Security: FCTA Orders Mandatory CCTV Installation

By: Wisdom Acka

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has mandated the installation of active Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) in all public premises within the city and the entire territory to enhance national security.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), TPL Umar Shuaibu, made the disclosure at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Shuaibu vowed that henceforth, mandatory use of CCTV would be included in the requirements for building plans approval in the nation’s capital.

The Coordinator also revealed that officers of the Council would be going round the city to enforce compliance with the decision.

He expressed optimism that the use of CCTV would help the security agencies tremendously in fighting crime and criminality in the territory.

His words: “We have made announcement and we are making sure that we implement the decision to the later. We are going to sensitize everybody within the territory to ensure that all public places have CCTV.”

“There must be CCTV in all public premises in the Federal Capital Territory as from now and our officers will be going round to ensure the enforcement of this very important decision, which is a of national security,” he added.

According to him, when all areas are well covered, we believe we are going to monitor whatever activities in the city and if there is any criminal that want to create havoc, they are all going to be monitored by the cameras.

“Accordingly, this policy is going to help tremendously the security agencies in fighting crime and criminality in the territory,” Shuaibu said.

Similarly, the Coordinator emphasized the need for all public buildings to provide effective fire fighting equipments in their premises.

“This one is there in the provision for the approval of building in Abuja. You must have it before you will be allowed to build in Abuja,” he stressed.

Also, the FCTA’s Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, said, “we are all living witnesses to the issues of crime and criminality and as a responsible administration, we have to review our process and procedures.”

“Part of our Development Control guideline is that, in your new submission, you must make provision for Close Circuit Television camera so that nefarious activities could be detected, and necessary action could be taken by relevant security agencies,” he said.

Galadima explained that the affected public buildings include; offices, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools and anywhere that the general public gather to transact business.

“It could also be public places like motor parks, recreational parks, football fields and all public places, so CCTV cameras should be installed, so that activities of the men of the underworld could be monitored,” the Director reiterated.

He stated that time limit will be given for full compliance, as it is something that we can’t just start and expect result immediately.

“We will embark on sensitization and thereafter monitor compliance, that is what we are going to do now,” Galadima explained.