By Eunice Orike
Federal capital territory administration FCTA, has completed the construction of modern Divisional Police Headquarters and residential quarters in Ushafa and Saburi, with 10 other similar projects across the territory now above 90 per cent completion.
Director of the FCTA Security Services Department, Adamu Gwary, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists during an inspection of the projects.
Gwary said the Ushafa and Saburi police facilities were 100 per cent completed and ready for official handover.
He said the projects were part of the FCTA’s plan to strengthen security in satellite towns and other communities outside the Abuja city centre.
According to him, the administration is constructing 12 Divisional Police Headquarters, with two located in each of the six area councils, to address security gaps across the territory.
“Out of the 10 ongoing projects, almost all have achieved more than 90 per cent completion, following Wike’s directive for all contractors to wrap up work before the end of November,” he said.
Gwary said the projects were initiated as part of the security measures ordered by FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to bring security infrastructure closer to residents, particularly those living in fringe and rural communities.
He explained that the Ushafa facility has a ground floor with a central counter, detention facilities and separate cells for male and female suspects.
The upper floor has eight furnished administrative offices, including an office for the Divisional Police Officer (DPO).
He added that the facility also has a three-storey residential block with six furnished two-bedroom en-suite flats for police personnel.
According to him, each apartment has a dining area, kitchen, store and sitting room, among other facilities.
Gwary said a technical team from the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) Public Building Department would work with the contractor to verify the facilities against the Bill of Quantities before the projects are officially handed over.
He recalled that during the security challenges recorded in 2023, Wike held town hall meetings across the six area councils, where he promised to decentralise security infrastructure across the territory.
He said the Ushafa police station, alongside another facility at Igbu, about 35 kilometres from the FCT-Nasarawa border, would help secure satellite communities and strengthen the territory’s borders against cross-border crimes and kidnapping.
Gwary said the completion of the projects was expected to improve police response to security incidents in communities that had previously been far from major police formations.
He also attributed the reported reduction in kidnappings and other serious crimes in the FCT to improved security equipment, additional infrastructure and measures against individuals collaborating with criminals.
The director warned residents who provide information to kidnappers and other criminals that they would face legal consequences.
“The minister did not mince his words in terms of issuing a stern warning to those informants that they will be treated like kidnappers,” he said.
Gwary urged residents to continue providing security agencies with timely information on suspicious activities in their communities.
He also disclosed that the FCTA was increasing its monthly logistics support to security agencies while expanding the use of technology for surveillance.
According to him, the Airport-to-Villa corridor is already being monitored through technology managed from the Force Headquarters control room.
He said the surveillance network would be extended to other key and high-risk corridors across the territory.
“Aerial surveillance assets are being finalised for deployment to track criminal elements in rugged terrains,” Gwary said.
The Site Engineer for the Ushafa project, Kabir Muhammed, commended the FCT Minister for entrusting his firm with the project and assured that the construction team worked with the project monitoring and evaluation teams to deliver the facility within schedule.
