About thirty people have lost their lives in a landslide reportedly triggered by activities of illegal miners in the Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Chairman Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Sabo, disclosed this at a maiden meeting on Thursday attended by FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, alongside the Minister of state for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud and FCT Permanent Secretary Mr. Olusade Adesola, and six Area Councils Chairmen. “There is the issue of illegal mining in the FCT. There is indiscriminate mining licences given out and this has led to insecurity. They give letters of consent to Chinese people.
“Just few days ago, there was a land slide that took the lives of 30 people as a result of the activities of illegal miners. We appeal to you to engage the Minister of Mines to stop mining in the FCT,” Sabo said.
While asking the council bosses to set up a surveillance task force in their areas to monitor mining activities, Wike said he would meet with his counterpart in Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, to eliminate illegal mining in the FCT.
In another development, nineteen persons were, on Thursday, kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council of the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The Minister, who was troubled about the developments said he would summon the FCT Director of State Services, as well as the Commissioner of Police, to be comprehensively briefed about the kidnap incident and facilitate rescue operations.
Speaking on the challenges confronting the councils, Kwali Area Council chairman, Danladi Chiya appealed to the minister and the Minister of Stare, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud to come to their aide.
He said; “When we had about your appointment, we were happy because you have been a Council Chairman and therefore understand our challenges.
“Our challenges are inadequate funding of the local government system.
“We have the major challenge of insecurity across the six Area Councils. Just today (Thursday), about 19 people were kidnapped in Bwari Area Council. I just received about five in my council who were in captivity for about six days.
“The next is the development of satellite towns. The issue of sanitation is one of the major challenges confronting us.
“There is also no efficient transport facility. The Abuja Urban Mass transit buses are no longer functional.
“Then there is the issue of land allocation. You sit in your council, and your backyard will be allocated to someone you don’t even know. Your graveyards and worship centres would be allocated and we are saying that we should be carried along in terms of land allocation.
“The responsibility of primary school teachers is on the local governments. The UBE’s payment of salaries lies on the council which by law is supposed to be the 60-40 percent. We are pleading that you help us so that this issue can be looked into”.
