FCT news

Resident counts loses As FCTA demolishes illegal residential structure, filling station inside NASS complex

Published

6 years ago

January 25, 2021

Joel Ajayi

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday in Abuja demolished an illegal private residential building and a filling station under construction inside the National Assembly Complex, Three Arms Zone, Abuja.

Alhaji Muktar Galadima, Director, FCTA Department of Development Control, who led the exercise, told newsmen that the land was initially allocated to the developer to construct a commercial filling station.

Galadima, however, said that the developer without permission decided to unilaterally commence building of a residential property adjacent to the land earmarked for the station.
He said: “following series of complaints from the Office of the National Security Adviser on the security implications of citing a filling station inside such a complex, the allocation was reviewed and revoked.”

Galadima, who disclosed that compensation had already been paid for the revoked land and property built, however, stated that “no compensation will be paid for the adjourning residential structure.

“This property you are seeing is a petrol filling station. The place was allocated to a corporate entity for the provision of a filling station within the National Assembly.

“Unfortunately, it was later on observed and reviewed as a mistake for obvious security reasons for such a facility to be situated within the Three Arms Zone.

“So after doing the necessary diligence, the FCT Administration thought it fit to remove the structure and give way to the office of the National Security Adviser to take over the land,” he said.
He said that the department followed a long procedure before demolishing the illegal structure marked since 2015.

“When the FCT Administration received correspondence regarding the obvious security implications of the facility, we had to follow due process because approval was granted for the development of the land.

“So, we had to assess and value the property, as well as pay compensation to the affected party. That is why it took us this long to remove this structure.

“We are humans and we are not perfect. Sometimes we make mistakes, but this type of obvious one is something that should not have been done in the first place.

“There is a specific location for each land use as regards the Abuja Master Plan. So because you feel that you have money and can just rush and build filling stations at any place is not allowed,”

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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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