By Sarah NEGEDU
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has summoned an emergency security meeting of the six area council chairmen and heads of security agencies in the nation’s capital, for a emergency meeting following the pace of kidnapping in the territory.
There’s been public outrcry following the murder of 400 level student of ABU Zaria, Nabeeha Al-Kadriyar and 13 years old Folashade Ariyo who were kidnapped alongside their family members in the Zuma area of Bwari and Sagwari Estate Layout, Dutse-Alhaji.
Addressing the press before the closed-door meeting, Wike said himself and the Area Council Chairmen will join heads together, to profer solutions to the security challenges in the country, noting that they owed a duty to make sure Abuja was safe.
“All of us are aware of the security situation in the Federal Capital Territory, particularly Bwari and some other areas that have witnessed security challenges. Our concern is that for the Federal Capital Territory that has virtually every Nigerian, we owe a duty to make sure that this place is safe, to do all we can, and we assure Nigerians who reside here, that there is no need for panic.
“We are taking every step to make sure that those challenges are things that we must have to resolve. So, this meeting is practically to look into such challenges and see how we are able to resolve the problems. And that is why we invited all the council chairmen, because they also have a responsibility in their various area councils.
“So, we will put our heads together and come up with solutions. So, for the press, it is just for you to know that we are not sleeping, security agencies are also not sleeping. We will provide every support that they require in order to allay the fears of the citizens”, he said.
The minister, while charging the council chairmen to wake up to their responsibilities of taking necessary steps that will address banditry and kidnapping in their domains, stressed that insecurity should not be seen as an issue to be handled by one person but a collective efforts.
Wike also stated that he will not be happy to receive news of Area Council Chairmen abdicating responsibilities and travelling, especially while there were security challenges in their various councils.
“This time around, we will not be happy where Area Council Chairmen will abdicate their responsibility and travel out. We have gotten reports that council chairmen travel anytime, and then if anything happens, of course, they will not call anybody’s name, they will call the FCT Minister. However, we cannot fold our hands, we have invited them to a meeting this afternoon to see how we can also resolve the problem”, the Minister said.
Wike, however, frowned at constant travels by the area councils’ chairmen in the wake of challenges, particularly the current kidnappings and other security challenges affecting the council areas.
He described the development as unacceptable, considering the critical role of the council chairmen in addressing security challenges.
“This time around, we will not be happy, where area council chairmen will abdicate their responsibility and travel out.
“We have gotten reports that the council chairmen travel anytime, and if anything happens, they will not call anybody’s name, but the FCT ministers.
“Recently NUT have embarked on strike. It is not because of our fault; it is the area council because primary schools are under the purview of the area councils.
“Again, it will look as if the ministers are doing nothing, but that is not our responsibility, however, we cannot fold our hands.
The minister disclosed that he has invited the striking teachers for a meeting this afternoon to resolve the problem.
“So, council chairmen should know that they must wake up to their responsibilities. It is not everything that happens people will say that the ministers are not taking steps,” he said
