FCTA Sets-Up Committee To Stop Vandalization Of Public Facilities

By: Ben Ukeji, Prudence Okonna & Sunday Shekwonya

Worried by the quantum of vandalization of public facilities in the nation’s capital, the FCT Security Committee has set-up a high-powered committee to stop the activities of vandals across the Territory.

The Committee, which is headed by the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Gaba Haruna, is expected to mobilize both human and material resources at its disposal to launch a full manhunt for criminals vandalizing public infrastructures such as manhole cover, streetlights, electric cable among others.

This was contained in a Press Statement signed by the Director of Information & Communication, FCT, Muhammad Hazat Sule, and made available to newsmen on Friday.

Sule revealed that the establishment of the Committee was one of the highpoints of the decisions arrived at, during the Security Committee meeting held Thursday, at Gwarinpa I District (Life-Camp), Abuja.

According to the statement, apart from nipping the activities of the vandals in the bud, the Committee was charged to review the rate of vandalism in the Federal Capital Territory, come out with strategies and advise government on how best to end the menace of vandalization of public utilities permanently.

The statement added, “As a measure of cushioning the effect of subsidy removal on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, which is creating disaffection amongst some residents, the Security Committee has directed the FCT Transportation Secretariat to as a matter of urgency reactivate the staff bus scheme of the FCT Administration as well as the fleets of buses owned by the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited.”

It said that the Security Committee meeting, which was chaired by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, expressed deep concern at the level which criminals are presently vandalizing government facilities and urged security operatives to up their game and bring all those culpable to book.

The Director said that the meeting also noted that the FCT Administration has spent huge sums of money in providing these infrastructures for the good of the residents, and warned those criminals to desist from stealing government properties or face the full wrath of the law.

“The Committee, therefore, advised all residents to be vigilant and report any form of suspicious act or movement to the appropriate authority,” the statement read.

The statement stressed that the Committee, equally, appealed to the residents of the Territory to be patient, as the government is taking all necessary steps to improve their welfare.

Other members of the five-man Committee, that is expected to submit its report within four weeks include: the FCT Director of the Department of State Security (DSS); Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), FCT Command; Ag. Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat; and the Director, Security FCT who is to serve as the Secretary of the Committee.