Nation
FCTA Moves To Revoke Titles Of 435 Abandoned Buildings In Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says arrangements have been concluded to sanction owners of 435 uncompleted and abandoned structures in Federal Capital City (FCC), Abuja.
This is contained in a statement signed by the FCTA Director of Land Administration, Alhaji Adamu Hussaini, yesterday in Abuja.
Hussaini said that the measure was aimed at ensuring adequate protection of lives and property in and around the 250 square kilometers of the FCC, Abuja,
“In order to ensure adequate protection of lives and property in and around the 250 square kilometers of the FCC, the administration may have concluded arrangements to sanction owners of 435 abandoned/uncompleted structures.”
The director, who revealed that the sanction may include revocation of titles, advised the owners of such abandoned and uncompleted buildings within the city to swiftly work towards the completion of those buildings.
According to him, such structures have become a source of security breach in the city.
“The security breach is of great concern to the government and that it will not fold its arms to watch danger in the waiting to explode. This development has been a cause of worry for the FCT Administration.
“These abandoned and uncompleted buildings have become shelter for unintended occupants as well as other persons with criminal disposition, who use these uncompleted structures as hideout to perpetuate their nefarious activities against the residents.”
He also disclosed that the same fate may befall owners of about 600 undeveloped plots in the FCC.
He emphasised that such undeveloped plots have remained an eyesore in Abuja, in spite of huge amount of money spent to provide basic infrastructure in the districts.
Hussaini recalled that the owners of undeveloped plots scattered around the Abuja metropolis have been warned severally in the past, yet some remain recalcitrant.
He disclosed that though there exist thousands of uncollected Certificates of Occupancy in the vaults, the department has conveyed 495 certificates of occupancy to owners from January to December 2021.
The director, however, implored other allottees to come over and pick their certificates as such act would help lubricate economic activities of the territory.
On the issuance of rights of occupancy within the year under review, Hussaini explained that the department released a total of 1,319 titles to the beneficiaries.
He also revealed that there were quite a huge number of uncollected rights of occupancy in the vaults.
The director, therefore, advised those who have applied for land in the FCT to endevour to come forward and check the status of their applications.
Hussaini said the department had witnessed a tremendous increase in the number of fresh applications for land in the territory during the year under review.
He noted that a total number of 8,010 applications for land have been received between January and Dec. 2021.
The director stated that the department undertook and released 546 Certified True Copy documents to various allottees in the year under review.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
