The Federal Capital Territory Administration has began a post-development audit of buildings in the FCT.

Chief Felix Obuah, Coordinato of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC),made this known while inaugurating a Ministerial Committee on Post-Development Audit of Buildings in the FCT.

Obuah explained while inaugurating the committee in Abuja on Thursday that the Abuja Master Plan, developed in 1979 provides the roadmap for the orderly development of the nation’s capital city, Abuja.

According to him, the overarching goal is to build one of the most prestigious and modernist cities in the world.

He pointed out that over the years, the FCTA has been able to develop many phases of the city, districts and neighbourhoods.

“We have equally been able to develop critical infrastructures that provide circulatory road systems, metro lines and stations, sewer lines and drainages, among others.

“Today the city can boast of many iconic landmark developments such as the National Mosque, the National Christian Center, the National Assembly Complex, and the Supreme Court Complex.

“Others are the World Trade Centre, Abuja – the tallest building in the city with 22 floors, the CBN Complex, and many other iconic buildings of international repute and reference points for tourists.

“All these attests to the fact that our city has come to stay; our city has developed substantially from Phase 1 through Phase 3 while the other phases are equally being developed.

“Nonetheless, it becomes imperative too, that at this juncture of the city’s development, we take a cursory look at our journey in terms of what we have so far developed, the trend and chart a more robust course for the city’s development,” he said.

He said that it was on these grounds that the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike approved the constitution of the committee to audit the post- development of the city’s buildings.

He said that the committee, which would be chaired by Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Department of Development Control, would be expected to provide accurate records of all development permits issued.

This, he said, would reduce the cases of unapproved development, illegal conversion of land use, and land grabbing.

He added that the committee would also provide data on the consumption of the city’s utilities and services such as water, electricity and connectivity to sewer lines.

This, according to him, will expose illegal connections to the facilities which is denying the government its due revenues.

“The committee will also provide data for accurate taxation and enhanced revenue generation by bringing all buildings and properties to the FCT Internal Revenue Tax Net.

“This will generate billions of Naira for the FCT Administration.

“Another task for the committee is the provision of data on research on city planning, development and management.

“Some of the buildings will be subjected to integrity tests to reduce cases of building collapse and hazards,” he said.

The coordinator said that members of the committee were drawn from all the departments in the FCTA and expected to conclude the tasks in six months.

He assured the committee members of the FCT Minister’s commitment to providing the necessary logistics to ensure the success of the exercise.

Speaking on behalf of the committee members, Galadima noted the need for the FCTA to document all activities, in terms of structures, services, and facilities.

He said that the committee would deliver on its mandate as expected. (NAN)

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) says the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased from N6,430.02 recorded in August to N6,699.63 in September 2024

This is contained in the Bureau’s “Cooking Gas Price Watch’’ for September 2024 released on Friday in Abuja.

The report said the September price represented a 4.

19 per cent increase, compared to what was obtained in August.

The NBS said the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased on a year-on-year basis by 59.

90 per cent from N4,189.96 in September 2023 to N6,699.63 in September 2024.

On state profile analysis, the report showed that Rivers recorded the highest average price at N7,285.

71, followed by Gombe at N7,271.88, and Borno at N7,089.72.

It said on the other hand, Kebbi recorded the lowest price at N5,950.00, followed by Kano and Benue at N6,133.33 and N6,143.52, respectively.

Analysis according to the six zones, showed that the North-East recorded the highest average retail price at N6,929.02 for 5kg cooking gas, followed by the South-East at N6,893.47.

“The North-West recorded the lowest average retail price at NN6,382.30,” the NBS said.

Also, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 4.89 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N15,552.56 in August 2024 to N16,313.43 in September.

The report said the average retail price for 12.5kg cooking gas rose by 76.41 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N9,247.40 recorded in September 2023 to N16,313.43 in September 2024.

State profile analysis showed that Rivers recorded the highest average retail price of N17,992.86 followed by Gombe at N17,942.86 and Zamfara at N17,475.00.

On the other hand, the report showed that the lowest average price for 12.5kg of cooking gas was recorded in Adamawa at N13,983.33, followed by Nassarawa and Bauchi with N14,938.50 and N15,000.00, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the South-East recorded the highest average retail price of N16,957.29, followed by the South-West at N16,665.45.

The report said the North-East recorded the lowest price at N15,770.75

Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price per litre of kerosene increased to N1,957.44, in September 2024 on a month-on-month basis, showing an increase of 5.97 per cent, compared to the N1,847.59 recorded in August 2024.

According to its National Kerosene Price Watch for September 2024 on a year-on-year basis, the average retail price per litre of kerosene rose by 50.68 per cent from N1,299.03 in September 2023.

On state profile analysis, the report showed that Abuja recorded the highest average price at N2,816.67 per litre of kerosene in August, followed by Kaduna at N2,437.50 and Akwa Ibom at N2,411.11.

“On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Bayelsa at N1,416.67, followed by Borno at N1,477.83 and Ekiti at N1,635.00.”

The NBS said the analysis further showed that the North Central recorded the highest average retail price per litre of Kerosene at N2,194.05, followed by the North-West at N2,092.92.

It said the South -East recorded the lowest average retail price per litre of kerosene at N1,718.89.

The report said the average retail price per gallon of Kerosene paid by consumers in September 2024 was N6,818.1, indicating an increase of 5.84 per cent increase from N6,441.94 recorded in August 2024.

“On a year-on-year basis, the average price per gallon of kerosene increased by 55.69 per cent from N4,379.31 in September 2023.

On state profile analysis, it showed that Katsina recorded the highest average retail price at N8,400 per gallon of kerosene, followed by Jigawa at N8,100.00 and Kebbi and Ogun at N8,000.00.

The report said Nasarawa recorded the lowest price at N5,250.00, followed by Adamawa and Niger at N5,281.25 and N5,291.67, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the North-West recorded the highest average price per gallon of Kerosene at N7,809.52, followed by the South-East at N7,700.19.

“North-Central recorded the lowest average price per gallon of Kerosene at N6,092.77,” the NBS said. (NAN)

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has accused Israel of barring medical specialists from entering Gaza to support clinics in the besieged enclave.

The WHO said since August, eight organisations and over 50 specialised personnel had been affected by Israel’s blockade.

The specialists were intended to provide crucial support for various medical services, as well as psychological support for healthcare workers at facilities including the European Gaza Hospital and the Nasser Hospital, the WHO said.

It was reported that among the organisations denied entry was the U.S.non-profit Palestinian American Medical Association, which supports Palestinians in need of medical care.

According to the WHO, this marks the first instance in which Israel has denied entire organisations the ability to participate in relief efforts for the Gaza Strip.

The WHO reported that in the past week, support teams conducted 25 per cent fewer operations than usual.

With only 17 out of 36 clinics and 43 medical practices remaining partially operational, the WHO emphasised the irreplaceable role of these external teams in providing essential medical services.

The WHO called for full access for emergency aid teams. (dpa/NAN)