FCT Security: Minister Pledges Support to Guards Brigade

By: Wisdom Acka & Damilola Adeleke

In order to ensure security in the Federal Capital Territory before, during and after the general elections, the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has pledged continued support of the FCT Administration to the Brigade of Guards, and other security agencies in the nation’s capital.

The Minister made the pledge when he received the in-coming and out-going Commanders of the Brigade of Guards, Brig. Gen. Aminu Umar and Maj. Gen MT Usman, respectively, in his office in Area 11, Garki, Abuja.

Mallam Bello, while congratulating the out-going Guards Brigade Commander on his elevation to the rank of Major General, also thanked him for his contributions in the fight against crime and criminality in the FCT.

Charging the new Commander to to build on the successes of his predecessor, the Minister stated that the Guards Brigade and FCT Administration have always “had a very good working relationship with the Brigade of Guards under Gen. Usman”, calling on Gen. Umar to emulate Major General Usman’s good working relationship with the FCTA.

Usman, while speaking earlier stated that it was customary for outgoing Commanders to present his successor to the Minister, expressed appreciation to the Administration for all the support the Brigade has enjoyed from the FCTA.

His words: “I’m also here to thank the FCT Minister, the Permanent Secretary and other members of his team for all the support we have received in the Guards Brigade.
“The cooperation, the vehicles, name it, I know the FCT Minister will continue to also improve on what he has done for us. We really appreciate you and may God see you through in all affairs of yours”, he added.

According to Usman, the Brigade was a major stakeholder in the provision of security services in the nation’s capital and some adjoining states.

“Though we are primarily in charge of the protection of Mr. President, his immediate family members and the seat of government and of course…we are also, by extension, to protect Abuja, parts of Niger State and Nasarawa State”, he said.

Also speaking, Brig. Gen. Umar pledged that he would bring his many years of experience and study to bear in ensuring Abuja was safe at all times, as well as “ensure that the good behaviour of my troops also rubs on the citizenry so that together, we can at the end of the day say we’ve done very well”.