Insecurity: Abuja hotels to submit daily list of guests to security agencies

• ‘Operation-know-your-neighbor’ campaign begins 

By Doyin Ojosipe

The Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed yesterday directed all hotels in the Federal Capital Territory to forward the list of their guests to the FCT Directorate of State Security Services (SSS) and the FCT Police Command on a daily basis, in the ministry’s determination to ensure that lives and property are better secured in FCT.

In a press release issued by the Special Assistant (Media) to the FCT minster, Nosike Ogbuenyi, the hotels are equally required to install their individual security cameras within their vicinity and ensure thorough check of all vehicles entering the hotel and within their surroundings.

The Minister has also directed all residents and residents’ associations in various parts of the territory to embark on “Operation-Know-Your-Neighbor” campaign. The measure is to ensure that all criminally-minded elements are detected easily within the FCT. The security department of FCTA is to liaise with the various security agencies in the FCT on the modalities for implementing the ministerial directive.

The Minister directed all traditional rulers in the FCT to, as a matter of necessity, start conducting periodic meetings with various communities within their domains to take stock of strange faces living with them, as well as report all new comers within 48 hours to the local DPO and SSS office, in furtherance of the campaign.

He enjoined all FCT residents to be vigilant and cautious of strange objects or movements of persons, vehicles around them, as well as stationary vehicles. They should report same to the nearest security agencies.

The Minister further directed that all trailers/lorry operators bringing goods to the city shall no longer be allowed to off-load their contents at night. “All off-loading shall henceforth be done in the daytime, under supervision in designated places”, he stated.

The directive also requires owners of uncompleted and abandoned buildings and structures without security guards to provide same. “Failure to do so, the FCT Administration would apply appropriate sanctions.

Similarly, owners plots of land left fallow for a long period of time and not used for any economic or gainful purpose but taken over by criminals would now face appropriate sanctions.

The Minister reminded residents that the ban on smoking of Indian hemp and other narcotic substances is still in force in the territory, adding that the Administration had resolved to clamp down on violators.