Influx of bandits: Reps summon FCT Minister

The House of Representatives on Tuesday summoned the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Bello over the fast deterioration of infrastructure in the nation’s capital territory as well as growing insecurity.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on the ‘Urgent need to arrest the fast deterioration of the Federal Capital Territory’, sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who expressed concern over the influx of bandits and other criminals, lack of modern security infrastructures in the city centre and the satellite towns, and non-maintenance of available ones, including CCTV installations and as little as streetlights.

In his lead debate, Hon. Okechukwu who acknowledged the powers conferred on the House to legislate for the FCT and oversight the FCT Administration pursuant to Section 299(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), frowned at failure of the FCT Minister to appoint the Mandate Secretaries since he was reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While frowning at the collapse of infrastructure in the nation’s capital, Hon. Okechukwu called for the House’s intervention with a view to salvage the precarious situation.

According to him, “the House is aware of the powers and functions of the Federal Capital Territory Administration pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other laws of the Federation

“The House is also aware of the powers vested in the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory pursuant to Section 302 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

“The House notes with grave concern that Abuja has never been as unsafe as it is today due, among others, to the influx of bandits and other criminals, lack of modern security infrastructures in the city centre and the satellite towns, and non-maintenance of available ones, including CCTV installations and as little as streetlights.

“The House notes with concern the poor city management bedeviling the FCT resulting in obvious disorderliness and widespread deteriorations.

“The House equally notes with serious concern the indiscriminate allocation of lands without a matching infrastructural development.

“The House is concerned about the acute lack of infrastructure in the satellite towns and the resort by tax-paying citizens to self-help in Territory that should ordinarily model rural development in Nigeria.

“The House is concerned about the allocation of lands in Green Areas in clear breach of the FCT Master Plan.

“Also concerned about the worsening poor waste management practice in the FCT, including dearth and poor maintenance of waste treatment plants, despite Minister of State, FCT’s claim of N8 billion annual expenditure on waste management in the FCT.

“The House is worried about the status of the Gurara Water Transfer Project. The House is also worried about the far-reaching consequences of absence of a full compliment of the FCTA’s administrative structures for about two years since the appointment of the FCT Minister, including the non-appointment of Mandate Secretaries, equivalents of Commissioners at state level, to form the FCT Executive Council,” he noted.

To this end, the House resolved to summon the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory to appear before the Committee of the Whole House with a view to brief the House on the above outlined issues.