The lawmaker representing the AMAC/Bwari federal constituency of the FCT in the House of Representatives, Hon. Joshua Obika has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to create a special security intervention fund for the complete overhaul of the security architecture in the federal capital.
Addressing a news conference in his office at the National Assembly, Hon. Obika lamented the rising security situation in the FCT, which he said has spread to all districts within the territory.
He said there was a need to create a special security intervention force to work hand in hand with the police and the communities to fight insecurity in the FCT.
He said: “Several situations of insecurity woes abound in FCT. Time will fail me to recount the incessant cases of banditry, kidnapping, one-chance operations, armed robberies, and all.
“Most of these insecurity cases are not reported by the media. Some of the locations under the bridges are infested with criminals who do not flinch to kill just for any brand and size of telephone handsets. Severally, we have received reports of people who are tracked and picked up just in front of their gates. As if these were not enough, another dimension to criminality has been introduced by hoodlums who mob passers-by upon choreographed fake alarms of missing genitals and use the ensuing chaos to dispossess innocent victims of their phones and valuables.
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“No district nor class of people has been spared and certainly, no one knows who is going to be the next victim. That Abuja is no longer safe is no more in doubt. Residents keep asking whether the security of Abuja is slipping through our fingers.
“There is an urgent demand for us to restore the hope of both the citizens and investors in this our dream city. Pursuant to this, I, therefore, appeal to Mr President for the creation of a Special Security Intervention Fund for the complete overhaul of FCT security architecture.
“Added to this, is the need for the FCT Administration to evolve a strategic initiative of deployment of smart technologies in the nooks and crannies of the city and satellite towns.
“This is achievable through deploying CCTVs, drones, and other integrated electronic surveillance systems, among others. I also suggest that more work should be done in the area of intelligence gathering.
“Blind spots like surrounding bushes should be periodically raided, while uncompleted buildings should be adequately evacuated or policed.
“I believe the FCT Security Department should be upgraded to the rank of a directorate or an agency and empowered with adequate professional staff and institutional framework to coordinate the security efforts in the FCT. Abuja has become too big and complex to be handled just by an officer of the directorate level.
“It is time to create a network of stakeholders comprising neighbourhood associations, community groups, and traditional rulers to build solid networks and partnerships for the effective policing of our neighborhoods and localities.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. I am dismayed at the total lack of coordinated efforts by estates, neighbourhoods, and communities in FCT to form a bulwark against organised crime.
“Night clubs should be given standard operational procedures. They should be required to install necessary electronic security surveillance gadgets in and around their places of business as well as cater for patrols by security operatives with light arms, like the Civil Defence Corps.
“As we enter the festive season, there is no doubt that crime is likely to spike. I appeal to the FCT Minister, and relevant security agencies to beef up security surveillance in the Territory. It should also intensify public enlightenment on civilian participation in security preparedness.
“There should be a framework for coordinating the various security services contractors swarming around the territory to integrate their operation into the FCT security architecture. In the same vein, residents should be more watchful and should report suspicious movements around them to security agencies.
“The police and other law enforcement agencies should do more to earn the trust of the residents to allay the safety concerns of people who report crimes.”
The lawmaker also decried the level of basic education in the FCT, saying most schools in the rural FCT lack the enabling environment for learning with pupils studying under blown-off roofs, children sitting on the ground to receive instructions, no sanitary facilities, and no adequate teaching materials.
He complained about the lack of qualified teachers in FCT schools while faulting the recruitment process for teachers in the territory.