The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has asked the Abuja police commissioner to establish two additional police divisions in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the territory.
Mr Wike gave the directive during a security town hall with relevant stakeholders on Friday in Gwagwalada to find lasting solutions to security challenges affecting the federal capital.
The order was in response to the request by the council’s chairman, Abubakar Giri, who pleaded for the additional divisions to improve security, particularly in border communities.
Mr Giri said the area council currently had only two police divisions, one each in Zuba and Gwagwalada.
He also complained of abandoned buildings constituting security challenges in the area, adding that most buildings have become safe havens for criminals.
Mr Wike, who acknowledged the challenges, assured residents of the area of President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to address security challenges in FCT.
He said the two police divisions would be established immediately, considering the security exigency.
The minister also said he had secured Mr Tinubu’s approval to procure and distribute operational vehicles and communications gadgets to the police and other security agencies in the FCT.
Mr Wike asked the council chairman to write to him unfailingly on Monday, indicating the number and locations of all uncompleted buildings constituting security threats in the area.
He assured the residents that he would approve the demolition of the uncompleted buildings or transfer ownership to the communities to complete and put to good use.
The minister also promised to construct a befitting health facility and implement other development projects in the area as requested by the residents.
“Security is one of the priorities of the currency government, so be rest assured that you are not alone, and we will do all that we can to end security challenges in the territory,” he said.
Earlier, the Aguma of Gwagwalada, Mohammed Magaji, urged the minister to assist the police with more operational vehicles to improve their security operations in the area.
Mr Magaji said the Gwagwalada Police Division had only one operational vehicle, adding that it was bad.
The traditional leader also called for the establishment of an additional general hospital in the Gwagwalada area to provide quality health service to the residents.
On Wednesday, Mr began a tour of the six area councils of the FCT to meet with community leaders and relevant stakeholders over security concerns.
(NAN)
