By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike at the weekend explained why he believed so much in celebrating people in their lifetime, especially those who are committed and make sacrifices in their work.

Wike stated this at the reception organized in honour of the duo at his official residence in Life Camp, Abuja,

The FCT Minister while commending the contributions of Igweh to the protection of lives and property in the FCT said the reception was organized to recognize their efforts during their lifetime.

He enumerated the importance of giving recognition to those deserving of such during their lifetime and thanked God Almighty for sparing their lives in the discharge of their duties in the FCT and subsequent elevation to higher ranks.

He said, “I’ve always said that people who are committed, people who make sacrifices … I don’t believe it’s only when you die that people will honour and reward you.

  “While you are alive and you have worked, you should be remembered and that is why we said these two gentlemen who have worked with us, to make all of us sleep well with our two eyes closed, it’s important we honour them, we thank them for their services”.

 “All of us can attest to the fact that AIG Igweh is a committed police officer who is determined to fight criminality and criminals. We thank God Almighty that God saved his life.

 Speaking on ADG Mu’azu, the Minister said “The Assistant Director General Mu’azu, very quiet but very committed. I thank the new DG of the State Security Services for seeing him worthy to be promoted for him to work at the national level”.

The Minister also thanked the Inspector General of Police, for appointing Bennett Igweh whom he described as a rugged officer that knows the terrain of the FCT as the AIG in charge of Zone 7 which comprises the FCT, Kaduna and Niger States.

Confessing that he was initially worried over the possibility of losing the services of Igweh, following his elevation, expressed relief when he was assured that the former CP will still be within the FCT jurisdiction.

Thanking the AIG, Barrister Wike said “I know the role you play, sleepless nights sometimes. You work relentlessly to keep FCT safe. I know as the Minister, the security reports I get every day, if the people of the FCT know what you have put in place, the efforts you make to combat crime, all the things you have been doing; Every day, I get the security reports, I get the criminals, look at the kind of guns they carry. You arrest them but you don’t go on television except when it is necessary to announce it. So, Nigerians should know that you are doing a lot. So, I thank you. On behalf of the FCT, we must say thank you.

 “Also, I would say to Muazu, thank the DG for identifying your qualities and also bringing you to the National Headquarters so that you can be of immense help to him and the FCT”, the FCT Minister stressed.

 He urged the security officials to continue to serve their fatherland with the same spirit and commitment and also support the government to protect the lives of the citizens

 The FCT Minister also thanked other security agencies for their cooperative and collaborative efforts in ensuring the security of the FCT.

 Earlier in his remark, the immediate past FCT Commissioner of Police, Benneth Igweh, thanked the FCT Minister for his support during his tenure as the FCT Commissioner of Police and for the recognition.

 He stressed the commitment of the security agencies to the protection of lives and property in the FCT and also pledged to continue to do his best to ensure the safety of the FCT as the AIG in charge of Zone 7.

 Igweh used the opportunity to warn criminal elements in the FCT of his continued presence as the AIG Zone 7 in charge of the FCT which he said has given him more powers to bring the fight to them.

He said, “I want to inform Abuja residents, I am still around. I am not moving anywhere. I’m around and now that I have more powers, I don’t know where you will run to. If you know where you will pack and go, you better start now because I am now an AIG, so, I have more power now to supervise what is happening in Abuja.

 He also assured FCT residents of their safety and called for the continued support of the FCT Minister to the security agencies.