At the backdrop of the bombs that detonated at Nyanya, killing almost 200 people, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been living in fear. Their fears is that what has been happening in the North-east shouldn’t be extended to the nation’s capital.
However, in order to fight insecurity in the territory, a bill seeking to create a security trust fund has passed second reading in the House of Representatives.
The bill is billed to provide adequate funding for security of lives and property in the in the FCT and other connected purposes.
It was adopted on Wednesday on the floor of the House.
The bill also seeks to solicit and provide funds for the use of security agencies, recommend and fund necessary security projects.
It further seeks to nurture effective collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the aspect of crime prevention and containment within the Territory.
Also, it seeks to encourage relevant private organisations to actively partake in protecting and securing lives.
According to its sponsor, Rep. Tajudeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi), if passed into law will give the FCTA access to a fund through special subventions from the Federal government as well as contributions from corporate organizations without necessary recourse to the National Assembly approval as in the case of supplementary appropriations.
“There’s nowhere in the where government alone handles the issue of security; that’s why communities set up trust funds to augment whatever efforts government makes in providing security the citizenry”, he said.
Discussing the bill, members who supported it explained that paucity of fund impugns the fight against insecurity and it should not be the same in the FCT.
In his comment, the Minority Whip, Rep Samson Osagie, (APC, Edo), said the importance of the bill outweighs its disadvantages after its passage into law.
“It’s a very well intentioned bill calculated to make the issue of security a more efficient one for the benefit of residents. One of the major hindrances of fighting insecurity in the country and indeed the FCT is lack of fund.
“I believe strongly that if this trust fund is properly managed, devoid of the corrupt tendencies that characterizes our civil or public service system, I’m sure the security of lives and property in the FCT would be guaranteed”, he submitted.
However, in the public, mixed reaction is trailing it. While some residents believe it is a welcome ideas some believe that the trust fund would be created for some people to loot.
Mr. Mumini Isa, a resident of Kubwa was of the view that “if the bill is eventually passed into law and security is well enforced, it would reduce the fear that we have been having following the Nyanya bombings, so it is a good idea that should be quickly passed into law.”
Similarly, Alhassan Musa Zuba, a retired police officer, said as Abuja is the nation’s capital, such special security measures need to be adopted to keep it safe and secured, but “there must be assurance that that money will not be looted.
But a resident of Gwagwalada, Hamisu Mohammed, said “it is totally uncalled for. The country has huge security vote yet our troops don’t good rifles to fight the Boko Haram sect. I believe the same thing will happen with that trust fund.”