- Chinda earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Port Harcourt
- Attended the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1987
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has appointed an Ikwere man, Michael O. Chinda, as the Senior Special Assistant on Land, Urban, and Regional Planning.
Chinda, who earned his Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Port Harcourt, attended the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1987.
Chinda, a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, was a Senior Lands Officer at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, where he served from 1989 to 2004.
He also worked as the Secretary of Obio Akpor Local Government Council from 2008 to 2010 and was a member of the Rivers State House of Assembly from 2011 to 2023.
A statement signed by the FCT Director of Press, Anthony Ogunleye, noted that land and urban planning are critical components of the development of any city.
Chinda, with his extensive experience and academic background, is well-equipped to address the complexities and challenges associated with these areas.
Meanwhile, Wike has warned against the diversion of palliatives meant for poor and vulnerable groups in the territory.
Wike gave the warning in Abuja on Tuesday during the ongoing distribution of food items to vulnerable residents at Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
NAN reports that the FCT Administration (FCTA) on Monday commenced the distribution of 12,000 bags of rice and maize to vulnerable households across the six area councils of the FCT.
The minister, who was represented by Mr Lawan Geidam, Mandate Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, FCTA, reiterated the administration’s commitment to address the plight of the poor.
He explained that the poor and vulnerable persons in the society are the worst hit by the petroleum subsidy removal, stressing the need to prioritise their concerns.
He, therefore, warned those responsible for the distribution exercise to shun every temptation to divert the food items meant to reduce the impacts of the subsidy removal.
“The commitment to sustain the palliative distribution demonstrates the President Bola Tinubu administration’s dedication to provide support to vulnerable residents in the FCT.
“The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden caused by the removal of fuel subsidies and ensure that essential food items reach those most in need,” Wike said.
Earlier, the Chairman of AMAC, Mr Christopher Maikalangu, urged the administration to allocate more food items to AMAC considering its large population of the poor.
Maikalangu assured the minister that the food items would get to the targeted groups in all the political wards of the council.
In a similar exercise at Bwari Area Council, Wike warned that FCTA would not condone any act of sabotage.