The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has lamented the worsening security and healthcare problems in the FCT. He recently called for quick and coordinated national intervention to address the situation.
Speaking during the 2025 budget defence at the Senate, Wike emphasised the vital role Abuja plays in Nigeria and demanded a strategic effort to improve its security.
He stated that the FCT is where the President, the Inspector-General of Police, and the National Security Adviser reside, therefore, the security of such a city cannot be taken lightly.
“You cannot talk about autonomy in a city where the President resides, where the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and every corporate head of the country operate from.
The security of this city is not something we can handle alone,” he said.
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According to him, the FCT government is already engaging national security institutions like the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services to guarantee stronger coordination in the near future.
He also highlighted the non-functional surveillance infrastructure in Abuja, citing political roadblocks and administrative bottlenecks as reasons.
“This city requires total security architecture because of its national importance.
We have begun serious collaboration with national security agencies. We can’t afford failure in this area.
You wonder why we still can’t have effective CCTV coverage in the capital. Sometimes, it is internal politics, sometimes it is outright sabotage.
Even when projects are approved, you find people who deliberately frustrate implementation.
The FCT is not like any other state. You don’t have a House of Assembly here. Our laws are made by the National Assembly.
This setup is by design and cannot be wished away,” he added.
