By Ibrahim Biu
The recent bomb blast at the Emab Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, despite the stringent security measures so far put in place by the Bala Mohammed led Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is worrisome and very unfortunate. FCT residents seem to have been traumatized by the incident.
It appeared many people were taken by surprise by the incident even though there was an alert some few days before then that the insurgents were about to strike the area.
The incident is worrisome because Abuja is the nation’s capital where security is high given the fact that almost all the segments of society are represented including embassies and the foreign companies that have their offices situated in various parts of the city. Security surveillance is high because FCTA is desirous of protecting the lives and property of people in Abuja as obtainable in all capital cities around the world.
The Emab Plaza incident has become a matter of serious concern because people are actually aware of the strenuous efforts being made by both FCTA and the presidency on the insurgency issue in Abuja. A lot of people actually thought it was very difficult for the insurgents to penetrate the city despite all the tight security mounted all over the place by stern-looking security operatives patrolling every nook and cranny of the federal capital city at all times. It is no longer a secret that the FCT is doing a lot to combat the activities of the insurgents in all its ramifications across the city.
Indeed, it is on record that following the directive of President Goodluck Jonathan, the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, swung into action and reinvigorated the FCT security committee apart from providing sophisticated vehicles and other security gadgets to security agents to enable them carry out their assignments much more effectively.
It is also on record that the minister also extended the security committee’s size and mandate to cover even the neighboring states apart from ensuring that certain service areas in the city centre are provided with adequate security surveillance. This is in spite of the enormous and commendable efforts of President Jonathan on the issue of security in Abuja. There are also CCTV and other security apparatuses installed by the FCTA in some flash- points in the city all aimed at overcoming the activities of insurgents.
Moreover, in line with the decision to provide maximum security in Abuja any matter that has to do with the insurgency is attended to it with dispatch. In fact, since the insurgency started, Senator Bala no longer enjoys sound sleep as he has to work round the clock to tackle the menace. Security has been beefed up everywhere in the FCT.
Some of FCT residents are therefore canvassing that the presidency should again release more founds to the FCTA so as to enable it implement its own security initiatives put in place by the minister over the past four months or so in order to complement what the federal government’s efforts. This is because Bala Mohammed and his security team know where the shoe pinches.
Actually there is still a lot to be done in the provision of adequate and modernized security if additional funds are provided to the FCTA. This is because Abuja is one of the fastest growing cities in the world which needs more protection. The insurgents want to prove that they could disturb people in the city through their demonic activities.
Moreover, it is a fact that more is still expected to be done because even the best of actions can still be improved upon. Bala and his men can still do other things on security if more funds are given to them by the presidency even though to be fair to Mr. President, he has been during his best to the FCTA.
FCT residents, according to reliable information, believe that despite the challenges posed by insurgents in the city, the situation will improve and activities of the insurgents will be brought to an end through the efforts of Bala and his team with the massive assistance and cooperation it will receive from the central government and the foreign stake-holders who should are ready to assist on the situation.
Biu wrote form Abuja
