PRESS RELEASE:MINISTER ORDERS GREENING, BEAUTIFICATION OF AIRPORT ROAD

                                                                                                                         

In order to give a panoramic view with a stretch of lush greenery, boulevard of flowers and trees to the gateway into the city of Abuja, the FCT Administration has embarked on a massive greening and beautification of the Umaru Musa Yar'adua (Airport road) in line with international standards. 

The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who gave this directive said the measure has become necessary because the Airport road is the first contact which visitors have with Nigeria's capital city.

The Acting Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) Hajia Safia Umar made this revelation recently while briefing the media on the activities of her agency geared towards realizing this goal. 

Hajia Umar stated that the agency had received marching orders from the FCT Minister to transform the highway into a modern driveway that would serve as a beautiful, refreshing and welcoming gateway to the Federal Capital Territory, in line with what obtains in other great cities of the world.

"Pursuant to this initiative, all companies and government institutions located on the express way have been requested to adopt the buffer zone before them for purposes of landscaping and beautification as corporate social responsibility projects".

She said plans are underway to remove the illegal football pitches from the interchanges on the highway, adding that the railings of the overhead bridges and pedestrian walkways would no longer be used for advert placements but for directional signs to make the road more user-friendly.      

"Among the national monuments expected to be added to the beautification of the highway are; the new citygate which will be located a couple of kilometers off the Bill Clinton Bridge and the old citygate which would be remodeled into a modern park", she said.

While, taking the press men on a facility tour of the expressway, it was observed that some establishments like Royal Choice and Shoprite were already complying with the request as workers were seen busy planting flowers on their adjoining buffer zone.                                 

Similarly, the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPB) is mounting an intensive clean up exercise on the road, which has resulted in the road wearing a new look.   The Acting Director, AEPB, Mrs. Lola Olanipekun said, the agency has embraced a new way of evacuating dump through the deployment of Mobile Truck on strategic refuse flashpoints in the city, and the airport express way.  

Mrs. Olanipekun indicated that the agency hopes to sustain the initiative by leveraging partnership with the private sector and the communities. 

Cosmas Uzodinma
Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister

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FISHING CAGE AQUA CULTURE: FCT, OTHERS TO COMMENCE PILOT SCHEME

The FCT Administration has expressed its determination to ensure the success of the Federal Government initiative on the development of fishing cage aqua culture in the Territory.

The FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Musa Bello gave this assurance when the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Economic Management Team paid him a working visit in his office at Area 11 Garki 1 District, Abuja.

Malam Bello expressed delight that FCT is one of the five states chosen by the Federal Government for the develop   ment of the fishing cage culture project, adding that the programme is in tandem with the efforts of the Federal Government to diversify the economy and create more jobs.

According to the Minister, “FCT will be interested in the three levels of the project which include locating some of the fish cage aqua culture projects in accessible bodies of water for the purpose of serving as tourist attractions; establishing some as economic empowerment projects for rural residents and developing others as entrepreneurship ventures for the youths of the Territory”. 

“We are happy that the FCT has been selected to be among the states that would develop the pilot scheme of this project which we consider to be a very important focal point for job creation”.

The Minister who lamented the uncontrolled fishing activities going on at Jabi Lake, directed the department of Fisheries to ensure proper monitoring and regulate the net size used for fishing in order not depopulate the water bodies.

Speaking earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to Mr. President on Economic Management Team, Mr. Dolapo Bright, stated that the Fishing Cage Aqua Culture project was part of the social investment programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari adminstration.

He said the project which would be financed by the World Bank is designed as part of the efforts at the diversification of the economy, job creation and producing fish for protein.

He decried the situation where the nation is spending over $1 Billion dollars annually in the importation of fish when it has all it takes to be self sufficient in the area.

Cosmas Uzodinma
Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister