FCT Minister solicits support for security agencies

…decorates CSO, others with new ranks

…urges continuous unity in Nigeria

By Blessing Wikda and Abba – Eku Onyeka , Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has called for public support for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the country.

Malam Bello who made the call while decorating his newly promoted Chief Security Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police Ahmed Rasheed, and three other officers in his security team with their new ranks, stressed the need to give the Nigeria Police and other security agencies the support and appreciation they duly deserve for their job of policing the country, particularly the FCT.

The Minister said that some were quick to judge the police based on the negative perceptions, and commended the FCT Police Command for keeping the nation’s capital safe.

He said that most of the time the police officers are not given due credit for their efforts. He said, “in the FCT Command, I know the kind of work you have done, tirelessly, day and night. I am telling you, for each robbery incident, the FCT Command are able to prevent 10; for each kidnapping in the papers, they must have prevented up to 20; and every day, arrests are being made.”

Malam Bello also called on Nigerians to provide them with credible information to enable them perform their duties well.

The Minister said celebrating the newly decorated officers was a good way to end the year 2020 which has been fraught with a lot of challenges for the security agencies.

While commending the officers on their promotion, the Minister urged them to reciprocate the gesture by putting in more effort in the discharge of their duties.

Speaking earlier, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Mr. Bala Ciroma congratulated the officers for their promotions and reminded them that the reward for hard work was even more work.

Meanwhile, the Minister  has also urged Nigerians to continue to demonstrate the principle of oneness, as well as fight hard to resist efforts to cause disunity in the FCT and Nigeria in general.

In a press release from the office of the Honorable Minister, containing his year 2021 message to the indigenes and residents of the FCT, the minister said continuous maintenance of the dream of a united and indivisible Nigeria was an obligation every Nigerian owed to Nigeria as his or her dear country.

Still speaking on the importance of unity, the minister threrefore said despite challenges and the disruptions to the developmental agenda of the country over the last year, he reiterated the government’s commitment to its core mandate which is the development of a Capital Territory that every Nigerian will be proud to call home, just as he said that they remained committed to meeting all their obligations to the residents of the FCT.

“We pray for the guidance of the Almighty in 2021 as we face the rigours of nation building. On behalf of the entire management and staff of the FCT Administration, I hereby wish all people of the FCT a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year,” wished, adding that the year 2020 was without a doubt one of the most challenging years in living memory, not only in the FCT but indeed across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commending and expressing his appreciation on behalf of the Administration and people of the Territory to all its health personnel involved in the fight against the dreadful disease, Muhammad Musa Bello therefore saluted their courage and prayed that those who paid the supreme price in the course of tje battle should continue to rest in peace.

The minister however said that the most effective way to fight the COVID-19 pandemic was to adhere to the established health protocols of facial covering, hand washing and physical distancing, adding that if strictly adhered would help in controlling the spread of the second wave of COVID-19 which, according to him has proven to be more aggressive than the first wave.

Still urging the people of the FCT to continue to adhere to the health protocols in the New Year, Bello hailed all individuals, corporate organisations, government agencies and non-governmental organisations who, despite the challenging times provided palliatives and other forms of support to the more vulnerable members of the society.