FCT news

COVID-19: FCTA, Private Sector To Provides 600 Bed In Isolation And Treatment Centers

Published

7 years ago

April 9, 2020

The Gleamer

….600,000 Households To Benefit From Palliative Measures-FCT Minister

…To purnishs Lockdown offenders

Joel Ajayi

The robust collaboration between the FCT Administration and private sector concerns will in the coming days make available 600 beds in various treatment and isolation centers across the FCT for the fight against COVID-19.

This was disclosed on Thursday, April 9^th during a ministerial press briefing held by the Minister of the FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello in conjunction with the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19 under the chairmanship of the former minister of the FCT, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar.

Malam Bello revealed that based on medical expert advice, the Asokoro Hospital has been fully converted into an isolation and treatment center and can accommodate up to 100 patients inclusive of those that will require intensive care treatment.

The Asokoro Isolation and Treatment Center is due to be opened on Friday, 10^th April.

On the Idu Isolation center, the Minister said that the facility can accommodate up to 300 beds and he expressed the appreciation of the FCTA to Polaris Bank for provision of 100 beds and Mr Fola Adeola of the FATE Foundation for the provision of 50 beds and other items such as monitors and PPEs. The Minister also thanked the CCECC for the providing the furniture, air conditioners and power and water to the facility.

The Minister also disclosed that the General hospital Karu is being retrofitted and upgraded into a standard Isolation and Treatment center.

Malam Bello also revealed that more patients in FCT Isolation and treatment center at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital will be released in the coming days if their test results come out as negative

On members of the public who violate the lockdown directive especially in some satellite areas, the Minister said continuation of this will give the Administration no choice but to enforce even stricter measures as it was determined to flatten the curve of COVID 19 cases in the FCT.

On the Palliative measures being put in place by the FCT Administration, the Honourable Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu revealed that 600,000 households of 100,000 each from each Area Council are billed to be benefit from these measures.

She said that there will be in place a monitoring team made up of civil society organisations, religious and traditional rulers, youth and women groups to ensure an equitable distribution of the palliatives. She also revealed that distribution will be carried out through a door to door mechanism to prevent overcrowding.

Malam Bello sincerely thanked members of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for devoting their time, expertise and personal resources for fighting the pandemic in the FCT. He also expressed gratitude to the medical personnel in the frontline of the fight against the virus as well as volunteer journalists who have used the platforms provided by the FCTA to enlighten members of the public on its dangers.

The Minister also mentioned and appreciated the corporate organisations that made donations to the FCTA for the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic. They include the MTN Nig PLC and Mikano for the supply of one 350 KVA generators each at the Karu General Hospital and University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Isolation and Treatment Center, Julius Berger Nig. PLC for the supply of 350 hospital beds, GE Health for the repair of broken ventilators, GT Bank and Zenith bank for their efforts at the Karu General Hospital and the Abuja Chamber of Commerce complex respectively.

Cash donations as announced by the Minister include the Bank of Industry; N100,000,000, CGC Nigeria Ltd N20,000,000, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company , N15,000,000, Arab Contractors OAO Nigeria Ltd N15,000,000 and Gilmor Engineering Ltd, N10,000,000.

The Minister also appreciated UBA Nig. PLC for the donation of N300,000,000 to the FCTA and N200,000,000 to the NCDC as well as the NCC for a donation of N25,000,000. Also mentioned and appreciated was Honeywell Group for its donations which has become a part of the palliatives to be distributed.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ministerial Advisory Committee Dr Modibbo Umar said that the Committee was formed to complement the excellent work the FCT Administration was doing towards averting the COVID-19 pandemic.

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FCT news

Beyond Displacement: How Vocational Training Is Empowering Over 100 Women and Girls in Abuja

Published

2 weeks ago

October 27, 2026

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

For women and girls living at the New Kuchingoro Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp in Abuja, rebuilding their lives requires more than shelter and basic necessities. The opportunity to acquire practical skills, earn an income and provide for their families can also play a crucial role in restoring confidence and creating a pathway towards economic independence.

This aspiration informed the five-day Life Skills Bootcamp organised by GLIDE Media Foundation in partnership with the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which provided more than 100 displaced women and girls with vocational training and start-up funding.

The programme, which culminated in a grand finale on Saturday, October 24, 2026, was designed to equip participants with practical knowledge, entrepreneurial skills and financial management techniques to help them establish small businesses and improve their livelihoods.

For the participants, the initiative offered an opportunity to explore income-generating activities that could help them support their families while navigating the economic difficulties associated with displacement.

Turning Skills into Opportunities

At the heart of the programme was the recognition that practical skills can open doors to economic opportunities, particularly for people facing difficult living conditions.

The bootcamp combined classroom-style sessions with hands-on vocational training, allowing participants to learn both the principles of running a business and the practical steps involved in producing goods for sale.

During the practical sessions, participants received training in making beaded slippers, baking, producing soap and preparing petroleum jelly.

They were divided into three groups, with specialised trainers demonstrating production techniques and supervising their activities.

Beyond learning how to make the products, participants received guidance on packaging, marketing and selling their goods. These additional skills were intended to help them understand how to turn their newly acquired abilities into viable small-scale businesses.

The provision of start-up funds at the conclusion of the programme was another important component, offering participants financial support to begin applying what they had learnt.

By combining vocational instruction with initial funding, the organisers sought to bridge the gap between acquiring skills and putting them to productive use.

Building Financial Confidence

The programme also recognised that earning money is only one part of running a successful business. Knowing how to manage income, control expenditure and save for future needs is equally important.

Consequently, the theoretical sessions covered budgeting, saving, expenditure planning and the need to keep personal finances separate from business funds.

Participants were encouraged to understand how financial decisions could affect their businesses and household welfare.

Facilitators also introduced digital financial services, including OPay and Moniepoint, highlighting their potential to support transactions and the management of small businesses.

The sessions provided an opportunity for participants already engaged in business to share their experiences, including the challenges of managing earnings and attracting customers.

Discussions also explored how social media could help entrepreneurs promote their products beyond their immediate communities and reach a wider customer base.

For aspiring business owners, these lessons offered a foundation for thinking beyond production to the practical demands of operating a business in an increasingly competitive environment.

Confidence, Parenting and Personal Development

While economic empowerment remained central to the initiative, the bootcamp also addressed personal development, decision-making, leadership and wellbeing.

Participants were encouraged to build confidence, identify achievable goals and recognise their capacity to contribute to their families and communities despite the challenges associated with displacement.

Parenting and child protection also featured prominently during the sessions.

Discussions covered positive parenting practices, children’s emotional wellbeing, school attendance and the difficulties of balancing childcare responsibilities with income-generating activities.

Facilitators emphasised the importance of supportive home environments and explained how parental behaviour could influence children’s development.

The inclusion of these subjects reflected the programme’s broader focus on helping participants navigate both their economic responsibilities and family obligations.

For women and girls managing several demands, the combination of livelihood training and personal development offered a more comprehensive approach to building resilience.

A Pathway Towards Economic Independence

GLIDE Media Foundation said the initiative was designed to equip displaced women and girls with practical skills that could support their families and reduce their dependence on external assistance.

The partnership with the NRS provided support for a programme that combined entrepreneurship, financial literacy, vocational instruction and start-up funding.

The foundation expressed hope that participants would continue developing their skills and translate the training into sustainable businesses capable of improving their economic circumstances.

However, the long-term impact of the initiative will depend partly on participants’ ability to establish businesses, attract customers and manage their earnings effectively.

Continued guidance, access to markets and opportunities to strengthen their skills could further support their efforts to build sustainable livelihoods.

For the more than 100 women and girls who participated, the bootcamp represents an opportunity to move from learning to action.

Ultimately, its success will be reflected not only in the skills acquired during the five days but also in how effectively participants use their training and start-up funds to generate income, support their families and build greater economic independence.

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