News

I’ve saved N110bn in three months – Wike

Published

11 months ago

November 21, 2023

admin

Nyesom Wike, minister of the Federal Capital Territory FCT, on Tuesday vowed to rid the nation’s capital of syndicates who special in offering fake Certificates of Occupancy C of Os to unsuspecting members of the public, recalling how as Governor of Rivers States three fake C of Os were issued on his plot after paying N57 million.

This was disclosed that he has been able to save over N110 billion since he assumed office in August this year.

The minister disclosed at a meeting with estate developers in Abuja, and also expressed displeasure at the rate at which fake Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) were given, adding that henceforth, N5 million would be paid to acquire a C of O.

According to him, gone were the days when unsuspecting members of the public would be allocated one plot of land with different fake C of Os.

He added that he would seek presidential approval to add the National Identification Number NIN to the requirements for obtaining a C of O.

READ Troops neutralise many bandits in coordinated operations in Zamfara, Katsina forests

The Minister gave the example of when as governor of Rivers State, he was given a fake C of O by some officials of the FCTA.

He also faulted the payment of N8.9 billion as monthly salary for FCTA, and FCDA workers.

The developers unanimously on their part pleaded with the Minister to reduce the N5 million payment for C of O.

After an intensive appeal by the developers, the minister said the payment can be made within four months after which the C of O can be handed over to the applicant.

He said; “I can tell you authoritatively that I have saved not less than N110 billion for FCTA since I assumed office three months ago.

“Allocation of lands to three or more persons will no longer be allowed. C of O enables you to do business.

“When we make the right decision some people will be happy, some will not. We are ready for such a fight.

“When I was governor of Rivers State, we had three C of Os from FCT. Three. It turned out that all were fake. The C of O was coming from FCTA as a government, not as an individual. The plots are allocated or said to be allocated. We paid money. When I sent the Liaison Officer, the people from FCTA took him to the land and later, we discovered that it was fake land. Look at the money we had paid. The people disappeared. We could not find them again. Over N57 million that we paid. Why? Because that was how it was being done in the FCT. I have said that it will not work again.

READ Ayu a biased referee, helped Atiku defeat Wike at PDP Primary – Jang

“I will seek Mr President’s approval to link any C of O to the NIN number so that we know when this house falls, we will know the owner. So that when a crime is committed on a property, we will know the owner. This is what happens in developed countries. The rich men will kick against it but anything that will help our people must be done.

“Support this move. There must be sanity in our system. You will attest to the fact that there are changes. How will you feel that at the end of the day, you have a C of O but it is fake or that your land is allocated to another person”?

UPDATED: Fubara’s disregard for court judgment, invitation to anarchy- Wike

Published

1 hour ago

October 8, 2024

admin

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of defying a court judgment.

Wike made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He claimed that disregarding court rulings could lead to chaos and the breakdown of law and order.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

“You must obey the judgment of the court. You must not take the law into your own hands. The moment you don’t obey court judgment, you are inviting anarchy, you are inviting violence,” Wike said.

Wike also accused Fubara of publicly declaring on national television that he would not comply with a court judgment.

The minister also criticised his successor for his comments regarding the police providing security for the local government election in Rivers State.

READ Rivers crisis: Tinubu, Fubara, Odili in closed-door meeting

Wike also accused Fubara of being responsible for the recent violence that erupted in the state on Sunday.

The political tension in the state escalated on Monday, with fresh explosions and protests occurring in some local government secretariats.

The trouble was linked to a recent order by Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, which called for the unsealing of the secretariats of the 23 local governments and the immediate withdrawal of police officers who had been stationed there since July.

Despite the withdrawal of the Peoples Democratic Party, All Progressives Congress and police from the recent LG election, Fubara insisted that elections must take place.

The elections were held amid heightened tensions, resulting in the Action People’s Party winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions while the Action Alliance secured one seat.

Fubara swiftly swore in the 23 newly elected chairmen on Sunday.

However, upon taking office on Monday, some faced violent attacks, and some council secretariats were set ablaze by political opponents

READ CHANGE OF NAME: Facebook changes name to Meta

Following the violence, President Bola Tinubu ordered the police to secure the local government secretariats across the state.

News

Bobrisky: Probe report will be ready next week, says Tunji-Ojo

Published

2 hours ago

October 8, 2024

admin

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says the report of the investigation into allegations of bribery and misconduct within the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) involving Idris Okuneye, a popular crossdresser known as Bobrisky, will be ready next week.

Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja at the official launch of the report on the situation of children and young adults deprived of liberty in Nigeria.

The minister ordered a probe after VeryDarkMan, the controversial activist, shared a video online in which Bobrisky claimed she bribed some Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials with N15,000,000 to drop the money laundering charges against her.

The crossdresser was released from prison on August 5 after she was sentenced to six months on April 12 for abusing the naira.

But in the footage, Bobrisky claimed her “godfather” alongside Haliru Nababa, the controller general of the NCoS, ensured she served the six-month sentence in a private apartment and not the prison.

READ I’m going back to APC, says Rivers SDP gov candidate Magnus Abe

Although the crossdresser denied the allegations, the federal government suspended some NCoS officials over the controversy.

Tunji-Ojo acknowledged the presence of dedicated officers within the system but noted that the actions of a few would not be allowed to destroy the integrity of the institution.

“I don’t care about Bobrisky; it is about the system. There must be penalties for actions,” the minister said.

“The correctional centers cannot continue to be a point of disgrace to the Nigerian government.”

Tunji-Ojo also confirmed that an officer implicated in the scandal has been suspended and replaced.

‘SYSTEM WILL BE REFORMED’

The minister stressed the need for accountability in addressing the challenges within Nigeria’s correctional facilities and reiterated commitment to transforming the system.

Tunji-Ojo also assured that he would take responsibility for the future of the system.

“This responsibility will be a springboard for a better tomorrow,” he said.

“If I tell you that I am comfortable with what is happening at the correctional centres, I will be the greatest liar.”

READ Ayu a biased referee, helped Atiku defeat Wike at PDP Primary – Jang

“Take this to the bank: we will reform the Nigerian correctional center.”

Sharing statistics from a recent SWOT analysis conducted by his ministry, the minister said out of 84,000 inmates in Nigeria, approximately 10 percent were imprisoned for failing to pay fines as low as N10,000.

“Do we need 256 correctional centres? The answer is no,” he said.

Tunji-Ojo advocated for creative solutions and collaboration with the ministry of justice to explore non-custodial options for approximately 70 percent of inmates who are awaiting trial.

News

Fubara’s disregard for court judgment, invitation to anarchy- Wike

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2024

admin

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has accused Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, of defying a court judgment.

Wike made this statement during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday.

He claimed that disregarding court rulings could lead to chaos and the breakdown of law and order.

“I was a governor, I have always obeyed the rule of law. You heard the governor say that our state is turning into a state of anarchy where people do not obey the rule of law.

Wike also accused Fubara of publicly declaring on national television that he would not comply with a court judgment.

The minister also criticised his successor for his comments regarding the police providing security for the local government election in Rivers State.

READ Ayu a biased referee, helped Atiku defeat Wike at PDP Primary – Jang

Details later…