Use FCT to test run state police, lawmaker urges FG

The lawmaker representing AMAC/Bwari Federal Constituency, Rep. Chinedu Obika, has urged the federal government to experiment with state police in the FCT.

Obika made the call in Abuja on Thursday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the FCT was an ideal place to experiment the age-long agitation of Nigerians for state police.

“Nigerians have been agitating for state police; in the issue of Abuja, you don’t need a two-third majority.

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“Only the President’s pronouncement is what is needed because Abuja has no House of Assembly.”

The lawmaker who called for an improved security network in Abuja, said that migration could be one of the causes of insecurity in the capital territory.

He explained that people tend to move into Abuja everyday with the belief that it was a safer place to live, compared to other parts of the country.

Obika said that such movement of people from different backgrounds into Abuja, had exacerbated insecurity in the federal capital territory.

According to him, the council chairmen appear to be overwhelmed by the level of insecurity in the FCT and they do not have the capacity to fight it alone.

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The lawmaker, therefore called for synergy among security agencies to ensure tight security in Abuja, while calling for a coordinated security network and deployment of technologies to combat insecurity in the city.

“Drones and other effective security gadgets, as well as patrol vans, need to be made available to combat insecurity in the FCT.”

The lawmaker who also blamed poverty for the insecurity being witnessed in recent times, called on the government at all levels to formulate policies aimed at alleviating poverty.

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He, however, commended the Minister of FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike for transforming the area.

He described the Minister’s infrastructural landmarks as unprecedented in the history of the FCT.

“I must commend Mr. Nyesom Wike for bringing infrastructural development to FCT; I thank him for opening up the rural communities.”