Wike promises robust security, infrastructure for FCT residents

Published

11 months ago

March 13, 2024

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has assured residents of Abuja of robust security and more infrastructure.

Wike gave the assurance while briefing newsmen after a closed-door session with senators at the National Assembly, in Abuja on Wednesday.

Gatekeeper reports that the Senate had invited the minister and the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, to brief the lawmakers on modalities put in place to secure the territory.

The minister, who said the interaction was fruitful, added that the senators had agreed that security has significantly improved in the FCT.

“I am glad they are all happy with what we have done, what we are going to be doing and they provided some suggestions on ways forward.

“What is important is what the FCT should expect from now. I will say improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned into a construction site.

“You can also see what has happened in the FCTA. Now we have our own Civil Service Commission; now we have our own Permanent Secretaries which has never been.

“There are new things in the FCT, and the residents are happy,” Wike said.

According to him, there is no society without one form of crime or the other, adding that what was critical was being able to limit or reduce the level of insecurity.

The minister, on the spate of kidnappings, said: “Most of the kidnapping stories you hear, some of them are stage-managed by people. There are some internal arrangements.

“Take for example, you have a housekeeper or a driver in the house who will plot to kidnap the child of their boss. In such a case, what do you expect us to do?

“What we can do is to ensure that the person that is kidnapped is released.”

Wike further stated that the two most wanted kidnappers terrorising residents of the FCT had been arrested, adding that the development had reduced the level of kidnapping in Abuja.

“We are not saying we have gotten to where we want to be but we are doing a lot and people should acknowledge that what used to be is not what we are seeing now.

“We will continue to do our best to ensure that we provide the best to our people.

“We cannot give you the assurance that there will be no form of criminality, nobody can do that, as long as we are humans,” the minister said

Electricity, telecom tariffs increase unconscionable, should be stopped – Shehu Sani

Published

15 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

Former lawmaker, Senator Shehu Sani, has described the planned increase in electricity and telecom tariffs as unconscionable.

The statement comes after the telecoms regulator last week approved the increase in mobile tariffs.

The federal government also recently said that plans were ongoing to increase electricity tariffs “over the next few months.”

However, Sani, who said the government’s plan is unreasonable, insisted that it should be halted.

The ex-lawmaker also expressed his support for the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over the scheduled protest against the government’s proposal, calling it a welcome development.

“The planned increase in electricity tariffs in the midst of poor power supply and the proposal to increase telecom tariffs is unconscionable and should be halted. The scheduled labour union protest is a welcome development,” he posted on X.

News

Trump to cut off funding to South Africa, gives reason

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

The United States President, Donald Trump, has revealed his decision to cut off all future funding to South Africa, citing poor treatment of “certain classes of people.”

Trump made this known on Sunday in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.

According to Trump, South Africa was seizing land and mistreating some citizens without concern for the violations of their rights.

“South Africa is confiscating land and treating certain classes of people VERY BADLY.

“I will be cutting off all future funding to South Africa until a full investigation of this situation has been completed!” Trump wrote.

Reports suggest that the American leader may be defending White South Africans, some of whom have alleged that the South African policy is unfair to them.

News

Telecoms tariff hike: Nigerian govt in last-minute move to avert NLC shutdown

Published

16 hours ago

February 3, 2025

Seyi Babalola

There are indications that the federal government will on Monday meet with the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, to stop the planned Tuesday nationwide protest against the 50 percent telecommunications tariff hike.

A reliable source familiar with the matter, who preferred anonymity, disclosed this on Monday morning, noting that the meeting between the NLC leadership and the federal government is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Monday.

The source said the meeting was a “dialogue on matters of national interest as it affects Nigerian workers.”

According to the source, it will be an inter-ministerial meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), purposely to resolve issues raised by the NLC concerning the federal government’s approved upward adjustment to telecommunications tariffs, which the NLC, its allies, and others are vehemently opposing.

This comes as the NLC is already mobilizing workers for a mass protest tomorrow (February 4) against the 50 percent tariff hike approval.

On Thursday last week, in a letter to affiliate unions and state councils, NLC General Secretary Emma Ugboaja urged them to mobilize other Nigerians to send a serious message to the government.

The planned protest follows the 50 percent telecom tariff approval by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) on January 20, 2025.

The approval had sparked widespread rejection among telecom subscribers.