The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has begun setting up new police divisions in rural and border areas of Abuja as part of his plan to make communities safer and closer to security services.
Wike’s move comes after months of rising insecurity across several parts of the FCT between late 2023 and early 2024, especially in Abaji, Kwali, and Bwari, where there were frequent kidnappings and attacks by bandits.
According to the minister, the expansion is part of his promise to “decentralise policing and bring safety nearer to residents.”
He has directed the immediate construction of two additional divisional police stations across the six area councils to respond quickly to crime.
During a visit to some of the new sites on Thursday, construction was seen progressing at stations in Tukashare and Saburi (AMAC), Bako (Kwali), Yaba (Abaji), Giri (Gwagwalada), and Ushafa (Bwari).
At Saburi in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, the main police station and officers’ quarters are almost completed.
The complex includes an administrative building with offices for the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), his secretary, other officers, and two holding cells fitted with toilets and bathrooms.
The residential block has six two-bedroom flats, each with a kitchen, dining area, and three toilets. According to the project engineer, Ahmed Yahaya, the project is nearly done.
“We have completed electrical and plumbing works and are now on finishing fittings. By tomorrow, we’ll commence industrial cleaning, and in two days we should start painting,” he said.
At the Yaba Divisional Police Station near the border with Niger State, site engineer Ayinde Adewale said they were confident of completing the work before the November deadline, thanks to adequate funding from the FCT Administration. “With the level of funding support, we have no doubt about completing on time,” he said.
Adewale explained that Yaba’s location makes it an important route connecting Niger and Kogi States, making it necessary to have a strong police presence to prevent criminal movement through the area.
Residents in the affected communities expressed happiness about the development. Farmer Musa Yakubu from Yaba said the presence of police officers would help boost economic activity. “People can now trade their farm produce freely because the fear is reducing,” he said.
Another resident, Ibrahim Danladi, a petty trader, said, “We are beginning to feel safer again; people no longer rush home early because of fear.”
Officials explained that the new police divisions follow a new national prototype design approved by the Inspector-General of Police to ensure uniformity, comfort, and better functionality.
The stations, according to the FCT Director of Security Services, match the national standard to promote better policing and improve officers’ working conditions.
