The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has called on the media to support efforts by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to protect public facilities in the territory.

The Minister made the call when he received the management team of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), led by the Managing Director, Buki Ponle on a courtesy visit to the Minister in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

Malam Bello expressed the hope that the agency would use its far reach to propagate the Administration’s policies and programmes, especially in the fight against the vandalization of facilities like manhole covers, streetlights fittings, rail tracks as well as the preservation of parks and gardens in the territory.

The Minister stressed the importance of the manholes in the protection of critical national telecommunication infrastructure amongst others and assured his guests that the FCTA was willing to partner with the media to ensure that the public are properly sensitized on the need to own and protect the city.

He said, apart from the remodeling of the manhole covers using concrete and composite materials, the FCTA has strengthened enforcement as part of measures to curtain theft of the manhole covers while disclosing that rehabilitation work was ongoing on traffic lights to equip them with monitoring cameras to improve seamless traffic flow and make motoring pleasurable in the FCT.

The Minister solicited the support of the media in naming and shaming those who violate traffic laws and those caught vandalizing facilities, adding that the Administration would continue to arrest, prosecute and conduct psychiatric tests on the attested.

While commending the News Agency for its concern for the city and passion for its greenery, the Minister stated the determination of the FCTA to retain 40 percent of green area, as designated in the Abuja Masterplan, in line with the dream of Abuja’s founding fathers.

The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has explained why the administration is enforcing the policy on parks operation in the nation’s capital.

The Minister gave this clarification when the management of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) led by its Managing Director, Mr Buki Ponle, paid a courtesy call on him on Thursday in Abuja.

Malam Bello noted that his administration decided to revert to the policy in order to ensure the attainment of 40 per cent threshold of green areas in the city.

He further disclosed that, ” The whole concept of the park policy is to make sure that these green areas within Abuja as a city and to some extent parts of the territory are left green to be able to meet the 40 per cent threshold of green areas.

The Minister who explained that the abuse on green areas had affected the ecosystem, added that government realised sometimes in the mid 2000 that it was simply impossible to maintain all the green areas.

This, he said, informed the concession of green areas to private operators to develop as parks

” A park in the real sense of a park like we see in other countries is neat, clean with sidewalks, with areas for playground for children and areas of relaxation,” he said.

The minister stated that almost 95 per cent of those who took parks under concession.

The minister revealed that the administration was getting positive feedback from residents, adding that they were appreciative for the enforcement of the policy.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle had expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the FCT administration on advocacy to educate residents to be conscious about their surroundings.

Ponle said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect what the government had put in place.

Ponle also commended the minister for his achievements in the area of infrastructure development and provision of other basic social amenities.

He further disclosed that, ” The whole concept of the park policy is to make sure that these green areas within Abuja as a city and to some extent parts of the territory are left green to be able to meet the 40 per cent threshold of green areas.

The Minister who explained that the abuse on green areas had affected the ecosystem, added that government realized sometimes in the mid 2000 that it was simply impossible to maintain all the green areas.

This, he said, informed the concession of green areas to private operators to develop as parks

” A park in the real sense of a park like we see in other countries is neat, clean with sidewalks, with areas for playground for children and areas of relaxation,” he said.

The minister stated that almost 95 per cent of those who took parks under concession.

The minister revealed that the administration was getting positive feedback from residents, adding that they were appreciative for the enforcement of the policy.

Earlier, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr Buki Ponle had expressed the readiness of the agency to partner with the FCT administration on advocacy to educate residents to be conscious about their surroundings.

Ponle said it was the responsibility of every citizen to protect what the government had put in place.

Ponle also commended the minister for his achievements in the area of infrastructure development and provision of other basic social amenities.

A non-Governmental Organisation, Safer-Media Initiative has trained Nigerian journalists on improving their investigative reportage skills.

The training took place at a Two-Day Capacity Building Workshop held in Abuja, the nation’s Capital. The training was tagged “Strengthening Grassroots Governance and Accountability Reporting” and had 39 Nigerian Journalists in attendance. The training was in collaboration with the Whole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism with support from MacArthur Foundation.

Several facilitators trained participants on topics cutting across various media organisations on how to carry out investigative and solution driven reporting.

The journalists were trained on diverse issues relating to investigative journalism, investigative interviewing, generating story ideas, data gathering, communication ethics, as well as challenges journalists encounter during reporting and possible solutions.

Executive Director, Safer-Media Initiative, Peter Iorter said that the exercise was aimed at equipping media practitioners with the requisite skills to research and investigate corruption and other issues in Nigeria.

He also pointed out that the training would guide participants on how to create a deeper public awareness of the menace of corruption through their reportage.

“The project aims to step up professional news coverage and investigative reporting, contributing to improving the sustainability capacity of journalists to perform their duty of holding government accountable, especially at the sub-national, state and local level as stated in the Nigerian constitution, ” he said.

Mr. Iorter disclosed that after the training the organisation will provide funding to assist selected journalists in their investigations.

“SMI will provide a small funding covering basic logistics to selected journalists. Trained and selected journalists will do investigative stories on issues around water, education, farming health, democracy deficits, poverty, ICT, women and children among others”, Mr. Iorter explained .

He added that Mentors will be assigned to support the selected journalists to uncover some of the ills in society and grassroots.

One of the facilitators, Mr. Hassan Adebayo applauded the organiser and its partners and also tasked the media practitioners on professionalism in their reportage, especially in fact-checking and evidence gathering for credibility.

A Participant, Mrs Dorcas Jonas appreciated the organisers and its sponsor for the training which has equipped her with the skills to do in-depth grassroots reporting and investigation.

Another participant, Mr. Emma Okereh, urged the NGO to expand and organise more capacity-building programmes that would equip journalists in carrying out their responsibilities.