FCT news

Jabi Lake Mall Event: Take Responsibility For Your Health, FCTA Charges Residents

Published

5 years ago

June 16, 2020

…Says No Party is worth the life of anyone

Joel Ajayi

The FCT Administration has charged residents of the Territory to take personal responsibility for their health and desist from violating the extant guidelines put in place to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the Territory.

FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello issued this warning on Tuesday in Abuja through a statement issued by the FCT Chief Press Secretary, CPS Anthony Ogunleye reacting to the illegal music concert held at the Jabi Lake Mall on Saturday, 13th June 2020.

According to the Minister “Videos of the event which are still circulating on social media clearly showed a concert going on with music and live performances by a band and dancers. The video also showed attendees dancing to the live performances on the elaborately constructed stage”.

He reiterated that several aspects of the guidelines as postulated by the Presidential Task Force on COVID 19 as well as the FCT Administration were violated with reckless abandon. “For purposes of emphasis”, said Malam Bello, “the PTF and FCTA’s guidelines clearly state the following;

“There shall be no gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace or place of worship.

“There should be mandatory use of face masks when in public

“There should be social distancing of at least 2 meters between 2 people while in public

“There is a ban on all congregational events such as parties, weddings, concerts, etc

“ There is a closure of all clubs, bars, gardens, beer parlors, recreational parks, communal sports facilities, movie theaters and so on

“Markets and business premises are to remain open between 8 am and 3 pm and there is a ban on interstate travel

“All the guidelines as postulated above were clearly violated as the videos available on social media revealed.”

Malam Bello, The FCT Administration, however, stated that in views the actions of the organizers and attendees at this concert as reckless, wicked, insensitive and utter disrespect and disregard both for the law and the wellbeing and welfare of fellow citizens.

He also added that the FCT Administration which has a responsibility to protect the lives of the citizenry is determined to prosecute all those involved in orchestrating these infractions to the full extent of the law.

The Minister equally noted that there is a very real the possibility that a single positive individual at that event could by now have gone ahead to infect several others thereby leading to a possible exponential spread.

Speaking further, the Minister further reminded residents that COVID-19 is real and the disease has proven to be fatal. More worrisome he said is the fact that the number of new infections has been on the rise in the country and the FCT. He expressed dissatisfaction with the non-adherence to basic-COVID-19 guidelines.

“It is disheartening to see residents not adhering to even the basic guidelines of facial covering, social distancing, and hand washing or sanitizing. These guidelines have been put in place in order to save and safeguard lives”.

“Adherence to the guidelines could be the difference between life and death. This, therefore, begs the question; whether that concert or party which is clearly against the law is worth the health or life of a citizen. Clearly, no concert or party is worth the life of anyone.”

FCT Minister, therefore, encouraged residents to report to the relevant authorities when they notice infractions of the guidelines as the FCT Administration will embark on stricter enforcement measures.

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FCT news

FCT Cleaners Urge Minister Wike to Intervene Over Months of Unpaid Salaries

Published

4 weeks ago

May 13, 2025

The Gleamer

Over 4,500 cleaners working across Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including city cleaners, hospital sanitation workers, satellite town cleaners, and security personnel, have made a passionate appeal to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, over the non-payment of their salaries for the past six to eight months.

The affected workers, who play a critical role in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene across the FCT, including hospitals and public spaces, expressed their deep frustration and hardship due to the prolonged delay in their payments.

Despite working tirelessly under harsh weather conditions to ensure that Abuja and its environs remain clean and habitable, they say their efforts have gone unrewarded.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, the cleaners voiced their disappointment, describing the situation as dire and unsustainable.

Many of them are reportedly struggling to meet basic needs, including food, medical expenses, school fees, and loan repayments.

“We are using this medium to appeal to our amiable FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to urgently intervene and ensure our outstanding salaries are paid.

“We are going through untold hardship. We work day and night, even in dangerous and unhygienic conditions, yet we are not being paid.”

Another affected worker, who asked to remain anonymous, tearfully shared her experience: “We may be doing a ‘dirty job,’ but we do it with all our hearts. It is unfair that we are left unpaid. We are dying in silence—no food for our children, no money for healthcare. We beg the Honourable Minister to come to our aid.”

The cleaners, in their numbers, emphasized that their appeal was not just a demand but a desperate cry for help from workers who feel neglected despite their vital contributions to the FCT’s public health and cleanliness.

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