FCTA summons emergency security meeting on begging, hawking

The FCT Administration has restated that begging, street hawking, cattle grazing and commercial motorcycle (Okada) remain banned in the Federal Capital City, Abuja and must be enforced by the security agents.

The FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, said this after an emergency FCT Security Committee meeting held in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the FCT Administration will continue to collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that the ban is made effective.

Bello said that the institutions must be strengthened to carry out their statutory duties in line with the Change agenda of the Federal Government.

He, however, commended the security community in the FCT for the high-level intelligence sharing that had so far assisted the administration to nip in the bud any security breach in the territory.

The committee condemned the illegal attempt by some criminals who stormed the Vocational and Rehabilitation Centre, Kuchiko in Bwari Area Council, trying to rescue some of the inmates following the arrest of 687 beggars/destitute.

The committee also decried the illegal use of uncompleted buildings by destitute people, miscreants and criminals in the city, warning that owners of such property would be held responsible for any security breach traced to their property.

The minister reiterated that owners of such uncompleted buildings must provide security in and around such property and also ensure the cleanliness of the surrounding areas.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, FCT Police Commissioner, Commandant, Guards Brigade, Garrison Commander, heads of Navy and Air Force in the FCT and Director of FCT DSS attended the meeting.

Others were Chairmen of the six FCT Area Councils, Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) as well as Mandate Secretaries, Ona of Abaji and the heads of para-military organs in the FCT.