FCTA supports security agencies to curb kidnappings, banditry – Perm. Sec

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is supporting the police and other security agencies to address kidnappings, banditry, communal clashes and other complexities.

The Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Mr Olusade Adesola stated this at the 2021 Flood Outlook and Review of FCT Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), organised by the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FMA), on Wednesday in Abuja.

Adesola said that in view of series of develoment such as the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, kidnappings and other security challenges since the last review of the FCT flood outlook in 2017, the administration had put measures in place to address the emerging challenges.

According to him,” As an administration, we have taken steps to address these challenges such as supporting the police and other security agencies to be able to provide robust security for the territory and furthering the safer schools initiative.”

The permanent secretary also said that the FCT administration had continued to provide resources to maintain critical city infrastructure such as drainages and lighting up dark alleys.

Adesola implored the Area Councils that are yet to constitute their emergency management committees to do so with utmost urgency.

” This is important and neccessary because gaps on the part of Area Councils can undermine the strength of the FCT Emergency Response Plan,” Adesola said.

Earlier, the Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, disclosed that the agency had responded to 82 flood cases, saved 421 lives and properties worth over N102,851,000 in 2020.

Idriss also revealed that in 2020, the Search and Rescue Teams of FEMA responded to 53 road crash emergencies which saved 89 lives and properties worth over N36 million in the FCT.

The DG further disclosed that FEMA responded to 584 emergency calls on fire outbreaks of which 2029 lives were saved, while 15 lives were lost and properties worth over N1 billion was salvaged.

Similarly, he said that the agency also got 40 calls on psycho-social issues at the Internally Displaced Persons settlement’s and all were attended to without loss of life.

” In summary, the Search and Rescue Team received and responded to a total of 768 distressed calls, out of which 27 were false alarm.

” On the same course, the FCT experience two building collapse in which three lives were lost, 34 lives rescued, while properties worth over  N84 million was salvaged.

” Also in 2020, the agency responded to two cases of electrocution. This was as a result of tree branches coming in contact with power lines,” he said.

The D-G, therefore, appealed to the Department of Parks and Recreation to intensify its monitoring activities to ensure that trees close to power lines are pruned to avoid loss of lives.

He said the event was a proactive step aimed at strategizing in terms of prevention, mitigation and response to flood prediction released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.

On his part, Mr Clement Nze, the Director-General, National Hydrological Services Agency, who commended FEMA for taking proactive measures to mitigate disaster in FCT, said the agency was the most active and proactive emergency management organisation in the country.

Nnenna.O