As part of efforts to control insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of the FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has handed over 50 emergency vehicles equipped with communications equipment to security agencies in the FCT.
Barrister Wike made this presentation on Friday, July 5, 2024, in Abuja at a ceremony attended by heads of various security agencies in the state capital.
Of the 50 emergency vehicles, the Nigeria Police Force, FCT Command, received 24 vehicles. The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, FCT Command, and the Department of State Services, FCT Command, received eight and five vehicles respectively. Further analysis revealed that the Guards Brigade received three operational vehicles while the Nigerian Air Force Abuja Field, Naval Unit Abuja, Nigerian Immigration Service, and the national drug law enforcement agency, FCT commands received one vehicle each. The FCTA Party’s Advanced Security Monitoring Unit has received six operational vehicles.
During the distribution exercise, the FCT Minister highlighted the commitment of the FCT administration to ensuring the security of lives and property in the FCT.
He explained that the security of lives and property is one of the priorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Agenda of Renewed Hope, assuring that the FCT government would continue to support the security agencies. The minister said: “It is neither my responsibility nor that of the Minister of State to implicate criminals. However, it is our responsibility to provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to confront these criminals and ensure that we sleep with our eyes closed. “If we fail to play this role, it will be difficult for our security agencies to fulfill this role of protecting lives and property. »
Barr. Wike, who opposed the conversion of emergency vehicles for personal use by security operatives, reminded them that the vehicles were purchased with taxpayers’ money and urged them to ensure that they are used for the benefit of society. They were also responsible for ensuring that vehicles were used to protect lives and property in city centers and rural areas.
Barrister Wike acknowledged the crucial role of security agencies and urged the public to continue to pray for the security forces and provide them with necessary support rather than condemning them. The minister said security reports available to him showed that for every negative security incident reported in the FCT, many others were nipped in the bud by security officials. He also said that no part of the world is completely crime-free and commended security agencies for reducing the crime rate in the FCT. He assured that the FCT administration will continue to encourage security agencies by providing them with the necessary tools to combat crime and protect lives and property.
Minister of State of the FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, in her speech, said that the delivery of emergency vehicles to the security agencies is an important step in the efforts of the FCTA to ensure security within the FCT and neighboring states. Dr. Mahmoud thanked the Minister for his focused leadership of the FCT and for making the vehicles available to security agencies.
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), Kayode Ojapinwa, also thanked the FCT Minister for his support to the security agencies and reiterated the commitment of the FCT Police Command FCT to ensure the safety of lives. and goods in the FCT.
Furthermore, the FCTA Director of Security, Adamu Gwary, said the emergency vehicles would enhance the capacity of security agencies to combat crime, adding that they would also enhance their capacity to respond to security emergencies.
