Mr Lere Olayinka, spokesman to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike says those waiting for the minister’s political downfall will wait endlessly.Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, made the remarks while reacting to comments by former governor of Ebonyi Sam Egwu.

Egwu had in a statement on Tuesday, said that Wike was living on borrowed time, adding that the FCT minister’s influence would soon burn out. Reacting, the spokesman said in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, that those waiting for Wike’s downfall would wait forever.He argued that Wike’s political progress was based on personal hard work, dedication, commitment and most importantly, God’s grace.Olayinka also faulted Egwu’s challenge to Wike to make it possible for the suspended governor of Rivers, Siminalayi Fubara to return to office.He also described allegations that the FCT Minister now exercises the powers of President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly in Rivers as absurd.“This type of statement should not come from a former lawmaker,” he said.The Wike spokesman also dismissed the threats by a faction of the South East leaders of the PDP to withdraw their support for the party.According to him, it was illogical for people who could not deliver anything substantial in terms of votes to the PDP in the 2023 elections to be threatening to withdraw their support for the party.“The PDP constitution is clear as to who is the National Secretary of the party. His name is Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and anyone saying or doing anything contrary is only interested in the collapse of the party.” (NAN)

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has earmarked N418.9 billion for its Secretariat, Departments and Agencies (SDAs) in the N1.78 trillion 2025 proposed statutory budget.Out of the N418.9 billion, N351 billion was set aside for capital expenditure and new projects, said the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, during the budget defence at the National Assembly on Wednesday.

Wike explained that out of the amount, N79. 3 billion was allocated to the Transportation Secretariat with N53 billion set aside for capital expenditure and N27 billion proposed for recurrent expenditure.He added that out of the capital expenditure, N25 billion was for the Abuja Light Rail Project rolling stock and provisions for other phases of the project.He also said that N24 billion was earmarked for Bus Terminals development at Kugbo, Mabushi and Centre Business District.In the education sector, the minister said that N181 billion was allocated to the Education Secretariat, out of which N61 billion was for recurrent expenditure and N120 billion for capital expenditure.The minister said that the N120 billion include N8 billion set aside as Universal Basic Education Board counterpart fund.He further said that a total of N54 billion was earmarked for the Health Secretariat, out of which N20 billion was for capital projects.He added that N34 billion was for recurrent expenditure, of which N1.3 billion was earmarked for Drug Revolving g Fund.“The FCT Administration, through the budget, seeks to complete the upgrading and rehabilitation of FCT hospitals.“This will enhance the capacity of some of our hospitals through the procurement of modern hospital equipment and ambulances,” he said.In the environmental sector, the minister said that the FCT Administration has proposed N22.9 billion for the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).He said that out of the amount, N3.9 was for capital projects while N19 billion was for operations and recurrent expenditure.He explained that the AEPB was charged with the statutory function of ensuring and maintaining a clean and healthy environment for inhabitants of the FCT.He disclosed that the city cleaning contracts require more than N12.3 billion per annum, while the maintenance of the Wupa Sewage Treatment Plant requires about N2.7 billion annually.“We are also reviewing our mode of operations to initiate a more cost-efficient city cleaning strategy in the 2025 fiscal year,” he said.To improve water supply in the FCT, Wike said that a total of N37.4 billion was set aside to enhance water treatment.He added that out of the figure, N7.7 billion was earmarked for water treatment chemicals while N29.4 billion was for FCT Water Board”s personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.“Through the 2025 statutory budget, we shall accelerate the implementation of the Greater Abuja Water Project being executed through a China Exim Bank Loan but for which we are to make counterpart funding provision.“The completion of implementation of the project will extend water supply to about 26 districts and layouts.“Noting the wide gap between current revenue generation in the water sector and its inherent potentials, as well as the need to minimise wastages, we are at advanced stage of exploiting Public Private Partnership for the deployment of pre-paid meters for dispensing of water at points of consumption.“The successful implementation of this initiative will greatly assist in addressing the revenue shortfalls of the Sector,” he assured.Wike further said that N8.3 billion was proposed for the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat to improve agricultural production and engagement of youths in agriculture.This, according to him, will enhance food security, income and better standards of living in the rural communities.“With N4 billion earmarked for capital projects, we shall invest in the provision of agricultural inputs such as improved seeds, agro-chemicals and fertilizer among others and developed cluster farm centers in both the livestock and crop production sub-sectors,” he said.On social development sector, the minister said that a total of N23.7 billion was allocated to promote gender, youths, children development, and other vulnerable groups in the FCT.He added that funds would also go into promotion and preservation of Nigeria’s art and culture within the FCT.The allocation, he added, would also be challenged towards the development of sports, through the provision of sporting, cultural and recreational facilities.He also said that while the FCT Legal Services Secretariat got N7.7 billion, with N5 billion meant for capital expenditure, a total of N1.5 billion was earmarked for Land Department to cover personnel, overhead and capital expenditure.He added that the Area Council Services Secretariat got a total of N37.1 billion towards ensuring effective and efficient service delivery for rural transformation, improving quality of lives of the citizens and strengthening traditional institutions.The minister has earlier explained that out of the N1.78 trillion propose budget, N1.28 trillion was earmarked for capital projects, representing 72.3 per cent, while N494.1 billion was set aside as recurrent expenditure, representing 27.7 per cent. (NAN)

From Chidi Precious, Umuahia

The Abia State Government has pledged to create a business-friendly and regulated environment for operators in the sector, in a strategic move to curb illegal scavenging and promote responsible scrap metal trading.The meeting, held at the Ministry of Environment, with members of the Scrap Metal Association in Umuahia addressed growing concerns over the theft of government infrastructure including manhole covers and street fixtures attributed to unregistered scavengers.

During the high-level meeting, the State Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna, announced that the government is taking concrete steps to sanitize the industry by eliminating unauthorized scavenging and ensuring that scrap dealers operate within legal frameworks.The Commissioner described the dialogue as a “strategic engagement aimed at fostering mutual understanding and collaboration”, which was designed to end the theft of public property and create a structured environment for the scrap metal business, through regulation, registration, enforcement, and community collaboration.Ogbonna emphasized the need for collaboration with local community leaders to provide security support and monitor scrap-related activities at the grassroots level.Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon Kingsley Chibueze Nwokocha urged scrap dealers to formally register their businesses with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and obtain their ABSSIN (Abia State Business Serial Identification Number) to ensure transparency.He asked dealers to organize themselves in a way that allows them to verify the identity and source of materials brought in by scavengers. The goal is to prevent the sale of stolen public infrastructure.The General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Chief Ogbonnia Okereke, acknowledged scavenging as a legitimate trade but warned against environmental and infrastructural damage caused by unregulated practices.Special Assistants to the Governor on Environment and Climate Change, Professor Mrs. Iheukwumere and Esther Ajah respectively, encouraged scrap dealers to adopt environmentally friendly and lawful practices that support recycling and sustainability.Furthermore, the state government has vowed to implement a monitoring framework that includes registration, timing of operations, and buyer accountability. The emphasis will also be on sensitizing all players in the sector to the implications of illegal trading and theft of public property.Representatives of the Scrap Metal Association, including Chukwudi Onwukaeme and Okeke Ogwuegbu, welcomed the initiative, affirming their readiness to cooperate with the state government.They clarified that the Inner Galaxy company , the state’s largest metal buyer, does not purchase government-owned items like railway tracks or manhole covers, and called for stricter regulation of scavengers.Meanwhile, as the crackdown on illicit scrap trade gains momentum, stakeholders who include the President General of Ahuwa Oboro autonomous community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of the state, James Nnadozie Uchegbuo, the President General of Igbo Ekene Global Development Union, Ambassador Moses Onyegbule among others who interacted with our correspondent are hopeful that the new measures will not only protect public infrastructure but also create a cleaner and safer business environment across Abia State.