The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, expressed his concern about the absence of tracking equipment for security agencies, particularly the FCT commands of the police and the Department of State Services.
The minister revealed this in a conversation with journalists broadcasted on TVC News on Thursday.
Wike, discussing the security situation in the nation’s capital, revealed that the police and the DSS do not possess tracking equipment and have to go to their headquarters to borrow the equipment for their operations.
He stated, “It’s unfortunate to say this, that mostly the security agencies, in particular I will say, the police here, are not adequately equipped. In fact, you cannot believe that the police command of the FCT does not even have an ordinary tracking device. You cannot believe that.
“Not only them, even the FCT Command of the Department of State Services do not even have. And the only one they have is at the headquarters.
“So, if there are things to do, they have to go to the headquarters, which is not supposed to be. Luckily, I told Mr President that look, we have to do something, and there must be the emergency procurement of these equipment.”
He explained that his administration had earlier requested the Bureau of Public Procurement for emergency procurement of equipment for the security agencies, but was denied, until the President approved the emergency procurement in January, following the kidnap of some persons.
Wike also mentioned that the FCT Administration under his leadership was considering buying drones to improve and monitor security, especially at the boundaries of the FCT.
“In fact, that is one of the approval Mr President gave to us that we said look, we are going to purchase our own drones to help in surveillance and in operation, particularly within these boundaries that the topography is so bad, is so hilly, and where you have the forests.
“We have made sure that it is provided in the 2024 statutory budget. I briefed this to the National Assembly yesterday and they were highly elated”, he said.
