Wike Meets Senators, Pledges Transformation, Improved Security

Minister, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike, has met with the Senate over the state of insecurity in Abuja with a promise to intensify efforts that had led to the successes recorded so far.

Wike stated this while briefing journalists after a closed-door meeting with Senators that lasted for over three hours at the National Assembly Complex.

The lawmakers had earlier summoned the Minister and Commissioner of police FCT command, Bennett Igwe, to brief the lawmakers on measures put in place to secure the residents.

The FCT Minister explained that the recent arrest of the two most wanted kidnappers helped the administration to curtail insecurity in the territory, however pointed out that
FCT is now secured due to improved security.

He expressed concern that most kidnappings were often carried out by close associates or family members who act as informants and accomplices.

“Most of the kidnapping stories you hear, some of them are stage-managed by people. There are some internal arrangements.Take for example, you have a housekeeper or a driver in the house who will plot to kidnap the child of their boss. In such a case, what do you expect us to do?What we can do is to ensure that the person that is kidnapped is released” Wike said.

Wike however assured residents of more transformation in the FCT as evident in the establishment of new secretatiats and provision of infrastructure.

“What is important is what the FCT should expect from now. I will say improved security, more infrastructure. You can see what is going on in the FCT. It has been turned into a construction site”.

“You can also see what has happened in the FCTA. Now we have our own Civil Service Commission; now we have our own Permanent Secretaries which has never been.There are new things in the FCT, and the residents are happy,”.

He noted that no society exists without one form of crime or the other, adding that what was critical was being able to reduce the level of insecurity to the bearest minimum.

“We are not saying we have gotten to where we want to be, but we are doing a lot and people should acknowledge that what used to be is not what we are seeing now.We will continue to do our best to ensure that we provide the best for our people.

Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji