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Job creation, security our major aim in FCT, Wike tells British Envoy
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Barrister Nyesome Wike has said security and job creation for the residents, are key priority areas on the list of his agenda in the territory.
He made this known when the British high commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery paid him a country visit in his office in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the United Kingdom and Nigeria had a long relationship since the colonial period to Independence the relationship has been stronger and stronger.
Wike who was responding to the request of the commissioner on priority areas of the administration, said his interest is centered on the priority of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda which is anchored on eight priorities.
Tinubu on assumption of office in 2023 listed 8 priority areas of his administration which include food security, ending poverty, economic growth and job creation, access to capital, improving the playing field on which people and particularly companies operate, rule of law and fighting corruption.
Wike said the problems have not been all solved but there is significant progress in addressing them.
He explained that security in Abuja seems to be different because of the boundary states of Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi and Kaduna.
The minister stated that the states have high activities of bandits and it appears that when they are getting it hot in those states they run to Abuja.
Wike said, “Two months ago, it did appear to be too hot but you can now see that the level of criminal activities has come down very well because of the level of support and the commitment of security agencies, particularly the police.
“We gave the police and other security agencies a lot of logistics support and that is how I help them effectively to support the fight, this helps to calm particularly banditry and kidnapping, I can tell you that we have made tremendous progress in terms of arresting the kidnappers.
“There is no part of this world that there won’t be any form of criminality, what is important is the swiftness of security agencies to apprehend and also try to prosecute those that are involved, so am happy with what we have done.
“We also realized that before now it does appear that no activities in Abuja, many people complain that Abuja is down but as we came on board activities have come on board.
“We are proud to say that we have turned Abuja site which was not the case in the last past 8 years to construction site.
“Creating of job is a priority, what that will mean to the teaming youths is that, more creation of job is not only where it is white cola job, by these activities youths are involved, if you go to the area councils today there are a lot of jobs going on there, that has created way for the youths to be employed.
In his remarks, British high commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, said the visit was critical because of the important role the minister and his team play in the commission.
He said, “I have come to seek your view and understanding of approaches to the development of the Federal Capital Territory considering the many initiatives we have seen in the press which will lead to the prosperity of FCT.
“There have been security issues in the recent past, especially kidnapping, we want to get an update on the issue, also in a closed-door meeting I will give you more updates on UK and Nigeria’s bilateral relationships.
“In the last few days, we have step up our engagements to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and a few weeks ago, the UK hosted the Nigeria defence on security and defence partnership, we shall be looking at how the business environment can be better as well”
Montgomery said the British Commission was interested in understanding the areas of priority to help in the bilateral relationship.
By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government of Nigeria has extended its heartfelt congratulations to the State of Qatar on the occasion of its National Day, celebrated on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
In a statement signed by the Acting Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, conveyed fraternal greetings to Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.
The statement highlighted Qatar’s commitment to promoting global peace and its significant contributions to humanitarian services worldwide.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria commends the commitment and strategic efforts made by the State of Qatar in the promotion of global peace; and more so, the excellent contributions to humanitarian services in different parts of the world,” it read.
Ambassador Tuggar emphasised the strong and growing relations between Nigeria and Qatar, expressing satisfaction with the collaborative efforts to strengthen ties for the mutual benefit of their citizens.
He wished Qatar peace, prosperity, and progress, reaffirming Nigeria’s enduring friendship and support.
This underscores Nigeria’s recognition of its diplomatic relationship with Qatar and its shared commitment to global cooperation and development.
By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called for the removal of the National Examination Council (NECO), University of Ibadan (UI), Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, and 21 other federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) from the 2025 budget.
This recommendation follows their repeated failure to account for previous allocations and internally generated revenue.
During an extraordinary session on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the Committee resolved that these MDAs should be excluded from the budget until they comply with its directives.
Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bamidele Salam, stressed: “The Financial Regulation empowers the National Assembly to exclude any Ministry, Department, or Agency (MDA) that fails to account for their previous appropriations. As such, the listed MDAs should be excluded from the 2025 budget until they appear before this constitutional committee.”
The decision was prompted by the consistent non-compliance of these MDAs despite multiple summons issued by the Committee to scrutinize their financial operations.
Prominent institutions among those recommended for delisting include hospitals, universities, and federal development agencies. Some of the affected MDAs are:
- Federal Medical Centre, Bida
- Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
- Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria
- Nigeria Police Force: Department of Information and Communication Technology
- Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
- Federal College of Education, Yola
- Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa State
- Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi
- Federal University of Technology, Minna
- Cross River Basin Development Authority
- Nigeria Office for Trade Negotiation
- National Examination Council (NECO)
- Nigeria Police Academy, Wudil
- Presidential Amnesty Programme
- Galaxy Backbone
- Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals
Others include the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority, National Space Research and Development Agency, Federal Cooperative College (Ibadan), Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, and Federal School of Survey, Oyo State.
The Committee unanimously recommended that the MDAs in question be delisted from the 2025 budget until they comply with the request for documentation and provide necessary financial clarifications.
Nigeria Congratulates Qatar on National Day
Reps Recommends Delisting NECO, UI, Labour Ministry, 21 Others From 2025 Budget
Reps Call for Revival of NAPAC to Boost Transparency, Accountability
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