Insecurity: FEC approves N2.6bn for operational vehicles, gadgets

 

JONAS EZIEKE  and FAVOUR ISHEMBER, Abuja

 

 

 

As part of efforts to further secure lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory, the Federal Executive Council (FEC), today, Wednesday, 3rd August 2022, approved the purchase of operational vehicles and various security equipment to support security agencies in the FCT.

 

 

FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello who made this known at the end of the FEC meeting said the approval involved two contracts totaling N 2,682, 248,378.52K.

 

 

The Minister disclosed that the first contract which is for the procurement of 60 units of Ford Ranger 4×4 wheel drive vehicles with security communication accessories including 3 years post sales service was awarded to Messrs Coscharis Motors Ltd at the sum of N1,835,108,613.95k.

 

 

He also explained that the second contract which is for the purchase of various security gadgets and accessories to support security agencies in the FCT, was awarded to Messrs E&S Technology Ltd at the sum of N847,139,764.57.

 

The Minister assured that with this massive support to security agencies, efforts to curtail security challenges in the FCT will be further enhanced.

 

He also appealed to residents of the Territory to support the FCT Administration and the security agencies in the fight against crime and criminality in the nation’s capital by being security conscious and providing useful information to the relevant authorities when possible.

 

However, To address the worsening insecurity situation in many parts of Nigeria resulting in killings and maiming of citizens by hoodlums on daily basis, the Inspector-General of Police IGP Usman Alkali Baba has directed Assistant Inspectors- General of Police AIGs of zonal commands of the Nigeria Police and Commissioners of of Police CPs of the Force in the states to immediately begin documentation of all motorcycles and tricycles riders in their areas of command for citizen’s security.

 

The IGP has also given approval for the convocation of an all important security workshop of all the zonal AIGs, and CPs and other Commanders of tactical, intelligence and operational units of the Force in the six-geo-political zones and the nation’s capital in order to enhance security of lives and properties of citizens.

 

He gave the order in an opening remark at the IGP meeting with Strategic Police Commanders at the Peace Keeping Hall Force Headquarters Annex,Abuja on Wednesday where he decried the prevalence of security threats to citizens by kidnappers, bandits and other criminal syndicate groups.

 

According to the Police boss, despite security measures emplaced by the Police and other sister security agencies, the trend of attacks on citizens by these highly organized and  violent criminal syndicate is being compounded by increasing rate of arms trafficking and proliferation.

 

The situation he noted had worsened the nation’s palours security situation and of late had resulted into the unfortunate attack on the Correctional Facility in Kuje during which some high-profile criminals escaped.

 

According to the IGP, while the Police in conjunction with other sister security agencies have succeeded in re-arresting some of the fleeing felons and have enhanced the the security of the facility this incident and the increasing violent campaigns by armed groups in the country have led to general apprehension among citizens and continue to present a major threat to our national security.

 

On the imperatives of strategic meeting, he said: “In the face of the current security situation, a higher level of commitment to duty towards addressing the prevailing fear of crime among the populace and mitigating the current security threats. This is our mandate, and we must commit to achieving it. The pathway for this will form key object of our deliberation today.”

 

The conference was to also review the extent of compliance with his directives that the Police authorities liase with the Nigerian Correctional Service Authorities in their areas of responsibility and jointly review the existing security architecture with a view to identifying vulnerabilities at the Custodial Facilities and complement the service in upscaling security in and around such facilities to prevent further security breaches.

 

Furthermore it was to give effect to the National Security Council’s resolution on the documentation and streamlining of the operations of commercial motorcycles and tricycles riders across the country as part of the national initiative that are directed at addressing current and evolving national security threats.

 

Meanwhile as the 2023 general elections in Nigeria draws nearer each day, the IGP has given approval for an all important security workshop to hold towards improving election security management operations in the country.

 

The commencement of the election security management workshop  he stated is being organised by the Nigeria Police Force in conjunction with Solar Security and Consult Company Ltd at the International Conference Centre Abuja on Thursday August 4,2022.

 

Furthermore, it will hold across the six-geo-political zones and targets the training of about four hundred Police Officers with slots allocated to the military, Department of State Services and all other sister security agencies that complement the Nigeria Police Force in election security management.

 

He had directed that AIG Federal Operations, AIG Police Mobil Force, AIG Counterterrorism Unit, AIG Border Patrol, AIG Airwing, CP Special Protection Unit, CP Force Intelligence Bureau, CP Special Tactical Squad and DC Intelligence Response Team should by virtue of their strategic role in election management attend the event.

 

 

The IGP said that the programme is specifically designed  to sharpen the operational competence of strategic officers on election security management as well as build professional network that could be deployed to change the narratives on election  governance during the 2023 general elections.

 

Also,The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, met with Strategic Police Managers – Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, Commissioners of Police, and the Force Management Team – on Wednesday, August 3, 2022,  at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to x-ray the general security of the nation as well as make positive and proactive projections on management and effective decimation of security threats in the land, while equally preparing in earnest for a credible and secured general elections in 2023.

 

The IGP expressed concern over the proliferation of arms in sub-Saharan Africa which has consequently led to an increase in security threats within the nation, notably the attack on the Kuje Correctional Facility in Abuja. He however acknowledged the compliance level of strategic managers on identifying vulnerabilities at custodial facilities in their respective areas, and complementing the Correctional Service in upscaling security in and around such facilities to forestall further security breaches.

 

The IGP equally directed all strategic police managers to commence an immediate special visibility policing operation across all Commands taking into cognizance crime mapping, and massive deployment of operational and intelligence assets and manpower.

 

Commenting on the recently concluded Ekiti and Osun State Gubernatorial Elections, the IGP commended the police managers for the exceptional level of professionalism displayed during the elections. He charged them to draw on the success towards enhancing election security management operations during the 2023 general elections.

 

The IGP while emphasizing the importance of training and re-training in the achievement of any organizational goal, noted that plans have been concluded for the commencement of the Election Security Management Workshop organized by the Force in conjunction with Solar Security and Consult Company Ltd., scheduled to commence on Thursday 4th August, 2022 with an opening ceremony/flag off at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

 

The Workshop, which is a “train-the-trainers” programme designed to broaden the knowledge and operational competence of strategic officers, will hold across the six geo-political zones of the country within the month of August. Attendees will include about 400 police officers, and personnel from the Military, Department of State Services, and other security agencies who complement the police in election security management.

 

The Inspector-General of Police, in concluding his remarks at the Conference, emphasized the importance of the protection of fundamental human rights as enshrined in the Constitution.

 

The IGP according to the statement  issued by the Force Spokesman CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi charged all officers to discharge their duties professionally in line with the dictates of the law, as anyone found wanting, or who tramples on citizens’ rights which they have vowed to protect, will be identified, isolated, and dealt with promptly, firmly, and transparently.

 

.Senate Grills Service Chiefs, IGP Behind Closed Door for five hours

 

The Senate leadership on Wednesday grilled Service Chiefs  and the Inspector – General of Police for five hours over worsening security situation in the country.

 

The meeting is coming a week after the opposition Senators threatened President Muhammadu Buhari with notice of Impeachment.

 

Before the lawmakers embarked at the closed door session, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan lamented that the situation at hand as far as security challenges in Nigeria  are concerned , is frightening as there is no where that is safe .

 

Lawan said despite collaborative efforts made by both the Presidency  and the National Assembly in stemming the tide of worsening insecurity over the years , the situation at hand now is most frightening .

 

 

The frightening situation he explained , necessitated the emergency meeting between the Senate Leadership and the security chiefs .

 

 

” This meeting today is to look into where we are now  and how to get out of it not in six months or a year from now but from today .

 

 

 

” Bandits have taken over large portion of our land , particularly the rural areas , making farmers to abandon  their farms with attendant drastic drop in Agricultural productivity .

 

 

” Worsening the situation is the level of oil theft that has reached alarming proportion , already making international oil firms or explorers not to feel safe any longer in carrying out their business .

 

 

” If this frightening situation is not addressed immediately , government may be so challenged to the point of having little to provide required services to Nigerians .

 

 

” Therefore , we invite you to tell us what the problems are . Are resources given not enough or required synergy not available .

 

 

” Whatever the problems are , Nigerians want serious and drastic change from today . So in your submissions be confident to talk to us as  partners for lasting solutions”, he said .

 

 

In his brief response before the meeting went into closed door , the Chief of Defence Staff said commitment of officers and men of the various security agencies in securing the country is not in any way being compromised and will not be compromised .

 

 

” No one is leaving any stone unturned in addressing all the imbalances “, he said .

 

 

Other security chiefs at the meeting are the Chief of Army Staff , Lt Gen Farooq Yahaya , Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief of Air Staff , Air Marshall Isiaka Oladayo Amao , the Inspector General of Police , Alkali Baba Usman , Director General of Department of State Services , Yusuf Magaji Bichi etc .

 

Present at the meeting with  Senate President were the Senate Leader , Ibrahim Gobir , Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice , Minority Leader , Philip Aduda , Deputy Whip of the Senate , Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi , Deputy Minority Whip , Chukwuka Utazi and Chairmen of various committees on security.

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