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Reps Concerned About Conversions of Residential Areas To Commercial

Published

4 months ago

January 17, 2025

By Gloria Ikibah

The Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Rep. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, has expressed worries about the habit of converting residential areas to commercial and semi-industrial areas.

The Committee Chairman, stated this when the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Dr Shuaib Belgore appeared before the Committee for the 2024 budget performance and 2025 proposal of the Ministry on Thursday, in Abuja.

According to Rep. Abiante, “beyond the Provision of housing there is need for popper town planning else it would lead to the creation of slums.

“We also have raised concerns relative to the conversions of residential areas to commercial and even semi-industrial areas. They come with their challenges. We anticipate that before approvals be granted for such conversions, impact assessment should be conducted.

“We are hoping and believing that even the new estates that have come up and the ones that are going to come up, that we should have assessments done so that we don’t create several problems in attempting to solve a problem.

“You all are aware of the very obvious example in Abuja, the Threadmore estate. It was designed to solve the challenges of accommodation. And as we speak, you know, it has a yearly problem of flooding.

“So in advancing other estates, we anticipate that the impact of such estates should be comprehensively assessed before they are carried out”.

He furthernoted a way to address the challenge in this regard was to provide an enabling act as it pertains to town planning.

“And then we have commenced the process to repeal and re-enact the act, especially the ones that concerns and relates with the profession of town planning.

“The bill has gone through first reading. We hope to push it beyond that point and have engagement with the Nigerians to advance the course,” he said.

Abiante also expressed displeasure with the pace of work on the Renewed Hope Estate.

In response, the Permanent Secretary explained that on regulation of buildings, the Ministry was discussing the necessity of establishing a national housing regulatory authority which is supposed to ensure standardization.

He however decried shortage of funds especially as the budget of the Ministry was slashed from N162 billion in 2024 to N83.7 billion in 2025.

“We do feel that this budget is grossly inadequate. Our 2024 budget was halved. If actually we look at it, from 162 to now 83 billion. Of this, of the 83 billion, you can see that the Urban and Regional Development Department is allocated N4.6 billion for different projects as itemized in this bigger document which is before you,” he said.

He however said the Ministry wants to upgrade its ‘Slum upgrading and Urban Renewal Programmes’ across the 36 states, and appealed to membrs of the Committee for support to get more funds to enable the Ministry meet up its responsibilities.

Related Topics:Abuja chairman Nigerians Reps States

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BUNKERING: Army, Tantita Security Arrest Truck Laden with Illegally Extracted Crude Oil in Delta

Published

35 minutes ago

May 14, 2025

ADMIN

A joint team comprising officers of the 181 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Oleh, and personnel from Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. has arrested a vacuum truck involved in illegal crude oil extraction at Well 3, Olomoro, in Isoko South Local Government Area of Delta State.

According to reports, the truck, which previously belonged to Engr. Daniel Omoyibo, also known as Damotech, was gifted to the driver, Mr. Matthew Ojomikre, who is currently being detained at the Forward Operating Base (FOB), 181 Battalion, Oleh.

Upon interrogation, the driver confessed that his company had been contracted by Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. to evacuate sludge from Well 3, Olomoro. However, he was unable to provide any formal approvals or documentation authorizing the activity, as was previously the norm.

Until recently, Heritage Energy Operational Services Ltd. had consistently provided crude and condensate trucking permits to officers of the Nigerian Army and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd. for proper monitoring from the loading point to the discharge location.

Officers of Tantita Security Services, in collaboration with a team from Heritage and the Nigerian Army, have collected samples from the vacuum truck for laboratory testing and analysis.

The preliminary confessional statement from the driver indicates that he illegally collected crude oil from Well 3 under the pretense of evacuating sludge from the wellheads.

Authorities have reported that the same truck has previously been involved in unauthorized crude oil evacuations within the Isoko axis.

The driver, the truck, and its contents remain in custody at the 181 Battalion Base in Oleh for further interrogation and possible prosecution.

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AMMC Partners NUJ-FCT On Infrastructural Development

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has expressed commitment to partner the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council on infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

AMMC Coordinator, Chief Felix Amechi Obuah gave the assurance when he received the Chairman of NUJ FCT Council, Comrade Grace Ike, and her executive team on a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Abuja.

Chief Obuah who welcomed members of the NUJ FCT, and commended the media plays a very vital role in the growth and development of any organisation.

He also used the occasion to congratulate the first female chairperson of the union after forty one years of its existence and prays for a successful tenure

Obuah expressed his readiness to collaborate with the council having recognised the vital role the media plays in informing the public on activities of AMMC which is helping the agency to ensure full compliance with the FCT master plan.

He said: “I welcome you and your team to our corporate office today. I have listened to you and I just have to say that, I am indeed very happy to partner with the NUJ FCT. We need to partner together to be able to achieve our core and corporate mandate – and in partnering together, we support each other and grow together and educate the public, so as to attain infrastructural development in the FCT in line with the master plan of the nation’s capital city”.

He also expressed willingness to support the NUJ FCT Council, but explained that current financial constraints make it difficult to make any immediate commitment but hopes to accommodate the union’s needs in the next budget.

“Even though I am a bit handicapped to make any promises because of budgetary constraints, but in the subsequent budget, I assure you that whatever we can do to help your dream come true for NUJ and your members, the agency will do everything humanly possible to contribute their quota to the growth of the union in line with the FCT master plan

“You can write my office on what you feel we can do officially. I will also present it in the next budget and I will go to my superior, the Honourable Minister of FCT, and say these people visited me and came with a very solid, verified programme—how do we assist? Because whatever we are doing, with the media, the public would not know and be able to key into it”, he added.

Earlier, Chairperson of the NUJ FCT Ms Ike, thanked Chief Obuah for receiving her team and commended the AMMC Coordinator for the effective management and coordination of municipal services as well as infrastructural development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She used the occasion to commend his support for workers welfare which earned him the employee’s advocate award of the year award

She said “ I must commend your leadership efforts in ensuring proper maintenance and sustainable management of the city’s infrastructure, utilities, and services”

She highlighted major infrastructural challenges currently facing the NUJ FCT Council and requested support to improve their facilities such as the completion of the Pentagon building, and a hall that cannot house more than 2, 000 journalists during her monthly congress.

She also made a strong case for the NUJ FCT “Journalists’ Village”, which would offer journalists affordable housing and a suitable environment to carry out their work.

She said, “On behalf of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Federal Capital Territory Council, I express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering commitment to the welfare of workers, including media professionals. Your kind gestures and support have not gone unnoticed and have greatly encouraged us in our mission.

“Today, we come with a sincere appeal for your support towards the establishment of a Journalists’ Village here in the FCT. This initiative is vital for providing affordable housing, professional facilities, and a conducive environment that will enhance the welfare and productivity of journalists who play a critical role in our democracy.

“We believe that with the AMMC’s collaboration, we can secure the necessary resources, land, and policy backing to bring this vision to fruition. Such a village will not only improve the living standards of journalists but also serve as a hub for capacity building, relaxation, and professional growth.

“We appreciate your past efforts and hope to count on your continued partnership to make this project a reality, thereby restoring dignity and stability to journalists who tirelessly serve the public interest” she added.

News

UBEC plans new template for basic school fund disbursement

Published

2 hours ago

May 14, 2025

Admin

The Universal Basic Education Commission on Tuesday announced plans to introduce a new template for disbursing counterpart funds under the Universal Basic Education programme.

This was disclosed by the Executive Secretary of the commission, Aisha Garba, during an interactive workshop with State Universal Basic Education Boards in Abuja.

Garba explained that the Federal Government, through UBEC, had recently restructured the delivery of basic education nationwide to align with four strategic pillars aimed at improving access and quality across states and the Federal Capital Territory.

She identified the pillars as expanding access to basic education, especially for rural and underserved populations; enhancing the quality of teaching and learning nationwide; strengthening accountability and the effective use of education financing; and optimising monitoring and institutional systems for quality service delivery.

She said, “The Hope Education Project of the present administration is a performance-for-reward initiative designed to support states that judiciously utilise resources in line with these four pillars.”

She added that the new approach had made it necessary to develop fresh templates that will guide SUBEBs in preparing work plans to access UBE intervention funds under the framework of the Hope Education Project.

Also speaking at the event, UBEC’s Deputy Executive Secretary for General Services, Tunde Ajibulu, described the workshop as timely and essential.

He stressed that the realignment of basic education delivery made the introduction of the new templates crucial.

“We expect you, as implementers of basic education in your respective states, to contribute positively and help develop workable templates,” Ajibulu said.