FCT News
FCT boosts fish production with distribution of Inputs to 2000 Fish Farmers
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration has distributed assorted fishery inputs to about 2,000 individuals and fishery cooperative groups from the six area councils of the Territory.
Federal Capital Territory Minister of State, Dr. Rama Tijjani Aliyu said the distribution of the assorted inputs was to realize the objective of boosting fish production as a way to achieve sustainable food and nutrition security.
A statement issued on Saturday by the special Adviser to the minister Austine Elemue indicated that the inputs distributed included fish tanks, feeds, smoking kilns, fishing nets, hooks and liners, cold storage facilities, fish drugs and fingerlings.
The statement quoted the minister to have acknowledged fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector as one of the fastest growing agricultural ventures in Nigeria contributing significantly in terms of employment generation, poverty alleviation, foreign exchange earnings and as a source of raw materials for the animal feeds industry.
The minister pointed out that records has shown an increasing global demand for fish which is largely due to its nutritional and health benefits. “We see the fish sector as having the capacity to accommodate and empower the teeming population of young educated youths who are trooping into the FCT for white collar jobs which are not readily available”.
According to her, despite being faced with the challenges of a rapidly growing population, the FCT Administration has nonetheless been working hard to provide the enabling environment for all to operate and earn meaningful source of livelihood.
“It is against this backdrop that the FCT Administration sustained its support programmes which has resulted to the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
“It is heartwarming to note that the Aquaculture and Trades Centre, Kuka which was constructed and commissioned in 2022 is delivering on the set objectives.
“So far, the center has trained and empowered over 1000 youth and women whose products are sold at different markets within and outside the FCT”.
According to Aliyu, the Administration has embarked on the sensitization and training of fish farmers in the six area councils to promote production of other fish varieties other than the popular catfish as a strategy to further harness the opportunities in the sector.
In his remarks, the Mandate Secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Mallam Abubakar Ibrahim, noted that the nation’s capital is endowed with huge natural fisheries resources, as evidenced in its intricate network of rivers, streams, natural and man-made dams.
While assuring of the secretariat’s commitment to introducing new innovations in the fishery and aquaculture sector, he also stated that the secretariat has widened its scope of support from not only the provision of inputs, but also to building the capacities of fish farmers so that they can easily transit from household production to commercial production.
In his words, “The secretariat has been making efforts to promoting production in new and more commercially viable fish varieties such as Tilapia.
“In achieving this objective, the synergy with stakeholders such as the Catfish Producers Association of Nigeria (CATPAN) has been strengthened. We have in collaboration with association encouraged fish farmers to organise themselves into cooperatives so as to make it easy to access government support programmes.”
Ibrahim revealed that within the past one year, the secretariat has trained more than 2,600 fish farmers across the six area councils of the Territory.
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of inputs to fish farmers and goodwill messages from other critical stakeholders in the agricultural value chains.
FCT News
Timi Frank tells Tinubu to halt Wike’s demolition of FCT residents’ homes
Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Comrade Timi Frank, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately intervene and stop the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, from demolishing the homes of economically vulnerable residents in Abuja.
In a statement from Abuja, Frank accused Wike of using demolitions as a ploy for land grabbing, alleging that Wike allocates revoked plots to his associates and personally benefits from this practice.
Frank expressed concern that the minister’s actions damage the reputation of Tinubu’s administration, branding Wike’s demolitions as “ill-timed” and self-serving.
Frank further alleged that Wike has taken more aggressive action than any past FCT minister, reportedly revoking land to distribute it to close allies and influential figures.
He claimed Wike advised affected residents to pursue legal action, while allegedly having influence over the judiciary.
Additionally, Frank asserted that Wike is using land sales to fund political conflicts outside the FCT, including with Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State.
Frank warned Tinubu that failure to address Wike’s actions could damage the administration’s credibility and urged the President to act decisively by relieving Wike of his role.
He noted that Wike’s methods, similar to those used in Rivers State, are unwelcome in the FCT and called for swift action to prevent further harm to the government’s image and FCT residents.
FCT News
FCT Minister describes NYSC scheme as cornerstone to national integration
FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, has described the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme as a cornerstone of national integration and development since its inception in 1973.
Mahmoud spoke during the NYSC pre-mobilization workshop held in the nation’s capital, Abuja, stressing that the programme was designed to foster unity among young Nigerians.
Special Advisa on Media the Minister, Austine Elemue in a statement on Tuesday quoted the minister, who was the Chief Host of the event to have noted that the theme of the workshop, “Strengthening the NYSC mobilization process for effective service delivery” resonates deeply with the aspirations of the national vision.
Mahmoud charged stakeholders to play critical role in shaping the experiences of young Nigerian graduates, ensuring that they are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset to contribute positively to the society.
“We are in a dynamic world where the needs of our communities are evolving rapidly.
“Therefore, our prospective corps members must be prepared to meet these challenges with creativity, resilience, and spirit of innovation.
“This workshop is an opportunity to share best practices, explore new ideas, and collaborate on strategies that will enhance the effectiveness of the NYSC programme”.
The minister used the occasion to commend the leadership of the NYSC for their unwavering commitment to improving the quality of service rendered by corps members.
“Your dedication to training and preparing our youth for the responsibilities they will undertake is commendable. By investing in their development, we are investing in the future of Nigeria,” she stressed.
While welcoming participants to the occasion, the NYSC Director General, Brig Gen. Yusha’u Ahmed, noted that over the years, the NYSC programme has been the vanguard of nation building, fostering unity among the different nationalities as well as playing critical role in national development.
According to him, “the imprints of the scheme is all over the landscape of our nation from the mega cities to the very rural communities of Nigeria.”
Ahmed emphasised that the mobilization process is a very critical component of the service year that deserved all seriousness, adding that the place of effective service delivery in a successful mobilization process cannot be overemphasized.
The Director General, pledged that the management remains committed in ensuring that the right things are done at all times from the beginning to the end of the mobilization process
.
FCT News
Police Uncover Car Theft Ring in Abuja
***Apprehend Key Suspect in Stolen vehicle Syndicate
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has successfully cracked down on a notorious car theft syndicate involved in receiving, rebranding, and reselling stolen vehicles.
The operation culminated in the arrest of a primary suspect following a meticulously coordinated investigation that traced a stolen Honda Accord to a mechanic’s workshop in Plateau State.
In a statement released on Sunday, the FCT Police Command shared that the case originated on October 10, 2024, when Mr. Philemon Olaoluwa reported the theft of his 2006 Honda Accord (registration number RBC 40 NW) to the Central Police Divisional Headquarters. Olaoluwa’s car had developed mechanical issues, and a friend recommended a mechanic from Apo Mechanic Village in Abuja, identified as Abdulhamid Saidu, who is now on the run.
Olaoluwa, unaware of the mechanic’s intentions, entrusted his vehicle and its documents to Saidu for repairs. Instead of repairing the car, Saidu vanished with it, prompting an extensive investigation.
Using advanced tracking technology, police operatives traced the vehicle to Rayfield in Jos, Plateau State, where it was found in the possession of Steven Abang. Known for his role in receiving, rebranding, and distributing stolen vehicles, Abang was taken into custody. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to acquiring the Honda Accord from Saidu, confirming his role as a receiver for stolen cars.
Upon searching Abang’s workshop, authorities discovered two additional vehicles — a Hyundai Accent and a Peugeot 208 — suspected to be stolen, as they were in the process of being rebranded. Abang admitted to having a network of ready buyers and disclosed that over the past four years, he had rebranded and sold more than 16 stolen vehicles.
The suspect remains in police custody, with charges expected to follow as the investigation unfolds.
This bust is part of a broader effort by law enforcement agencies across the country to dismantle car theft syndicates. Earlier this year, in June, the Lagos State Police Command arrested another suspect, Kazeem Ahmed, who specialized in using fabricated master keys to steal vehicles, later selling them to auto parts dealers in Lagos.
The FCT Police Command has assured residents of its ongoing commitment to eliminating vehicle theft and safeguarding property across the region.
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