By Our Correspondent

FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has ordered the immediate removal of roughly 30 structures blocking a major road project in Abuja.

The directive came on Thursday during a site visit to check on ongoing road works across the Federal Capital Territory. Wike was inspecting progress along Ring Road 3, the corridor connecting Karsana District, Gwarinpa District, and the Kubwa area.

The alarm was raised earlier by the Acting Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority, Engr. Richard Dauda. In his briefing, Dauda told the Minister that unauthorized buildings had been erected directly on the land earmarked for the project.

Giving an update on construction, Dauda said work on the second bridge on the route was moving ahead despite the rocky ground.

“Here is rocky; there’s no piling, so they’ve already started the foundation. It won’t delay, so bridge works will continue.
This is Karsana District now, with all the estates.
To this side is Kubwa Roadthe Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX)—and this is now the corridor of Ring Road 3 up to Airport Road.
It’s where the flyover here will terminate, and then Ring Road 3, when it comes, will continue this way.”

According to Dauda, the affected properties sit on the master plan alignment reserved for the Ring Road 3 infrastructure corridor.

Clearly angered by the encroachment, Wike called in officials from the Department of Development Control and demanded instant action.
“We’ll have to demolish this right now demolish the building down.

How can it be like this? It’s even a road, it’s not even a layout it’s an interchange, the leg,” the Minister said.

Wike stressed that the FCT administration will not tolerate any private building or unauthorized development standing in the way of key public projects or altering the Abuja Master Plan.

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The Commissioner of Police in Niger State CP Adamu Abdullahi Elleman has pledged the Command preparedness to partner with the North Central Zonal headquarters of National Centres for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) to curb the proliferation of illicit arms in Niger State.

CP Abdullahi Elleman also promised to maintain the already established working relationship with the centre in Niger State in ensuring the total eradication of the proliferation of illegal and Illicit arms and ammunitions in the state.

The Commissioner gave the assurance while receiving the Director General National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (RTD)during a courtesy visit to the Command headquarters in Dutsen- Kura Minna.

CP Adamu Elleman reiterated the Command’s commitment to maintaining a strong working relationship with the NCCSALW stressing that the visit would further cement the already established synergies between the both organisations.

He assured the Director General of the Command’s unflishing support and cooperation in its efforts towards curbing the proliferation of illicit arms and enhancing public safety.

The Commissioner of Police further pledged to remit all arms and munitions recovered by the Command to the centre after the conclusion of investigations and other necessary through its appropriate channels in line with existing directives.

While appreciating the director general for the visit even with his tight engagement, CP Adamu Elleman, further re-assured the DG of the Command continued partnership in ensuring the total curbing of proliferation of illicit arms and ammunition in Niger State.

Speaking earlier, the Director General of NCCSALW,(DIG RTD) Johnson Babatunde Kokumo,described his visit to the Commissioner of Police as both official and symbolic.

He recalled their working and professional relationship with the Commissioner of Police during his active service in the force and commended CP Elleman for his intellectual capacity,professionalism and unwavering leadership qualities, noting that the reunion was a source of personal overwhelm.

The Director-General was accompanied by the Centre’s North Central Zonal Director, Mr. Abdullahi Adamu Eneche, along with other officials from the Centre’s Headquarters and Zonal Office, as part of his official visit to the North Central Zone.

The D.G also appreciated the existing cooperation between the Niger State Police Command and the NCCSALW Zonal Office, emphasizing the critical role of inter-agency collaboration in addressing the proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons, which continue to fuel banditry and other violent crimes across the country.

He underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to combating the menace through the establishment of the Centre and the subsequent strengthening of its legal and institutional framework.

He further noted that the Centre operates through its Zonal offices established in each of the six geopolitical zones, with provisions for state offices across the thirty-six (36) states and FCT to enhance operational effectiveness nationwide.

DIG Johnson Kokumo also commended the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu,for his unwavering support and cooperation with the Centre. He disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force has remitted over 11,000 recovered arms to the Centre for destruction, thus preventing their possible recirculation into the hands of criminal elements.

He further acknowledged the IGP’s directive to all State Commands on transfer of recovered arms and ammunition to the Centre and described the initiative as a significant contribution to national security.

While expressing appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation, the Director-General called for sustained collaboration and information sharing between the Command and the Centre in pursuit of their shared security objectives.

By Uthman Baba-Naseer,Minna

The National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (NCCSALW) says it has made significant progress in reducing the proliferation of illicit arms and weapons in Nigeria.

The Director-General of the Centre, DIG Johnson Babatunde Kokumo (rtd.), stated this during an official visit to the North Central Zonal Office of the NCCSALW

in Minna, Niger State.

Kokumo said the Centre had identified major sources of illicit weapons in the country and was working with relevant government agencies to address the problem.

He identified external sources, diversion from legal stockpiles and local production as the three major sources of illicit arms proliferation.

According to him, the Centre is working with the Nigeria Customs Service and other border security agencies to prevent the movement of illegal weapons into the country.

He said the Centre was also monitoring legal government stockpiles to prevent the diversion of weapons into the wrong hands.

Kokumo added that the Centre was monitoring local artisans and craftsmen who produce weapons to ensure that their activities remain within the law and that weapons do not get into the hands of criminal groups and other non-state actors.

He said the Centre also destroys illicit weapons recovered from criminals or intercepted by security agencies and handed over to it.

The Director-General explained that the destruction of recovered illicit weapons was in line with the ECOWAS Convention, adding that the measure was aimed at preventing such weapons from returning to criminal elements.

He described the fight against illicit arms as a national challenge that requires the cooperation of all relevant institutions.

Kokumo said reducing the number of illegal weapons in circulation would make it more difficult for criminals to carry out terrorism, banditry and other violent crimes.

He also noted that the Centre had enjoyed strong cooperation with other government agencies in its efforts to control the spread of illicit arms.

The Director-General said the Centre, which was established in 2021, received legal backing after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assented to the law establishing it on June 4, 2024.

He explained that although the Centre had existed since 2021, the new legal backing had strengthened its authority to carry out its responsibilities.

Speaking earlier, the Zonal Director of the North Central Zone, Dr. Abdul Adamu Eneche, said the Centre had so far recovered more than 3,292 illicit arms and weapons from non-state actors across the zone.

Eneche identified porous borders in Niger, Kwara and Benue states as some of the major challenges affecting the operations of the Centre in the North Central Zone.

He said the Centre’s objectives include bringing the issue of illicit small arms and light weapons into national discussions and promoting a whole-of-government approach to tackling the problem.

The Centre said it would continue to work with security agencies and other stakeholders to reduce the circulation of illicit weapons and strengthen security across the country.