N10b Debt: FCTA seals off ministry of works, Merit House, FCC, others

In its drive to recoup N10 billion owed the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the Federal Capital Territory administration has sealed-off the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing located at Mabushi in Abuja.

The exercise, also affected the popular Murg plaza located opposite the UTC Market, at Area 10, Garki, Merit House, and the Federal Character Commission, among others.
The drive was carried out early Tuesday morning by heavily armed security personnel drawn from the police, Civil Defense Corps, among others.

The Director of the Abuja Environment Protection Board (AEPB), Engineer Osilama Braimah, who doubles as Chairman of the Special Debt Taskforce, in company of the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah, monitored the exercise.

Braimah indicated government Ministries, Departments and Agencies were owing to the tune of 10 billion Naira and this, he said, was not acceptable.

He, however, hinted that some ministries were making frantic efforts to pay, while others are reluctant

According to him, “The board got court orders to seal the premises.”

He said the exercise, which has just begun, will cover all public and private offices owing the board.

A senior magistrate court sitting in Wuse II, Abuja, had served the defendants with summons to appear before the court on March 30th, 2022, but they failed to honour the court.

“The debtors include: Federal Ministry of Works — N9,998,625.00; Federal Ministry of Defence –N17,220,775.00; Federal Character Commission—N10,128,906.25; Civil service Commission–2,451,649.50; and Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission—21,683,750.00.

“Others are Federal Ministry of Health —N14,204,843.75; Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment—N19,222,287.50; Federal Ministry of Education Hqtrs –N25,838,275 ; and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Wuse–N16,583,031.25”, he stressed.