The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, has lauded Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, on his numerous achievements since assumption of office in August last year, especially security initiatives....CONTINUE READING
Speaking Friday in Abuja, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting, Maikalangu said that Wike has made the FCT safer with the initiation of the establishment of the Ministerial Taskforce in FCT.
He said that upon assumption of office on August 21, last year, Wike has recorded many achievements, including the Rehabilitation of 135 roads (to be completed in few weeks time), exemption of the territory from the Treasury Single Account (TSA), the establishment of FCT Civil Service Commission (as authorized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu), among others.
Maikalangu, however, implored the FCT Minister to create access road to communities like Ketti, Takushara, Burum, Gidan Kwano access road, Leka and Kutasa, for good and safety of the people.
He said: “I am delighted to welcome my boss, mentor and role model, His Excellency, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, the Hon. Minister of FCT, to AMAC for this all important stakeholders engagement in respect to security of lives and properties of the people.
“I also welcome all the security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organizations and other stakeholders here present.
“On behalf of all the residents of Abuja Municipal Area Council, permit me to acknowledge, with deep appreciation, the great achievements recorded by the Hon. Minister of the FCT, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesome Wike.
“In less than one year in office, you have transformed the FCT into a haven of admiration through the following achievements, among which are:
“Rehabilitation of 135 roads to be completed in few weeks time.
Exemption of the territory from the Treasury Single Account (TSA).
“The implication of this is that it allows for the efficient use of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to stimulate the growth and development of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The establishment of FCT Civil Service Commission as authorized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The list of the achievement within this short period is endless.”
He added: “Today, this engagement is geared towards rubbing minds and finding lasting solution to purge our Area Council from all forms of criminalities bedeviling us in AMAC.
“Honourable Minister Sir, last year before your assumption of office, we lost the village head of Ketti community and some residents in the hands of these kidnappers.
“Insurgent activities in the neighboring states of Niger, Kogi, Kaduna and Nasarawa and some other states led to upsurge of migration of people into FCT as their safe haven. Consequently, this has increased serious criminal activities in our rural areas and the city center.
“While we applaud you for initiating FCT Ministerial Taskforce, which is yielding positive result, it is obvious that the activities of the task force have also reduced the rate of crime in the territory.
“It will interest you to know that if communities such as Kabusa, Ketti, Gbawu and other communities that have become kidnappers’ hideouts, are accessible by security agencies, the rate of crime would have been adequately addressed.
“On this note, we are appealing for your intervention to create access road to the following communities: Ketti access road, Takushara access road, Burum access road and Gidan Kwano access road, Leka access road, Kutasa, for good and safety of the people.
“Furthermore, I want to use this privilege to appeal to you Sir, to please establish a police division within Takushara axis, hence it will provide security presence in all the surrounding communities.
“On this note, I urge our traditional rulers, elected Councillors, Women Leaders, Youth Leaders and all other stakeholders to rise up and be committed to this fight against crime, anyone found wanting will not be spared.
“I thank you Honorable Minister Sir, for finding time out of your busy schedules to engage us in this town hall meeting. We are very grateful, thank you all for coming.”
Also speaking, Sarki Karshi, Ismaila Mohammed Danladi, advised politicians to desist from politicizing insecurity, especially in the FCT.
“I was sad to read on social media that the appointment of the FCT Minister is the reason for the upsurge in insecurity in FCT. This is not true. The case of insecurity is as a result of the economic policies of the present government, including the removal of fuel subsidy, which has plunged people into poverty,” he said.
In his response, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, directed Maikalangu and other area council chairmen to be holding monthly security meetings to combat the menace of insecurity.
He accepted the requests of Maikalangu to construct a police station within Takushara axis and also to construct access roads in different communities to combat insecurity.
He said: “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not sleeping with the issue of insecurity nationwide. If AMAC is not safe, then the FCT is not safe. We’re not sleeping. The security agencies are working to ensure we have peace in FCT. It is not good that people go to social media to fabricate lies. Insecurity does not know who is a Christian or Muslim. Anyone here can be a victim. Therefore, it’s not good to politicize insecurity.
“As a government, ours is to provide security agencies with what they need to fight insecurity. Many of our security agents lack gadgets like vehicles and weapons, but we expect them to perform wonders. Therefore, the President has directed that within one week, we should provide our security agents with whatever they need to combat insecurity in FCT.
“I am directing the chairmen of all area councils in FCT to be holding monthly security meetings. The excuse of not having money to give our traditional rulers and security agents for transportation should not arise. Any council chairman that does not hold security meetings will be considered a threat. If there is no security meeting in AMAC, I’ll hold the Chairman responsible.
“We have also agreed to provide security bikes to security agencies so that they can access places where vehicles cannot enter. Now that the Chairman has requested for a police division within Takushara axis, we will have to build it so that the issue can be resolved. We will also construct the access roads requested by AMAC Chairman because I believe it will help us combat insecurity.”
