pm daily.
The House further mandated the House committees on FCT, Police Affairs, Banking Institutions and legislative compliance to look into this and ensure compliance.
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US Embassy issues new directive for Nigerian visa applicants

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The United States Embassy in Nigeria has announced updates to its immigration visa process, effective January 1, 2025.

Applicants with scheduled interviews will now need to visit the Consulate General in Lagos twice as part of the application procedure.

The embassy shared on its official X page that “For applicants with interviews scheduled after January 1, 2025, applicants are required to visit the Consulate General in Lagos at least twice during the immigrant visa process.

“This new process is designed to help you prepare for your visa interview and to prevent significant delays in processing your immigrant visa.”

According to details on the embassy’s website, the first visit will involve an “In-Person Document Review” with a consular staff member.

The embassy explained, “This review ensures that applicants are prepared for their visa interviews. The review allows applicants to retrieve any missing documents ahead of their visa interviews, helping to avoid delays in application processing.”

The second visit will be the visa interview itself, conducted by a Consular Officer. This appointment will be scheduled by the National Visa Center (NVC).

“If you do not complete the In-Person Document Review before your visa interview, you will be required to reschedule your appointment,” the embassy noted.

These changes, the embassy said aim to enhance efficiency and reduce delays caused by incomplete documentation.

As announced earlier, in a related development, the embassy has transitioned to a new visa services provider for its Abuja and Lagos consulates on August 26, 2024.

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BREAKING: FG Cancels N64bn Osun Airport Project Approval Over Relocation Dispute

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The Federal Government has pulled out of the foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed Osun State International Airport in Ede, following a request from the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo.

This Nigeria news platform understands that the state governor, Ademola Adeleke, had planned the event for December 13, but the ministry has asked for a postponement until disputes surrounding the project are resolved.

The planned airport relocation from Ido-Osun to Ede, Adeleke’s hometown, has stirred controversy and tension.

A state government committee reported that the original site in Ido-Osun did not meet basic aviation requirements, prompting the move.

In October 2017, the state government revived its intention to continue the project, but having entered a huge financial constraint, the Aregbesola administration opted for concession.

Later, before Aregbesola left office, the budgetary allocation for the airport project had swollen to N69bn. The PUNCH reliably gathered that about N12bn of Osun indigenes’ funds had been sunk into the construction site.

However, this decision has reignited a longstanding rivalry between the Ido community and Ede, with residents of the former protesting the relocation earlier this week.

The ministry’s request to delay the event came in a letter dated December 6, signed by the permanent secretary, Emmanuel Merinole, which was made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday.

The letter reads, “I wish to refer to your letter Ref. No. S.12/19/1/Vol.VI/188 dated 21 November 2024 on the above subject and to respectfully request Your Excellency to suspend the foundation-laying ceremony of the Osun State International Airport until the issues regarding the petitions over the existing airstrip/airport are resolved and to harmonise the state’s efforts with that of the Federal Government.”

The letter also points out that the airstrip is a federal project included in the ministry’s 2024 budget, and the state’s plan to expand it to an international airport must align with federal objectives.

The statement added, “Your Excellency may wish to note that the airstrip is a federal project that is captured in the Ministry’s 2024 Appropriation. We also note that you have made arrangements to expand the airstrip to an international airport. In addition, there is a petition indicating there is an existing airstrip where funds have been expended and the need to use the site for the present airstrip instead of a new site.”

The letter emphasised the need for efficient use of public funds, stating, “The Federal Government is mandated to ensure judicious use of funds in order to curtail wastage of resources. As this Airstrip Project is a collaboration between the state and federal governments, it is important we are in sync before the project takes off.”

The ministry urged the governor to postpone the ceremony.

Merinole stated, “Accordingly, Your Excellency is respectfully requested to reschedule the foundation-laying ceremony of the Osun State Airport pending the resolution of the petitions and selection of a mutually agreed date.”

Attempts to contact the state government’s chief press secretary, Olawale Rasheed, were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages at the time of this report.

When contacted for further clarification, the media aide to the minister, Tunde Moshood, said the airport is currently cancelled following a litany of petitions that greeted the government’s continuation of the attempt to build the airport.

Moshood said the government is also stopping the construction of the aerodrome over the discovery that the former government in the state got approval to cite the airport at a different location.

His words, “The airport has been cancelled for now because the previous administration got approval to site the airport in a particular location, and there can’t be two approvals at the same time.

“Meanwhile, we can’t deny the fact that we were carried along, but you know, sometimes it may be an oversight. Now there are petitions to that effect.”

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