Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the federal government to establish the FCT Security Trust Fund to tackle security challenges in the nation’s capital.
The natives, which consist of major stakeholders, indigenous non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations made the appeal yesterday during a stakeholders’ consultative meeting organised by the Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation (AIYEO) to proffer solutions to their plight.
The convener and chief executive officer of AIYEO, Ambassador Isaac David told journalists after the meeting that they came together because the government listens to groups and not individuals.
“We understood that the best way we can have a dialogue with the government is to unite ourselves in a manner where we present issues that have to deal with humanity and save lives.
“And we can come up with a platform where stakeholders will come together and discuss our issues and proffer solutions and how to channel them to the government. And we have to come together because it is necessary.
“In the aspect of insecurity in FCT, we are aware of what is happening, so in this strategic meeting, we are advising the government to create a Security Trust Fund, where the issue of manpower shortage will be resolved,” he said.
David said Lagos is succeeding in the fight against insecurity, traffic and congestion issues because there is a Security Trust Fund, where individuals and companies contribute to improve security in the state.
Also, the senior special assistant to the FCT minister on monitoring, inspection and enforcement, Ikharo Attah, advised that they should key into government policies of applying for the land of their choice like other Nigerians.
“But what we need to do first and foremost is to ensure that the indigenes have a strong change in perception, and know that all Abuja lands belong to all Nigerians, with the indigenes being key players and critical owners as the aborigines of this place.
“Now when lands are being allocated to different persons like us who are not indigenes, they should understand one thing, they must have that mindset that they have a right to lands that are being allocated to people, right as Nigerians first.
“So that they will not end up defending a little enclave called their village, while Maitama is going out, Mabushi is going out, Wuse is going out, the only thing they are protecting may just be a Garki village, no that is wrong. If people like us can get land at Wuse, Maitama, Jahi, the indigenes can also get similar land by applying for it,” he said.
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