Category: General

Mr Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, says the FCT Administration has concluded plans to reintroduce monthly sanitation as part of strategies to keep the city clean.

Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday, after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

He said that he had already briefed President Bola Tinubu on the idea that at least two Saturdays in a month would be declared for sanitation from 7a.m. to 10 a.m.

He explained that the move would enable companies supporting the FCT with logistics to go to market, and other public places to evacuate refuse.

According to him, for Abuja to be clean, everybody has to cooperate.

“We must all make sacrifices. There is nothing like we are going to suffer. You also contribute to refuse.

“So, if you spare three hours on a Saturday at home, to clear the refuse and bring them out for us to evacuate and dispose, then that is the little way you can help.

“We are appealing to you (residents) to cooperate with us so we can achieve our goals.”

On streetlights, the minister said that there were some improvements: “We are not there yet, but I can assure you that everywhere in Abuja will be lit up.”

For those who have distorted the Abuja Master Plan, Wike said that the issue would soon be addressed.

He added that the Federal Capital Territory Administration was working out which areas the parks and the greens were supposed to be and those that were built on.

He also said that the government would look into those who refused to develop their plots for many years.

Wike said that the President Tinubu-led administration would not continue to allow undeveloped land across the city where criminals were taking refuge.

“How can you have empty land in the city and allow people to build shanties on them because you did not develop them.

“Some properties were built for 20 years but not completed. Go and see what is happening there, criminals have taken over the place and as a serious government, we will not allow that.

“We want to make Abuja a safe environment, but we can’t do it alone; we require the support of every stakeholder,” the minister said.

He also said that attention would be given to satellite towns beginning with a visit to the areas to determine the needs and decide on what can be done to improve their facilities and infrastructure.

He pointed out that there was no funding to intervene in all the satellite towns at the same time but one at a time subject to the availability of funds.

“It is unfortunate that contracts were awarded in virtually all the satellite towns but where is the funding? The finding is not there,” Wike said.

He said that what was approved for FCT in the 2022 national budget was N15 billion for “not less than a trillion naira worth of contracts”, stressing the need for the ministry to prioritise its spending.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Mr Nyesom Wike, says the FCTA is considering transportation and food supplies support with the N5 billion palliative received from the Federal Government.

Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

The Federal Government had on Aug. 17 announced a N5 billion palliative for each state of the federation, including the FCT, to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Some of the state governments have confirmed receiving N2 billion from the amount, while awaiting the N3 billion balance.

However, the minister said that the FCT was not included in the N5 billion palliative until he wrote a memo informing President Bola Tinubu of the development.

He added that Tinubu has approved the amount, adding that other states have received N2 billion already, expressing confidence that the FCT will equally receive soon.

“But we are yet to decide on what to do with the N2 billion palliative. We have not chosen any area yet.

“Are we going to concentrate on food, but we are thinking that the issue of transportation is very very important, particularly the urban mass transit.

“People would like to have easy transportation to go to where they want to go, and if you give them rice and they eat the rice today, what about transportation tomorrow?

“So, we have not come up with what actually we are going to use the money for, but I believe food support and transportation is very key,” he said.

The minister added that efforts were ongoing to bring back urban mass transportation to be able to reduce the suffering of the masses in terms of transportation.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike said on Monday, that the ministry will deliver the Millennium Tower project in the next two years.

Wike stated this in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Millennium Tower at Central Area, Abuja, is a multifunctional edifice with facilities for cultural exposition, tourism, socialisation, recreation, hospitality, and commercial activities.

The project is being handled by Salini Construction Nigeria Limited but was abandoned due to lack of funds.

He said that the tower was a very important project that would change the landscape of Abuja city.

“It is a very very ambitious project, but again if we are talking of Abuja being one of the best cities in the world, then we must have such a facility.

“I can tell you it is not easy to go into that project, but we have decided that whatever it takes, it is going to be one of the legacy projects for President Bola Tinubu.

“In fact, we are looking at the next two years, if the way we are going to structure our payment is agreeable with the contractor,” Wike said.

NAN reports that the project, conceived in 2005 had reached 40 per cent completion, and is expected to, upon completion, self-finance itself from revenues generated from all the commercial activities in the complex.

The scope of the project comprises a cultural centre with four museums, an expansive arcade consisting of 40,000m2 platform for hosting national and other events.

It also consists of a five-star hotel with 55 luxury rooms and nine suites for about 130 persons, offices, passive and active recreational facilities, 1200 capacity auditorium, conference rooms,

Others are exhibition halls, shops, a sport centre with an indoor pool, gyms, fitness, squash courts and a two-level 1,200 capacity basement car park.

The millennium tower itself is a 170-meter-tall structure accommodating a revolving panoramic restaurant for more than 130 diners.

The minister added that a careful analysis of all the awarded contracts with the contractors and his team have revealed that most of the projects were abandoned for lack of funds.

“The Minister of State, myself, the permanent secretary, and directors have concluded that it is not possible to carry on with the entire projects in the FCT.

“Therefore, we agreed to take them in order of priority. We have tried to work out most of the projects being handled by Julius Berger and agreed to see that these projects are fully completed,” he said.

Wike added that the Villa Roundabout being handled by China Geo-engineering Corporation (CGC) Nigeria Limited, would be completed in the next six to eight months.

He equally said that the ministry would ensure the completion of the projects being handled by Cetraco Nigeria Ltd, and also put a facelift on Garki, Wuse and part of Maitama in the next one week.

He said that the contractors would be mobilised immediately, adding that Asokoro would equally have a facelift in no distant time.

On the Abuja light rail rehabilitation project, the minister said that an agreement has been concluded with CCECC Nigeria Limited to give them their money in the next two days so they can go to work.

“We are also discussing with the company on the operation cost, because it will not be good to rehabilitate and then you cannot operate.

“We have told them that on Thursday, we are going to meet to talk about the operation cost,” he said.

Wike pointed out that part of the problems of the projects was because they were not being funded by the national budget.

He said that in view of the funding challenge, the ministry would pick some projects that could be completed within a specific period and then decide on what to do again in the following year. (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

A 39-year-old man allegedly stole seven goats worth N.dollars 7 000 from his employer at Okandombo village in the Oshikoto Region.

According to a crime report issued by Namibian Police Force spokesperson for the Oshikoto Region, Inspector Ellen Nehale, the incident is suspected to have occurred sometime between December 2022 and April 2023.

Nehale said the suspect stole seven goats from his employer where he was employed as a domestic worker.

“The suspect started taking goats one by one from the complainant’s house where he was employed, to Onamavo village in Omuntele Constituency,” she said.

Nehale said the suspect was arrested at Okaluwa village in Omuntele, while trying to sell one goat around April 2023.

“Six goats were recovered and the investigation continues,” Nehale reported.

The suspect will appear before the magistrate’s court at Ondangwa on 29 August 2023.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Economics and Public Administration, Natangwe Ithete said it is important that skills are transferred to locals to empower them with knowledge and expertise.

Ithete made these remarks in Keetmanshoop on Monday in response to TransNamib grievances, which include that the company continues to acquire people from elsewhere but does not ensure that skills transfer takes place.

“It is illegal when skills are not transferred to the locals. When any foreigner or anybody that comes from elsewhere knows a certain job, that particular person must also be attached with an understudy and if that is happening here at TransNamib then the company is contravening the Affirmative Action Act,” said Ithete.

He added that the employees should understand that TransNamib has been under-funded in the past, adding: “There is not enough money pumped into TransNamib, we are aware of that and once Government pumps more money, then things will be better, but with the small resources that we have let us all treat one another in a human manner.”

Byron Engelbrecht who has been a train driver for nearly 19 years, said: “I am worried about the security of my job, I come to work once a week or so to drive that one locomotive, the other locomotives are driven by drivers from South Africa, we want those people to take us under their wings and teach us how to operate the locomotives, but that does not happen.”

TransNamib Keetmanshoop alternate shop steward, Johannes Hipulenga said TransNamib should address the issue of employees working on two different paying systems, noting that it sends out a picture that the employees are working for two different companies.

“Some of us are paid according to the performance management system while others are under the 13th cheque system. We also do not have any protective gear,” he stressed.

||Kharas Governor, Aletha Frederick said it is important that TransNamib addresses employees’ grievances while it is in the process of improving its infrastructure.

“Even if we bring the new infrastructure, new and fast technologies but the people that have to utilise the infrastructure which are the employees are not happy, then it’s a waste of resources, time and energy,” she added.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

The Marketing, Advertising and Communication (MAC) Charter Council will host a Women’s Day event, an inspiring and empowering gathering dedicated to celebrating the achievements and contributions of women in the MAC Sector. The event is set to take place on 01 September 2023 at Inanda Polo Club in Sandton, Johannesburg under the theme, “Driving transformation and empowerment: Advancing women in the MAC sector”.

In the continuous spirit of the Women’s Month celebration, the event will feature insightful panel discussions and keynote speakers such as the Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nomasonto Motaung and MAC B-BBEE Charter Council members. Attendees will be leaders and advocates of transformation and gender equity in the MAC sector such as the Commission for Gender Equality and the B-BBEE Commission as well as Journalism and Integrated Marketing and Communications students from Tshwane University of Technology representing the youth sector.

The MAC Charter Council believes that through strategic initiatives and collaborative efforts, it can stimulate valuable insight on discussions on women’s leadership within the sector. The MAC Charter Council is committed to positive change and fostering an environment that promotes gender equality, diversity and leadership within the MAC sector.

The panel discussants will also cover procurement challenges facing MAC women-owned business in the sector and possible interventions on broadening economic opportunities which are pivotal to the implementation of the MAC Charter.

Notes for the editor:

The MAC Charter Council was launched on 25 March 2022 and it is tasked with monitoring transformation of the sector by facilitating the implementation of the B-BBEE sector code. It has representatives from government, the regulators, MAC sector, women, and youth and organised labour, who are tasked to measure transformation progress made by the MAC sector.

The appointment of the MAC Charter Council is directed towards ensuring that transformation in the sector is promoted, monitored and reported on annually in line with the provisions of the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Act of 2003, as amended.

The MAC Charter Council is also responsible for providing guidance to the MAC Sector on matters relating to empowerment and B-BBEE which will be geared at achieving transformation including the implementation of preferential procurement specifically empowering 30% black women-owned businesses in the MAC sector.

Source: Government of South Africa