President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted an emergency approval for procurement of digital tracking devices to aid the fight against kidnapping and other violent crimes in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

FCT Minister, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, made this disclosure in Abuja on Monday, January 22, 2024 during his first monthly media chat for the year.

Barr. Wike, who noted that the lack of adequate equipment in the past led to recent unpleasant events, said with the emergency procurement approval by the President, the story would soon change in the FCT.

The Minister also applauded the emergency approval by the President, saying it has eliminated the delay that would have been encountered in going through the normal procurement process.

According to Barrister Wike, the purchase of the special equipment will enable the security agencies to track criminals to their exact location in the city adding that it would help to limit criminal activities.

According to the Minister, “So, what we have done with Mr. President, giving us approval for emergency procurement, we have been able to identify what each of the agencies need and we will be able now to provide them”.

He also disclosed that the FCT Administration will provide motorcycles to ease specific movements of the security agencies in difficult terrains to enable them tackle insecurity in the nation’s capital.

The Minister said he learnt on assumption of office that the Nigeria Police Force had requested the procurement of motorcycles to enable them go into places vehicles could not get to, including remote and mountainous areas

“The basic thing is having identified all these and the security agencies have told us this is what they require, we have to do the needful. We have even gone further to ask the state director of DSS about what they would need to tackle this menace. What kind of equipment do you want? Not that if anything happens, you have to run to your headquarters to seek assistance,” he remarked.

Stressing that the government was not resting on its oars, the Minister said some of the informants recently arrested by security agencies were cooperating and giving useful intelligence, adding that the information extracted from the informants had led to the arrest of some kidnappers as well as the foiling of more attacks.

The FCT Minister, however stressed the need for information sharing among security agencies saying it is key to unravelling the issue of insecurity in the nation’s capital.

Barr. Wike also stated that the FCT Administration will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the safety of lives and property in the FCT, added that every resident has a role to play to combat insecurity in the FCT.

He said: “Our going out to involve the natives, the Area Councils, is to let them know that they also have a role to play and that information is key. We were able to encourage the area councils to have vigilante groups to be able to give security agencies information. We were able to know firsthand, their own peculiarities, their own problems”.

Noting that most kidnapping incidents occur in the boundary areas of the FCT, the Minister said the FCT Administration would work with the states contigual to the FCT to bring an end to insecurity.

The Minister said: “When I came on board, as part of the hand over notes, there is a section where the governors of the four states and the FCT try to form a coalition on how they can support each other to reduce the level of insecurity amongst the boundary states and the FCT, but it was not implemented.

“But the governors are settled now after the elections. So, we will be having our first meeting next week which FCT is going to host the four states that share borders with the FCT in order to fully implement the cooperation between the four states and the FCT, because if we don’t do that it will be difficult because we need the support of Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger and Kaduna states and majorly, Kaduna and Niger”.



.He said most of the bandits when flushed out of the states run into forests bordering the states and the FCT and eventually into the FCT. The Minister also commended the Nigeria Army for their efforts in flushing out the criminals, adding that they could do more with more motivation.

“We are talking about forest that run into thousands of hectares. Our soldiers have tried within their capacity. From time to time, they raid these forests but they can’t remain there permanently because they don’t have the resources and personnel to keep them there permanently. And as they move out, some of these bandits come in again. But with what we are doing now, and the support of the various area councils, we think they will soon be a thing of the past”, he assured.

As part of measures taken to check insecurity, especially “one chance”, the Minister said henceforth, all commercial vehicles in the FCT would be registered and painted in the colors of the FCT. He stressed that no unregistered vehicle would be allowed for commercial purpose in the FCT.

He said: We are not going to allow vehicles that are not with FCT colors, registered by the FCTA to ply commercially. So you as a passenger will not go and enter a vehicle you don’t know. Even uber will have to be registered. Who are these drivers? We need to certify them and the security agencies profile them. This is a city. If we don’t have rules, then there will be problems.

The Minister expressed worry that the FCT does not have vehicle terminals for the various areas of the territory, this, he said, was a source of security concern as commuters board vehicles on the road to the detriment of their lives.



To address this, Barr. Wike said, “By the grace of God, what we plan to do in this fiscal year is to at least start with three terminals so that we know the buses and taxis that will carry people from that terminal so that nobody takes that risk to go on the road to wait for taxis. With that we will be able to reduce crime.

“I am not saying that with the provision of these there will be no crime, no, it is not possible. Anybody that says that is not telling you the truth”.

The Minister who called for more motivation for security operatives to discharge their duties better, also stressed the need for stiffer penalties for criminals as part of ways to check criminality in the FCT.

He said the FCTA on its part will continue to support the security agencies and urged residents to cooperate with the security operatives to secure lives and property in the FCT.



ANTHONY OGUNLEYE

DIRECTOR OF PRESS

OFFICE OF THE HONOURABLE MINISTER

22/01/2024

FCTA/ODP/PR/482

PHOTO

FCT Minister, barrister Nyesom Wike stressing a point during the media on Monday

Insecurity is the most lucrative industry bin Nigeria, 13years running

You people just want to turn abuja police officers to coded okada riders

Both Tinubu and Wike are comedians and failures

Two f..ls

Another waste of funds ..do Fulani bandits look like who dey hide

I just don't get it.

Why does it seem the country is suddenly in a kidnapping epidemic.

Would it be out of place to say someone or some people want Nigerians to be in a state of perpetual FEAR?

We have been DISTRACTED from issues of government and governance and that is the END GAME.

WIKE is the best minister of FCT

Story

Whalis:

Ipob sympathizers and their registered political party adherent won't agree. They are pained Wike said he is Ikwerre and his progenitor migrated from Bini and secondly he delivered Rivers to Tinubu during the presidential election.

yes and since then Nigeria has faired better, the worst thing is the citizens of Nigeria re even comfortable where ever the elites keeps them. Very unfortunate

Jlow2:
yes and since then Nigeria has faired better, the worst thing is the citizens of Nigeria re even comfortable where ever the elites keeps them. Very unfortunate

Not really. Although one state is like Texas now in Nigeria. That state is Anambra which Obi once governed. They have constant electricity and lots more.

On what basis did you assess him?.

Has he done anything?. Paid propaganda should take things easy.

2027 your eyes go clear.

yarimo:
WIKE is the best minister of FCT

Noted.
So, it requires Presidential approval for him to actually function?

Wike the amaechi in tinubu's govt

Embezzlement

Would they be bought ?

How long would it take for the devices to reach Nigeria?

In Akpabio's voice " He doesn't chop alone"

I no call names before "Two edged sword" (Seun) would delete my message

Nice one

Haters can see the synergy between the god of Politics Emilokan Tinubu and the Political Magician Wike the wicked one

Something that may not be purchased at last or the police will make mess of it and dump it just like they do to their patrol vans.

Indeed

Until it started affecting Abuja, government didn't see this as necessary.

There are key political positions that should not be filled by incompetent individuals on compensation basis. One of them is the FCT minister.

The Federal Capital does not have a governor, so the minister is by effect, the chief security officer.

If Wike had left the affairs of Rivers State and concentrated on Abuja, some of these insecurity issues may have been averted.

Whalis:

Ipob sympathizers and their registered political party adherent won't agree. They are pained Wike said he is Ikwerre and his progenitor migrated from Bini and secondly he delivered Rivers to Tinubu during the presidential election.

How is Wike the best minister of the FCT?

😎

There's no iota of doubt that Wike would handle insecurity in the FCT.

The purpose of the insecurity in Abuja has been achieved

Factfinder1:
Something that may not be purchased at last or the police will make mess of it and dump it just like they do to their patrol vans.

You think say Wike de do nonsense?

What are the governors doing?
Is it only FCT that kidnappers are ravaging?

Most of them only are chief security office by title

lilytender:
Haters can see the synergy between the god of Politics Emilokan Tinubu and the Political Magician Wike the wicked one

What synergy is that and what is the result of the synergy?

Declare kidnapping a capital offense punishable by death.
No jail sentences attached but strictly death, wether successful kidnapping or even an attempt to kidnap and watch it fizzle away.
It is the new oil rich business now across the country.
MAKE IT A CAPITAL OFFENSE PUNISHABLE BY INSTANT DEATH