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FCTA Demolishes Shanties, Kiosks, Beer Parlours in Wuse Parks

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 By Laide Akinboade 

In order to restore the master-plan of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), under the aegis of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) on monday 23rd September 2019 demolished shanties, beer parlours and other illegal structures in designated Parks and Gardens in Wuse Zone 6 area of Abuja.

Surich Park, and two other Parks in Wuse Zone 6, were affected by the demolition exercise for operating without approval or outside the land use.

People were seen running helter-skelter, salvaging what valuable properties they can lay their hands on before and during the demolition exercise.

Speaking during the exercise, Director, Development Control Department, Murktar Galadima, noted that it was a follow up to its ongoing sensitization campaign and enforcement of development standard,which the government will continue till it have achieve its goal.

Galadima said it’s going to be all over FCC, wherever there are designated parks, to ensure prevailing activity is in line with what was approved for the development of such parks.

He also cautioned operators of Parks and Recreational Spots not to do any transaction with any person that is not officially assigned to do that kind of transaction.

According to him: “This administration have been up and doing in regards to implementation of our standard.

“I’ll like to caution them (operators of parks) not to deal with anybody not officially assigned to do that responsibility, because sometimes some touts will claim that they’re working for the constituted authorities whereas it’s not true.

‘However if any of our staff is found wanting, we are going to apply the civil service rule.”

Similarly, Director, FCT Parks and Recreation Department, Arc. Ali Ukele, said the affected parks are not designed for recreational purposes but supposed to be developed for basic Park form, which entails they should have green and park benches, and we are not supposed to have buildings in them; so that’s the infractions observed.

He said: “There are some park operators that have approved allocations, but a lot of them don’t have, so if you don’t have and you are operating illigally this operation will also catch up with you.

“We have shanties where people are sleeping within the parks, and you can see all sort of things in the Parks, there are laundry services, and all sort of shanty related activities, so we can’t allow the trend to continue.

“Also, there are security threats, because people sleep in Parks, and we have complaints from residents, because people come from parks and then rob or disturb them in the night, then disappear into the parks, so this is the issue.”

Recall that FCTA about two weeks ago through AMMC going round parks and gardens had earlier identified parks and spots that do not conform with the Parks and Recreational Spots FCT standard, warning illegal operators to vacate as a matter of urgeny.

Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) comprises of a joint team drawn from relevant departments and agencies.

Entertainment/Arts/Culture

Ayra Starr, NBA Star for Giants of Africa Festival

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Nigerian pop sensation Ayra Starr and LA Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard have been added to the list of stars for the Giants of Africa Festival 2025, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from July 26 to August 2.

Giants of Africa Festival 2025 will bring together 320 young athletes from 20 African nations, and more than 20,000 spectators for a week of community, culture, basketball, education, and entertainment.

Ayra Starr will perform at the festival’s closing concert on August 2, joining a powerhouse line-up that includes Afrobeats stars Kizz Daniel and Timaya.

Additionally, local Rwandan artist Alyn Sano is now set to perform at the festival’s inaugural Threads of Africa Fashion Show on July 31.

Launching a week of unforgettable music moments, the festival’s exhilarating opening show on July 27 will feature performances by South African DJ phenomenon Uncle Waffles and MTV VMA-winning choreographer Sherrie Silver. Rwandan stars Kevin Kade, Ruti Joël, Boukuru and Chriss Easy will also perform on the opening weekend.

Two-time NBA champion Leonard has also been added to the Giants of Africa Festival 2025’s all-star line-up.

The LA Clippers forward will mentor youth campers, open a new basketball court in partnership with Giants of Africa at St Ignatius School, and host a special clinic for 50 local youth at Club Rafiki in one of Kigali’s most underserved districts.

Additional celebrity guests appearing throughout the week include Robin Roberts, Chiney Ogwumike, Didier Drogba, Michael Blackson, Boris Kodjoe, and more.

Giants of Africa is a non-profit organisation dedicated to empowering African youth through basketball, founded by basketball executive and former player Masai Ujiri.

Ujiri recently appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Good Morning America to discuss how the festival unites communities, spark potential, and drive transformative change across the continent.

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Copyright Commission, NCC Partner against Online Piracy

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The Nigerian Copyright Commission and the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has in Abuja reiterated its commitment to combat online piracy in the creative industry.

Director, Public Affair, Copyright Commission, Ijeoma Egbunike quoted the commission’s Director-General, Dr John Asein, as saying this during a courtesy visit to the Executive Vice-Chairman of NCC, Dr Aminu Maida.

According to Asein, the two commissions renewed their commitment to inter-agency collaboration to stem online piracy and protect the nation’s creative industry from further harm.

Asein commended the leadership of NCC in driving Nigeria’s digital transformation and connectivity agenda.

He noted the Communications commission’s pivotal role in fostering a safe online environment for creativity to flourish in Nigeria.

He, therefore, stressed the need for deeper collaboration between the two agencies in the fight against copyright piracy to enhance the growth of the creative economy.

“Online piracy poses a significant threat and undermines the efforts of authors and investors.

“We, therefore, want to secure our online environment and guarantee Nigeria’s digital future,” he said.

Asein emphasised that the collaboration would address both international and local concerns over rising online piracy.

“The collaboration will help develop and implement appropriate regulatory measures for Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other intermediaries.

“It will also ensure compliance with the Copyright Act, 2022; and support government policies on growing the creative economy,’’ he said.

He decried the disruptive impact of online piracy on the creative economy, adding that it undermined the efforts of content creators and investors.

Asein observed that the increasing role of ISPs and intermediaries in content dissemination made it imperative to clearly define their obligations under the Copyright Act 2022.

He highlighted the Draft Copyright Enforcement Guidelines for ISPs and Intermediaries, developed by the commission and sought the support of the NCC in operationalising the document.

“Curbing the online piracy again underscores the need for ISPs and other intermediaries to be more proactive and act responsibly as part of the proposed collaboration,” he said.

The copyright commission boss recommended the establishment of an inter-agency task force to tackle online copyright piracy.

He also proposed the creation of a multi-stakeholder forum comprising ISPs, regulators and enforcement agencies to protect copyrights.

He said the effort should also involve the development of a Code of Practice for ISPs with clear obligations and accountability frameworks.

Responding, Maida commended the Copyright Commission for its effort in clamping down on illegal sites and digital platforms to address online infringements.

Maida, represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholder Management, Rimini Makama, welcomed the call for deeper collaboration.

He emphasised on the need for urgent action to check online piracy in the creative industry.

Maida emphasised the need for an early signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations towards enhancing the collaboration.

He assured Asein that the NCC would review the draft Copyright Enforcement Guidelines for ISPs and Intermediaries for further action.

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Senegal Cancels Akon’s $6bn ‘Wakanda’ City Dream, Plans Cheaper Resort Instead

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Senegal has officially pulled the plug on Akon’s ambitious plan to build a $6 billion futuristic smart city, citing little progress and unresolved financial issues.

The project, which the American-Senegalese singer announced in 2020, was meant to turn the quiet village of Mbodiène into a high-tech “Wakanda-like” city.

Akon was given 136 acres of prime coastal land for the mega project, but five years later, there’s hardly anything to show.

Fed up with the delays, the Senegalese government has now taken back most of the land and replaced the plan with a more realistic $1.2 billion resort and tourism development.

“That project no longer exists,” Serigne Mamadou Mboup, head of SAPCO (Senegal’s coastal development agency), told local media, confirming the government’s final decision.

Last year, authorities gave Akon a final warning to begin construction or lose the land after reports emerged that payments to SAPCO had stopped.

With no real construction in sight and financial backers pulling back, the government has now handed the land over to SAPCO for a new state-led project that is expected to attract private investors and create thousands of jobs.

New Plan, New Focus

SAPCO plans to develop a tourism hub with an investment of 665 billion CFA francs (about $1.2 billion). About 600 billion CFA francs will come from private investors, while the government will provide the remaining 65 billion.

Although Akon has lost the bulk of the land, he will be allowed to retain just 8 hectares for a smaller, less ambitious development.

The government says the new project will still deliver economic opportunities for the area, with the first phase expected to create around 15,000 jobs.

The dream of a tech-powered Akon City may have faded, but officials say the people of Mbodiène will still benefit — just not in the way Akon originally promised.

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