Failure to hold monthly security meeting threat to FCT safety -Wike tells Councils’ chairmen

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike has charged Chairmen of the six Area Councils of Abuja, the nation’s capital to ensure regular monthly security meetings with security agencies, traditional institutions and other relevant stakeholders, as failure to do so will amount to security threat to their respective domains and FCT at large.
Wike warned that any council chairman who doesn’t hold monthly security meeting is a threat to security.
He gave this charge Friday, while speaking separately at town hall meetings with stakeholders on addressing escalating FCT insecurity, in the Abuja Municipal and in Abaji Area Councils.
He also informed the people that President Bola Tinubu, identified with them in the current challenges, which was why he directed him (Wike) to visit and assure them that he (Tinubu) would not abandon them, allaying their fears thus: “We are not sleeping, security agencies are working round the clock” to tackle insecurity in the FCT.
The Minister, while charging the FCT residents to support security agencies in the fight against crimes and insecurity, said: “Ours is not to carry gun but give necessary information and they will make sure most of these things won’t be there again.
“As a government, we will give them all they require to do their job, as they can’t perform wonders if they don’t have equipment to work with and if we don’t provide them necessary information.”
He however, revealed that, within a week, his Administration would provide security agencies with vehicles, motorcycles and others tools they need to work with.
Futhermore, the Minister frowned at unpatriotic comments on social media about security, emphasizing that insecurity respects neither religion nor political affiliation.
He reiterated his directive for the six council Chairmen constitute and strengthen vigilante groups, warning that members of the groups must be profiled so they don’t constitute insecurity themselves
According to him, he just averted planned industrial actions by NULGE and NUT in the councils by taking up payment of 40 percent of debts owed the two unions, leaving the Councils to settle the remaining 60 percent, “because I’d we don’t do it, it will also become security threat.”
Touching on the ‘one-chance’ security challenge, Wike disclosed that the FCTA would soon launch buses, painted with FCT colours, to provide security services in a safe and comfortable manner.
Similarly, on demolition of illegal structures, the minister explained that it was necessary because criminals commit crimes and hide in the shanties away from law enforcement agents, even as he warned them to repent or be dealt with severely.
He also promised to help construct two community roads and provide one police division as requested by the AMAC Chairman.
Earlier, the AMAC Chairman, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, had appealed for Wike’s intervention in the provision of additional police divisions in AMAC and access roads to Ketti, Takushara, Burum, Gidan Kwano, Leka and Kutasa, for security and safety of the people.
He praised Wike for transforming the FCT within few months, listing some of the achievements to include exit from Treasury Single Acount (TSA), rehabilitation of roads and creation of FCT Civil Service Commission, among others.
Maikalangu blamed insecurity in the FCT on influx of displaced people from neighbouring states
Earlier, Sarkin Karshi, Ismaila Mohammed Danladi, advised politicians to desist from politicizing insecurity.
He decried: “I was sad to read on social media that the appointment of the FCT Minister is the reason for the upsurge in insecurity in FCT. This is not true.
“ The case of insecurity is as a result of the economic policies of the present government, including the removal of fuel subsidy, which has plunged people into poverty. “
The royal father advised security stakeholders to take advantage of the traditional structure in the provision of security service, even as he urged revival of monthly security meetings at the council level.

In Abaji, the Council Chairman, Abubakar Abdullahi, also hailed Wike and pledged to collaborate in securing the Territory.
Abdullahi who also appealed to the Minister for the provision of more police division, also asked for completion of the FCT University of Science and Technology, Abaji, as well as the establishment of a military barracks within his council.
In his response, the Minister called for design of the university for possible upgrading, saying it would be a thing of pride to finish it during his tenure.
Wike also promised to provide access roads in areas requested, as well as facilitated the immediate construction of police division.