Abuja Rail: FCTA Vows to Arrest, Prosecute vandals
By: Ifeanyi Ughamadu & Wisdom Acka
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has warned all those who treasured in vandalizing government facilities in the nation’s capital, particularly facilities provided for the Abuja Light Rail Mass Transit to desist forthwith or face the full wrath of the law.
Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, gave this warning Thursday in Abuja, while interacting with the companies engaged by the Administration to protect the rail facilities.
Candido, who visited the security companies ahead of their planned deployment of personnel to cover the entire length of the rail tracks, urged them to work in synergy with the military and other security agencies for efficient protection of the facilities.
He said: “From what we have seen, the manpower of the two security outfits can protect the rail facilities.
“But of course, we need the complement of the military – the armed personnel,” he added.
“Once we have these outfits managing the tracks, with the personnel well-armed, we are convinced that the tracks and other facilities will be saved”, he emphasized.
The Secretary explained that the deployment of the security personnel would be on the tracks, from the beginning to its last point.
He stressed, “the understanding with the security contractors was for them to “provide security services for all the stations and the tracks adjourning all the stations.”
Warning vandals against the destruction of public facilities in Abuja, the Candido said: “I advise the vandals to change their means of livelihood if their livelihood has to do with stealing and destroying public equipment”.
He urged the security service providers to keep to the terms of their agreement with the FCTA for maximum benefit.
According to him, “the FCTA and Transportation
Secretariat will not tolerate any form of incompetence and negligence from them. We expect that they should carry out the job as it is expected of them”.
Speaking on behalf of the companies, the General Manager, Al-Ahli Security Services, John Abong, and the Operation Manager, of Sega Security, and Protection Company Ltd., Odeh Michael said they were fully prepared to take on any criminal head-on and prevent any form of vandalism.
