By Omoniyi David

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, citing visible developmental strides in the FCT as proof of the administration’s commitment to good governance.

Speaking during a thanksgiving service at St. James’ Church, Asokoro, Abuja, Wike said he joined the Tinubu government because he was confident it would deliver the dividends of democracy.

He urged Nigerians to be patient, noting that significant progress has already been made.

“If Tinubu’s government wasn’t working, I would not support it,” Wike declared. “Everyone can see the changes, especially in the FCT, where access to funds was a challenge before the President removed us from the Treasury Single Account.”

He also condemned politicians forming coalitions under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), accusing them of selfish motives.

Wike called on the Church to continue praying for the President and his team, describing Tinubu as a leader deeply committed to governance and national progress.

By Patrick Idowu

Casual workers with the FCT Water Board have appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to absorb them into the government payroll and order the payment of their six-month unpaid stipends.

Abuja City Journal gathered that the affected workers; some of whom hold HND qualifications earn between N20,000 and N25,000 monthly.

They are mostly deployed to area offices for bill distribution and repair works but have not been paid since December 2024.

There are two categories of casual staff at the board: those paid directly by the FCTA, who reportedly receive their stipends regularly, and those paid by the Water Board, who are now owed.

A senior board official, who preferred anonymity, blamed the delay on the lack of overhead releases from the FCTA, adding that payments are typically sourced from such funds.

Despite repeated appeals, the affected workers said their requests for regularisation have been ignored.

“My two children are out of school, and we’ve not been paid since December. Life is unbearable,” said Chioma, an HND holder.

Another worker, Mrs. Yahaya Hanafi, echoed the hardship, pleading with the minister to urgently intervene.

By Oso Abidemi 

Adebayo Folorunsho-Francis, a journalist with The PUNCH, has decried police inaction after falling victim to an armed robbery attack in Abuja last Tuesday night.

The National Assembly correspondent recounted that he was assaulted near Dantata Bridge along Airport Road around 10pm after his vehicle broke down.

While trying to procure fuel from nearby vendors at Optimal Filling Station, a group of hoodlums emerged from the Cashew Plantation area, smashed his car windows, and made away with his bag.

The stolen items included a laptop, Samsung Tab A8, a Vivo smartphone, and N250,000 cash contributions from colleagues for his late father’s burial.

“I had a firsthand experience of the insecurity plaguing Abuja. The most shocking part was that the incident happened barely 1,200 metres from a police checkpoint,” Adebayo said.

He reported the incident to officers at the checkpoint, but they allegedly told him there was nothing they could do and directed him to Galadimawa Police Station.

However, attempts to lodge a formal complaint were met with jurisdictional confusion, as Galadimawa officers redirected him to Lugbe Police Station, and vice versa.

Even after the intervention of the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, the matter was merely documented with no immediate action taken.

“When I asked if they would conduct a raid in the area, the DCO told me their job was just to ‘incident the case and give an extract’,” he added.

Adebayo, visibly shaken by the incident, expressed disappointment in the security system.

“I’m still in shock. People say I should thank God I wasn’t stabbed, but I’m angry that I was so vulnerable and unprotected.”

His experience underscores growing public concerns over safety and the responsiveness of security agencies in Nigeria’s capital.