By Ubong Ukpong & Laide Akinboade, Abuja

Defence Minister, Maj-Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), yesterday disclosed that the nation’s defence and intelligence community was verifying the source of security threat alert in the country, recently issued by the United States government.

Magashi made the disclosure when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Defence, to defend the 2023 budget proposals of his ministry.

Only on Oct. 23, the US Mission in Nigeria had issued a security alert over the risk of terror attacks in Nigeria, especially in the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT).

However, the minister, who assured that the ministry would not take the threat lightly, said, “the ministry is trying to verify the source of the threat as well as countries that are also interested in the remarks made by the U.

He promised not to take the current security alert threat lightly, saying security in Abuja is being beefed up in the FCT and other neighboring states of Nasarawa and Niger.

“We believe that there is no smoke without fire and in that regard, we were able to subject the details to our intelligence organisations and they have provided answers to those areas which the government demands,” he said.

Magashi said government realised that what it needed was to be extra vigilant to prevent any activities of bandits and where the threat was likely to come so that it could be neutralised.

The minister urged the U.S. government to always provide such information to the ministry instead of going public to avoid causing confusion among the people.

On his part, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon Babajimi Benson, said the house had embarked on enacting innovative legislations designed to strengthen the defence sector.

He expressed satisfaction with the level of successes recorded so far in the fight against insecurity in the last five months.

This according to him is a proof with the level of professionalism displayed by the military, while assuring that adequate funds would be allocated to the defense sector in the 2023 budget.

FCTA Assures Abuja Residents of Safety

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Executive Committee, has reassured residents of the Abuja of their safety, insisting that adequate security arrangements have been made to maintain law and order in Abuja.

The EXCO, which issued this promise during its 12th Meeting in Gwarinpa I District, Abuja, said the government has made all necessary arrangements in collaboration with security agencies to protect lives and property of all people.

The EXCO noted that though the Advisory has generated tensions, fear, and panic among residents, the security agencies are combing the nooks and crannies of the Territory to fish out criminals and other persons wishing to truncate the peace and tranquillity of the FCT.

“Even before the issuance of the advisory, the security agencies have maintained and upscale surveillance through their personnel within the Federal Capital City to ward off any security breach,” the EXCO stated.

It reiterated that the procurement and distribution of sixty operational vehicles fitted with state-of-the-art equipment to security agencies by the Administration are strategically done to assist and enhance their performance.

The EXCO recalled that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, had earlier convened an emergency security meeting were issues concerning the security alert given by some embassies in Abuja, to their citizens were exhaustively discussed and measures are taken to sustain the current state of security and prevent any breach.

The meeting, however, urged residents to cooperate at all times with the security agencies by volunteering useful and timely information that will assist in nipping any form of criminality in the bud.

The Committee, therefore, enjoined residents to install Close-Circuit Television (CCTV) in public places and buildings, to complement ongoing efforts by the government at tackling the prevailing security challenges in the country in line with National Security Council advice.

The installation, will no doubt, enhance surveillance and deter criminal activities around the Federal Capital City, Abuja,” the EXCO emphasized.

The EXCO noted that the first phase of the joint security operation by G-7; being states that are contiguous to the FCT, which ended on the 25th of October, this year, recorded a remarkable success, especially with the arrest of bandits and rescue of kidnapped victims.

Today’s FCT EXCO meeting was presided over by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola, who represented the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and attended by the Chief of Staff to the FCT Minister, Mallam Bashir Mai-Borno, Secretaries of Mandate Secretariats, AMMC Coordinator among others.

It would be recalled that last week, there were series of security advisories issued by some embassies in Abuja warning their citizens to avoid public places in the nation’s capital.