FCT Police, DSS Lack Tracking Equipment, Says Wike

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has lamented the lack of tracking equipment for security agencies, particularly FCT commands of the Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

The minister, who disclosed this during a chat with a section of the media, aired on TVC News earlier yesterday, disclosed that police and DSS officers did not have tracking equipment, and had to visit the headquarters of their agencies, to lend the equipment for use in operations.

According to Wike, “It is unfortunate to say this, that mostly the security agencies, in particular I will say, the Police here, are not adequately equipped. In fact, you cannot believe that the Police Command of the FCT do not even have ordinary tracking devices.

“You cannot believe that. Not only them, even the FCT Command of the Department of State Services do not even have. And the only one they have is at the headquarters.

“So, if there are things to do, they have to go to the headquarters, which is not supposed to be. Luckily, I told Mr President, “Look, we have to do something, and there must be an emergency procurement of these equipment.”

The minister further explained that his administration earlier applied to the Bureau of Public Procurement for emergency procurement of equipment for the security agencies, but was denied, until the president gave approval for the emergency procurement in January, following kidnap of some persons.

Wike also said that the FCT administration under his leadership was looking to purchase drones, to enhance and monitor security, particularly at the boundaries of the FCT.

“In fact, that is one of the approvals Mr President gave to us that we said look, we are going to purchase our own drones to help in surveillance and in operation, particularly within these boundaries that the topography is so bad, is so hilly, and where you have the forests.

“We have made sure that it is provided in the 2024 statutory budget. I briefed this to the National Assembly yesterday and they were highly elated,” he said.