- Wike promises quick rescue action with DSS, Police
- Council Chairmen catalogue challenges, requests
BY EDMOND ODOK – It is a tale of tragic incidents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as not less than 30 persons lost their lives in a landslide reportedly triggered by illegal mining activities in the Kuje Area Council of Abuja, the nation’s Capital.
Additionally, 19 persons were on Thursday abducted in the Bwari Area Council of the territory by some unknown gunmen who left behind other casualties during the dare-devil operations that lasted over an hour.
This is as the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike promised to engage with the Director, Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja as well as the Commissioner of Police for detailed briefings on the kidnap incident in order to speedily facilitate rescue operations for the victims.
These were part of the catalogue of woes presented to FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, by the six Area Councils Chairmen of Abuja Municipal, Abaji, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali during the meeting with them in his office.
Specifically, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Abdullahi Sabo, who described the activities of illegal miners as constituting a serious menace in the area, said; “The issue of illegal mining in the FCT is quite troubling. There are indiscriminate mining licences given out and this has led to insecurity. They give letters of consent to Chinese people.
“Just a few days ago, there was a landslide that took the lives of 30 people as a result of the activities of illegal miners and we appeal to you to engage the Minister of Mines to stop illegal mining in the FCT”.
Further highlighting the challenges confronting the Area Councils, the Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya appealed to the Minister to come to their aid, especially in the areas of insecurity and funding of their activities and projects.
According to him; “We have the major challenge of insecurity across the six Area Councils. Just today (Thursday), about 19 people were kidnapped in the Bwari Area Council. I just received about five persons in my Council who were abducted and kept in captivity for about six days.”
On the issue of funding, Chiya said; “Our challenges are inadequate funding of the local government system and this adds to the current disturbing security situation in the Council Areas”, adding; “Another other issue of concern is the development of Satellite Towns within the territory.”
Expressing happiness over the Minister’s appointment, the Council Chairmen said; “We were happy because you have been a Council Chairman and therefore understand our challenges. Here, the issue of sanitation is one of the major challenges confronting us. There is also no efficient transport facility. The Abuja Urban Mass Transit (AUMT) buses are no longer functional.”
Also listing as part of their numerous challenges, the Chairmen said; “There is the worrying issue of land allocation. You sit in your Council, and your backyard will be allocated to someone you don’t even know. Your graveyards and worship centres would be allocated and we are saying that we should be carried along in terms of land allocation.”
Similarly, they further stated that; “The responsibility of primary school teachers is on the local governments. The UBE’s payment of salaries lies on the council which by law is supposed to be 60-40 percent. We are pleading that you help us and see how this issue can be looked into and addressed in the overall interest of all stakeholders”.
In his reaction to the avalanche of complaints and requests by the Council Chairmen, the Minister, who expressed shock over the developments, said all necessary measures would be taken to rescue the abducted persons while also making the FCT safe and secure for the residents as well as visitors.
He also directed the Council bosses to set up a surveillance task force in their respective domains to monitor all mining activities in order to ensure compliance with existing rules and regulations on mining in the country.
Promising to meet with his Solid Minerals counterpart, Dele Alake, to tackle illegal mining activities in the nation’s capital, Wike said; “On illegal mining, I will talk to the minister. Ordinarily, I would say you should also form your own surveillance taskforce as Chief Security Officers of your councils and make arrests and we will support you. However, I will meet with the Minister.”
“I am here to work for the FCT, not to work for any political party. I am here to support the administration of Asiwaju to realize the dreams of the founding fathers. It doesn’t matter your political affiliations or religion, I am here to serve all.
“We cannot achieve anything without support from the Councils. We are not struggling for power and so we have to collaborate. It is in your interest as Council chairmen to work for the people and you can do that by collaborating with us. What affects you affects me and so, I will not be anywhere and allow Area Councils to be shortchanged.
“I will want to advise that we manage what we have but we will work to ensure that what you are supposed to get, that you get it and nobody will shortchange you.”
On the security situation in FCT, the Minister said; “Insecurity is a major problem all over and those of you who are outside the Municipality, you have to work hard. Information is key. The incident of kidnap you talked about, nobody has reported that to me. It is a serious issue and we need to call an emergency security meeting.
“I have to call the Director of SSS and the CP now to give me more details because it is very embarrassing to me. However, I am happy you said the SSS official and the DPO in the affected council are informed of the situation.”
“On sanitation, we have a problem. Sanitation is a big issue. It is the duty of the council not just to collect the fees but to dispose of refuse. We have to sit down and work together on this by adopting a common template.
