Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike has directed the Chairmen of the six Area Councils in the territory to strengthen the local vigilance teams in their areas by ensuring that their needs are adequately met.
Speaking on Tuesday at a security town hall meeting with stakeholders and residents of Kwali Area Council in Kwali town, Abuja, Wike said his administration had almost concluded procurement processes for more security vehicles.
He promised to ensure swift deployment of the vehicles, while requesting that the council provide more motorcycles to the vigilance teams.
He words: “I have listened to what the chairman has said. The chairman has virtually requested for everything but he has not told me what he has done.
“For me, whatever that is going to bring development or improve security, government has no hesitation. The president has directed me to let you know he feels your pains and that is why he has said I must go and see all the councils, talk to them and tackle insecurity headlong.
“I can assure you that in a matter of days you will be hearing positive stories. We are ready to support our security agencies whatever they need to ensure that our people can sleep with their two eyes closed. We have almost concluded procurement of vehicles for security agencies. We are going to provide the councils with motorcycles to support the vigilance teams so that they can get information and assist the security agencies.
“Our youths, we have directed the council chairmen to ensure that the vigilance teams are well taken care of. We need information from you because without information, the security agencies would have little or nothing to do. If you give them information on time, they will make sure that bad things don’t happen.”
On the issue of bad roads fueling kidnapping, the minister asked the council chairman to recommend two more roads in addition to the earlier ones recommended to the FCT Administration for reconstruction.
“We will not abandon you. We will make sure we develop the Area Councils. Before the end of the tenure of President Tinubu, you will see a lot of infrastructure going on in the Area Councils.
“Every year before we submit our budget to the NASS, we will come to you the traditional rulers and the people to ask you what your infrastructure needs are so that we can include them in the budget. We won’t abandon any project. If we don’t have the money we won’t embark on any project”, he declared.
Earlier, the Kwali Area Council Chairman, Danladi Chiya had listed several challenges facing the Council and asked for the establishment of a police division in Gwako as well as a military base in another part of the council.
