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FCTA to remove trees destroying public infrastructure in Abuja – Official
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it will remove all trees that their roots are destroying public infrastructure, particularly roads in the capital city, Abuja.
Ferdinand Ezeoha, Director, Engineering Service, Federal Capital Development Authority, stated this in Abuja on Tuesday, during a tree planting exercise in Guzape District.
Ezeoha explained that the trees were donated by Women in Energy, Oil and Gas Nigeria.
The director, who noted tree planting has been part of the infrastructural provision for the city, added that the bad trees would be replaced with friendly ones across the city.
He, however, said that the wrong trees, such as the Enterolobium trees, meant for desert areas were planted in most parts of the city, particularly in Maitama and Jabi areas.
He explained that the roots of some of the trees planted in the earlier stages of the development of the FCT were affecting road asphalt around Maitama and Jabi districts.
“Tree planting has been part of the infrastructural provision for the city., which is why there is an area known as the “Green Verge” between the asphalt area and the walkway for planting trees.
“It is, however, very unfortunate that the kind of trees that were planted when the FCT was being developed are now destroying our infrastructure.
“If you go to places like the Maitama and Jabi Districts, you will see that a lot of the trees are now affecting our road infrastructure.
“We have decided to correct the error by planting the type of trees whose roots will not damage our infrastructure,” he said.
Mr Isaiah Ukpana, Director, Parks, and Recreation, FCT, expressed optimism that the trees donated by the women group would support the FCTA’s effort of replacing 20,000 trees in Katampe, Wuye and Guzape Districts.
Ukpana said that the team has made a lot of progress, adding measures were being put in place to ensure that the trees survive human and environmental forces.
“We have water tankers to water the trees and make provisions for chemicals that will be applied to them to ensure their survival.
“We are equally enlightening citizens on the need to protect trees and not to destroy them,” he said.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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