Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike has told the British government that he was ready for the UK government’s partnership in the areas of agriculture, tourism, and security.
The Minister made this known yesterday when the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery paid him a courtesy call in his office in Abuja.
Wike told the High Commissioner that the priority of the President Bola Tinubu-led government is poverty eradication.
He said, “I can’t say we’ve been able to solve all the problems, but we are doing our best and it’s yielding results when it comes to insecurity.
“Abuja is bounded by four states of Nasarawa, Kogi, Niger, and Kaduna where there have been bandits activities. When they get hot in those states, they migrate to Abuja. Today, we’ve been able to bring insecurity down because of the level of logistics support to the Police and other security agencies, you can attest to that.
“In recent times, there have been arrests of some kingpins and we are already prosecuting them. Before now, they had a free day in Abuja. Job creation remains a key priority of the government. With various road construction that are ongoing, jobs are being provided for youths.
“Agriculture creates a lot of jobs and we need partnership in agriculture as a major priority. Security is equally key and we need partnership in this area. I will also need support in Abuja Industrial Park, all these will create jobs.”
Earlier, the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency, Richard Montgomery told Wike that he was in his office to get his views on the operations of the FCT and to know areas of partnership.
He said only a couple of weeks ago, the British Secretary for Business and Trade visited places in Nigeria of interest.
In his response, Montgomery said he was aware of the agriculture value chain that would enable farmers to make sales.
He said the Abuja Industrial Park would create jobs that there could be no prosperity without security that all were interrelated and that they would be ready to partner.
“We are pleased with your security arrangement, we are also pleased to be invited to help. The British High Commission is staffed with Nigerians, we all live here and I get feedback from them. The cost of living is high and things are tough now, but I know the government is working on it.”
*N20m bounty: FCT police arrest second wanted kidnap kingpin in Nasarawa
The police in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have arrested one Samaila Wakili Fafa also known as Habu Ibrahim, a kidnap kingpin on the wanted list of the Command.
Spokesperson of the FCT Command, Josephine Adeh, in a statement, said the suspect was arrested on February 24, 2024, when operatives stormed Sardauna Forest, Toto, in Nasarawa State.
The suspect was one of the two kidnappers the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had placed an N20m bounty on, as the other suspect, Saidu Abdulkadir also known as Dahiru Adamu, had earlier been arrested by the command.
The statement read, “He confessed that his syndicate masterminded and executed several kidnappings in FCT and its environs, including the abduction of Barr Chris Agidy, the legal aide to Senator Ned Nwoko and Mr Sunday Yahaya Zakwai, the district head of Ketti Village who was later killed by them.
“Samaila Wakili further led police operatives to where the remains of Chris Agidy are. The remains were recovered and deposited in Gwagwalada General Hospital.”
The FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, had earlier reiterated his unflinching commitment to combat crime and criminality in all its manifestations and ensure the safety of residents.
