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FCT boosts fish production with distribution of Inputs to 2000 Fish Farmers

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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.

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Harmonisation of FCT Revenue will end Multiple Taxation, FCT-IRS Boss declares

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Mr. Michael Ango

The Acting Executive Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), Mr. Michael Ango, has declared that the ongoing harmonisation of revenue collection and administration will effectively address the issue of multiple taxation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Appearing on Channels Television’s Dateline Abuja, Ango revealed that the FCT-IRS is working closely with government agencies and the six area councils to ensure the seamless implementation of the initiative.
He commended FCT Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike for his directive and support in streamlining the tax system to make it more efficient for taxpayers while boosting revenue.

“The minister has tasked us to ensure the issue of multiple taxes is resolved swiftly. To achieve this, we aligned with the Federal Government’s Tax Reform Committee, where I served before my appointment. The FCT has now been adopted as a pilot for tax harmonisation, and the process is already underway,” Ango stated.

He explained that under the new system, taxpayers will no longer need to interact with multiple agencies. Taxes and levies for bodies such as AGIS, Development Control, Water Board, Abuja Environmental Protection Agency, and area councils can now be paid through FCT-IRS, which will handle collection and remittance.

“For instance, if you have 30 houses, you don’t need three agents to manage your rent collection. With this harmonisation, all taxes and levies will be centrally collected and properly distributed to the relevant agencies,” he explained.

Ango also emphasized the importance of voluntary compliance, urging taxpayers to view paying taxes as a civic duty. He highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects and services across the FCT as evidence of the effective use of tax revenues, encouraging residents to support development by fulfilling their tax obligations.

The harmonisation initiative is expected to streamline tax processes, eliminate redundancies, and provide a more transparent and efficient system for revenue collection in the FCT.

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Timi Frank tells Tinubu to halt Wike’s demolition of FCT residents’ homes

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Bola Tinubu

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.

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FCT Minister describes NYSC scheme as cornerstone to national integration

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Mariya Mahmoud

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 

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