The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA on Friday said security agencies have drawn up tactics to avert the disruption of law and order in the nation’s capital on June 12.
This is as it assured residents of the FCT of their safety during the Democracy Day celebrations and beyond.
The assurance was contained in a statement by the FCT Minister’s Chief Press Secretary, Anthony Ogunleye.
The statement quoted the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, to have given the assurance following the routine FCT Security Committee meeting on Thursday.
The statement was titled ‘FCT security committee meeting: FCT residents assured of safety on June 12.’
Olusade said, “Residents of FCT are very peace-loving. So, collectively, we are committed to a peaceful June 12 celebration. In this regard, our security agencies are catching on to this commitment and they have assured us that no stone will be left unturned in protecting the lives and properties of residents.
“Security agencies have marshaled various strategies that will be deployed during this period. So, one thing I can tell the residents is to be assured of their safety in the city during the period and beyond,” he added.
He thereafter called on residents to go about their normal, lawful activities.
On kidnapping in the Territory, the Permanent Secretary revealed that the National Security and Civil Defence Corps hinted at the establishment of a Special Task Force to tackle the menace.
He also said other members of the committee agreed that the joint operations of the various security agencies would pay off, noting the FCT Administration would support the various security agencies by providing more operational vehicles and restoring those that had broken down to boost their operations and improve their response time.
He said that a multipronged approach which includes sensitisation of residents on the appropriate way to give alms, intervention of our religious institutions and constructive engagements with sponsors where identified would be adopted to bring the menace to the barest minimum.
The Permanent Secretary said, “We also discussed the issue of beggars that infiltrated the city and we have developed a multipronged approach. For instance, the use of sensitisation for people to know that there are better ways to give alms rather than giving to the so-called “poor on the streets” because when you give to the poor on the streets, they could use it for illegal purposes, they could use it to buy drugs.”
In attendance at the meeting were heads of the various military and paramilitary formations and agencies in the Territory, religious and traditional rulers, Area Council Chairmen as well as senior officials of the FCTA.
