FCTA expanding water access - Board GM
Intending pilgrims who have made deposits for the forthcoming Hajj with the FCT Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board have till Friday May 13, to top up their deposits before the announcement of the actual Hajj fare by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The Director of the board, Mallam Muhammad Nasiru Danmallam, disclosed this while addressing the intending pilgrims during the second phase of education and orientation exercise that took place over the weekend at the permanent Hajj Transit Camp in Abuja.
Mallam Danmallam explained that the topping up of the deposits would enable the board establish its prospective master list for the trip to Saudi Arabia.
He emphasised that only intending pilgrims who had deposited up to the minimum of N2.5m by the deadline would be registered in the master list of the board for this years’ Hajj exercise.
He further disclosed that the activities for this year’s Hajj would continue on Friday, May 13, with medical screening of pilgrims from Gwagwalada and Kwali area councils.
He said pilgrims from Bwari, Kuje and Abuja Municipal Area councils would be screened on Saturday, May 14, while those who registered with the headquarters and Abaji Area Council would be screened on Sunday.
The acting General Manager (GM) of the FCT Water Board, Mrs Korede-Ajanaku Olanike, has assured residents of the territory of more access to potable water.
Mrs Olanike, who gave the assurance yesterday in her office while fielding questions from our reporter, said to achieve this, the FCT Administration (FCTA) had been providing critical infrastructure that would guarantee quality water treatment, as well as boost the supply channels.
She said more pumping equipment had been installed to ensure that hilly areas like Asokoro, which were experiencing low gravity, got water from the board.
The GM further said her immediate attention would be to curb water wastage along the channels by ensuring that the commodity got to only those that valued it.
She said, “We are working to ensure that consumers’ bills are paid through the channels and the money gets to the government. This is my immediate priority.”
She pleaded with the consumers to consider the huge expenses by the FCTA on water infrastructure and pay their water bills, which, she said the administration had heavily susbsidised.
Mrs Olanike also promised to ensure that the interests of casual workers with the board were looked into.