The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced the 100 percent completion of the Divisional Police Headquarters and staff quarters in Ushafa and Saburi, in Bwari and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Area Councils, respectively, as part of efforts to take security to the doorsteps of residents.
Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, Mr. Adamu Gwary, disclosed this on Wednesday while inspecting the project in Saburi and Ushafa.
‘As you can see, this very particular one at Ushafa, we can adjudge it to be 100% completed,’ Gwary said.
‘As you heard the contractor saying that he is handing over, and the schedule of handing over is already with him. And the technical team from FCDA Public Building will come along and ensure that every detail that has been indicated in the Bill of Quantity and the drawing has been fully completed.’
He explained that while the Ushafa and Saburi facilities were fully completed, other ongoing divisional headquarters across the territory are at various stages of completion, with only one below 90 percent.
‘Yesterday we were directed by the Honourable Minister that we should charge them that they should complete it before the end of November. Many of them are upbeat about completing it on or before the end of November,’ he added.
Gwary said the projects are a fulfillment of the promise made by the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike, during town hall meetings held in the six area councils at the peak of insecurity in 2023.
‘During the press briefing yesterday, I recounted the assumption of duty of the Honourable Minister, where he held town hall meetings in all six area councils at the peak of security challenges, where he promised FCT residents that he is taking security to their doorsteps.
‘Providing this kind of facilities, two in each of the area councils, is the manifestation of such promise by the Honourable Minister to ensure that every nook and cranny of the Territory has been provided with security infrastructure where they will make the environment safe and secure for the residents.’
He said a total of 12 divisional headquarters – two in each area council – are being constructed, including one in Igbu, Bwari Area Council, located about 30-40 kilometres from Ushafa at the fringes of the FCT-Nasarawa border to provide border security.
Gwary recalled that at the town hall meetings, the minister read the Riot Act to traditional institutions and residents on the activities of informants aiding kidnappers, warning that informants would be treated as kidnappers, while urging residents to provide timely and accurate information.
‘This actually paid off. We reel out statistics as regards to cases of reported kidnapping and other heinous crimes from 2023 to date, and you will see the manifestation of that town hall meeting where he read the Riot Act, provided the security agencies with crime-fighting equipment, and equally now infrastructure,’ he said.
He noted that beyond physical infrastructure, the minister provides continuous monthly logistics support to all security agencies and is investing in technology, including surveillance coverage of the presidential route from the airport to the Villa, and deployment of drones.
‘Presently, in conjunction with the Inspector General of Police, the presidential route from the airport to the Villa is being covered by technology. Last week, we visited the control room at the Force Headquarters… Also, the deployment of drones and other facilities are on the way,’ he said.
Earlier, the site engineer for the Ushafa project, Engr. Kabir Owoyebo Muhammed, thanked the FCT Minister for entrusting his company with the project.
‘I want to thank the Honourable Minister for FCT for entrusting the project to my company to handle the project designed to address the big security challenges in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council. We are able to deliver the project within the time frame with the support of the Director of Security, Director of Public Building, and Directors in Project Monitoring and Evaluation,’ he said.
Gwary assured residents that with the new facilities, adequate police personnel will be deployed to cover all communities, enabling residents to go about their lawful businesses without fear.