We have what it takes to fund security – FCT Rep, Chinedu on establishment of independent police
Member of the House of Representatives representing the Bwari/AMAC Federal Constituency of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Obika Chinedu, has hinted at moves to “alter” the Nigerian Constitution in a bid to urgently address the lingering security crisis bedeviling the nation.
The Labour Party chieftain, who spoke on Saturday while commissioning a joint security outpost built by members of the Pmagbe community in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, said there is a “legislative agenda coming up” to establish an FCT “independent police force.”
He emphasized the need for decentralized policing, stating that the growing security challenges should not be left to the Federal Government alone.
According to him, the FCT has the capacity to fund a security structure that can guarantee the safety of its residents.
Hon. Chinedu also expressed optimism that addressing the deteriorating security situation would greatly attract investors into the country, noting that “nobody would want to invest in a place where security cannot be guaranteed.”
Thanking the community members for their initiative, the Labour Party lawmaker pledged that his office would continue to support such projects to ensure the safety of his constituents.
“My three major legislative agendas are education, health, and rural infrastructure.
“We have another legislative agenda coming up, the FCT independent police force. We have to alter the Constitution for that because you can’t tell if what we have today can work. How much are we giving Police Divisions to run? If we want good security, we must be able to fund it.
“FCT has what it takes to fund security in the territory. We should not just leave it in the hands of the Federal Government. We have to take a percentage of FCT-generated revenue and use it to secure ourselves.
“We should have patrol vehicles and CCTVs. Nothing stops Abuja police from having drones. I have written to Mr. President, suggesting that the FCT be used as a pilot state for state policing because that is what will secure us.
“We politicians are just interested in politics, ‘oh, they will deny us an election’, but we don’t care about how many people were killed yesterday.
“When the issue of security is being discussed, every right-thinking person should pay attention. When they talk about attracting investments into Nigeria, the first thing I say is, ‘solve the security problems.’
“Nobody wants to invest in a place where security is not guaranteed. That is why when the chairman of this community called me about this outpost, I obliged and gave my support. We have been doing this in many other places,” he said.
The lawmaker also disclosed that before he assumed office, the security situation in the FCT was in turmoil.
“When we came in, there were a lot of security issues in the FCT, so we have been supporting projects like this so that our people can be secured,” he added.
