NEWS
FCT kick-starts Dry Season Market Sensitisation
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
In order to prevent dry season fire outbreaks in Abuja markets, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, on Thursday commenced the 2024/2025 dry season market sensitisation in Abuja.The Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Felix Obuah, who represented the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike while flagging off the sensitisation in Wuse Market Abuja.
He said the flag shows the administration’s commitment to safeguard lives, properties, and livelihoods in Abuja Markets and in FCT generally. According to the AMMC boss, “It is with great honor and a profound sense of responsibility that I stand before you today, on behalf of the Honorable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike to officially flag-off the 2024/2025 Dry Season Market Sensitization Campaign. This initiative is more than just an event-it is a testament to our collective commitment to safeguarding lives, properties, and livelihoods in Abuja Markets and in FCT generally.He emphasised the importance of Market Sensitization, which include, “Markets are vibrant hubs of economic activity, central to our communities’ development and well-being. However, they are also uniquely vulnerable to fire outbreaks, particularly during the dry season. This period brings heightened risks due to factors such as increased temperatures, the use of flammable materials, and electrical overloads.”The consequences of fire disasters in markets are far-reaching, Loss of livelihoods: Traders lose not only goods but also years of investment and hard work.”Economic impact: Fire outbreaks disrupt commerce, affecting the local economy and the larger FCT economy.”Emotional and physical toll: Victims and their families often suffer emotional trauma and, in some cases, physical injuries or fatalities”.He emphasised that the yearly sensitization campaign is vital in mitigating the risks. Through proactive awareness, empowering traders and stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to prevent fire disasters and respond effectively when emergencies occur.He therefore urged the traders to “adopt preventive measures: Ensure your shops are equipped with fire extinguishers, avoid overloading electrical connections, and maintain clear pathways for emergency exits.”Stay vigilant: Report any suspicious activities or fire hazards promptly. Participate actively: Take the information shared during this campaign seriously and implement the safety tips provided.”Remember, fire safety is not just the responsibility of the government or market management. It requires the active participation of every trader and stakeholder”.Earlier in his welcome address, the acting Managing Director of Abuja Market Management limited, AMML, Onya Ojoji, said the campaign is apt and imperative because of a couple of incidents that were recorded in 2024.He said, “It is also very important to us at AMML due to a couple of incidents that attempted to blight our close to clean sheet in two decades of Market management – talking about the fire incidents that ravaged a block of this market on April 25, 2024 and another one on a section of the informal sector block at Kaura Market on August 16, 2024. These happened despite the high premium we place on preventive approach to fire safety management which cascades down to regular routine Fire Audit, sensitization/drill, stakeholders’ engagement with FCT Fire Service as well as in infrastructure upgrade and interventions from AICL, among others”.He noted, “We are braced more than ever to constantly review our Fire Safety Management Structure, assess the functionality of firefighting equipment and infrastructure and evaluate and enforce the isolation of common areas from commercial activities.”We are also taking more seriously, enforcement on proper storage or outright removal of fire- inducing materials in the markets, evaluation of egress and evacuation procedures as well as periodic survey of shop operators’ and Security guards’ knowledge of fire safety matters within the Market while embracing latest approaches and technology in fire prevention and control.”Today’s exercise is therefore part of measures at achieving the above objectives and on this note, I welcome you all once again and solicit your full participation so that together we can win this war against Fire disasters in FCT Markets”, he said.Among those who were present at the occasion included traders, Abuja Market Management Ltd (AMML), Directors (AMMC), officials of the FCT Fire Service, and representatives of other markets across the Federal Capital Territory.NEWS
Road Accident Claims Four Persons in Kogi
From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has confirmed the death of four persons in a motor accident which occurred on Sunday on Lokoja –Ajaokuta road in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Sector Commander of FRSC, Tenimu Etuku, who disclosed this to journalists in Lokoja on Monday, said seven other persons sustained varying degrees of injuries in the accident.
He said the accident which involved an 18-seater Toyota commercial bus occurred at Jimgbe Community on Ajaokuta – Lokoja road, Ajaokuta Local Government.
Etuku said the injured victims of the accident were rescued by FRSC personnel, who also took them to the Kogi State Specialist Hospital for treatment while corpses of the dead four persons were deposited at the St.
Morgue of the same hospital.Giving further details, Etuku said the 18-seater bus with Abuja registration number ABC 232 XA was heading to Abuja from Enugu before the sad incident.
The Sector Commander explained that the driver in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision with an oncoming truck rammed into a faulty stationary truck.
Etuku described the incident as very unfortunate, urging motorists to always be mindful of the motoring environment, which may be free but not safe.
“This is because there is a big difference between a free motoring environment and a safe motoring environment.
“Therefore, drivers must always be alert while driving on the highways,” he advised.
NEWS
Tinubu Happy with PAP’s Scholarship Scheme, Says Otuaro
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Dr. Dennis Otuaro, has said that President Bola Tinubu is happy with the significant achievements recorded by the agency in the Niger Delta in about two years.
He spoke at the flag-off of the fourth batch of the two-day “Leadership, Alternative Dispute Resolution, and Mediation Training for PAP Stakeholders” organised by the agency in collaboration with the Alumni Association of the National Defence College (AANDEC) at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, Abuja, on Monday.
The PAP had in July and August 2025 successfully conducted a similar capacity-building workshop for three batches of its stakeholders at the same military facility.
Otuaro, who said the President is delighted with the agency’s expanded scholarship scheme, inclusive stakeholder engagement, and peacebuilding process in the Niger Delta, urged stakeholders to maintain their position as key players in the region’s peace and development.
According to him, Tinubu is supportive of the programme because of his strong desire for the region to enjoy sustainable peace, stability and development.
He reiterated that the workshop is a vital component of the PAP’s peace process with all stakeholders as important partners in the peace initiative.
He stressed that the participants are not only partners for peace, but also the President’s peace ambassadors.
The PAP boss also applauded the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his strategic support to strengthen the programme’s initiatives and enable it to achieve the intended objectives for the people of the region.
While declaring the workshop open, Otuaro said, “His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu is very happy with what we have achieved so far in one year and nine months. As stakeholders, you should continue to be key players in the peace and development of the Niger Delta, which His Excellency has been very supportive of and desirous of.
“The objective behind this training is to ensure that all of us are partners in every peace effort in the Niger Delta. This initiative is also to give you a sense of belonging.
“When we organised this workshop in July and August this year, we assured stakeholders that more people would also participate in the training. We don’t want to do the PAP’s work alone. It is a process of putting our heads together to ensure that the region is peaceful and united. When we are united, Mr. President will do more for the region.
“We must also realise that peace starts from our communities; you all are leaders in your own rights. I know and acknowledge the support that the Office has received since we came on board. This leadership workshop is part of our peacebuilding process and is designed to ensure that peace is sustained in our region.
“Since we came on board, we have redirected the Programme towards our people and for the next generation. We have achieved a lot. This 2025-2026 academic session, we have sent 4,500 students, our future leaders, on scholarships to universities within Nigeria. We are doing this to invest in the future of our region.”
Otuaro said that his leadership would not be distracted by the smear campaign of some anti-Niger Delta elements who were angry that the programme had been taken to the people of the region, saying “nobody will hold the region to ransom.”
He further urged stakeholders not to be manipulated by political merchants, but to massively support President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid because of his clear agenda for the region.
Otuaro enjoined the stakeholders to participate actively in the workshop and utilise the lessons they would gain to strengthen peace and development in their communities and the Niger Delta in general.
He also expressed appreciation to the management of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre, resource persons, and the President of AANDEC, Rear Admiral Ndidi Agholor (retd.), for partnering with the PAP to deepen the peace process in the region.
CRIME
Enugu Police Bust Armed Robbery Operation, Arrest Suspect, Recover Arms
From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu
The Enugu State Police Command has sustained its onslaught against criminal activities during the Yuletide season with the arrest of a male armed robbery suspect and the recovery of an imitation firearm and ammunition.
The suspect, one Oshim Lambert Chimuanya (male, aged 28), was arrested on 13th December 2025 at about 11:30 p.
m. while attempting to rob members of the public around Agric Bank Bus Stop, Independence Layout, Enugu, following a prompt response to a distress call by operatives of the Command attached to the Independence Layout Police Division.In a statement sent by the Police public relations officer Enugu State command Daniel Ndukwe stated that Upon arrival at the scene, the operatives apprehended the suspect in the act of robbing an unsuspecting young man and recovered from him one revolver imitation (toy) pistol loaded with eight toy bullets.
The suspect is currently in custody and will be arraigned in court upon the conclusion of investigations.The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Bitrus Giwa, has charged operatives of the Command to sustain the momentum and continue to make Enugu State uninhabitable for unrepentant criminals during the festive season and beyond. He further enjoins citizens to continue to cooperate with the Police by providing timely and credible information that will aid crime prevention and detection.

