The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, recently revealed plans by the FCT administration to establish a rapid response team to combat the escalating insecurity in the city. Wike, who assumed the position after two terms as the governor of Rivers State, has been grappling with a surge in kidnappings, theft, and other criminal activities, disrupting the otherwise serene environment of the country’s elite.
His proposed establishment of the RRS is to prevent any regression in the gains made by security forces, particularly in rescuing kidnap victims and apprehending notorious criminals wreaking havoc in the city and its surroundings.
According to the statement announcing the plan, the RRS, upon establishment, “will be a joint team, including the military, the police, the DSS, and the Civil Defence, where every form of technology will be provided.”
Essentially, the center will coordinate emergency responses, ensuring prompt updates to relevant government agencies, timely interventions, seamless inter-agency collaboration, efficient tracking and monitoring of situations to thwart crime, and ensuring swift apprehension of perpetrators in case of criminal incidents.
Earlier, the minister expressed dismay over the inadequate tracking devices used by security agencies in the city. During a media chat aired on Thursday, March 14, he stated:
“It’s unfortunate to say this, that mostly the security agencies, in particular I will say, the police here, are not adequately equipped. In fact, you cannot believe that the police command of the FCT does not even have an ordinary tracking device. You cannot believe that. Not only them, even the FCT Command of the Department of State Services do not even have. And the only one they have is at the headquarters.”
His disclosure adds to the longstanding criticism of the inadequacies of the Nigeria Police Force. The previous administration, led by former President Muhammadu Buhari, attempted to address the issue through significant purchases of security hardware to strengthen the capacity of the military, navy, and police. Despite these efforts, more needs to be done, especially in dismantling the industry that has flourished around the kidnapping of wealthy individuals for ransom.
With a strong emphasis on technology, Wike’s FCT RRS Command Center is expected to prioritize addressing this issue. However, questions linger regarding funding. Minister Wike likely drew inspiration from Lagos State, where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as governor of the state, established a Rapid Response Team which functioned as a section of the Lagos State Police Command.
Currently, the RRS in Lagos consists of approximately 2000 officers equipped with motorcycles, patrol vehicles, helicopters, gunboats, ballistic helmets/bulletproof vests, etc. The unit is renowned for its professionalism and ethical conduct. It is funded by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), which receives donations and contributions from organizations and individuals. In January, billionaire businessman Femi Otedola donated one billion naira to the trust fund.
The success of the RRS in Lagos, which has inspired other states, including potentially the FCT, has become a major talking point for those arguing for the creation of state police in the country. The argument has gathered steam, with 16 governors recently submitting a report to the president calling for its creation.
