War against crime: FCT Police Command refurbishes 30 operational vehicles

THE FCT Command of the Nigeria Police Force has refurbished its 30 unserviceable vehicles, in a renewed determination to fight crimes in the Federal Capital Territory.

About N10 million used in fixing the vehicles was, however, provided by FCT administration.

The 30 vehicles included one water canon used for crowd control, two armoured personnel carriers, one lorry, 21 Toyota Hilux Jeeps and five Toyota Corolla cars.

FCT Minister, Musa Bello, commissioned the refurbished vehicles on Tuesday and described the FCT Police Commissioner, Muhammad Mustafa, as an exceptional police officer that should be recommended to the highest authorities for the feat.

He observed that the repairs of all the vehicles were not up to the cost of one brand new Hilux vehicle in the country.

“This kind of achievement is the kind of change President Muhammadu Buhari is talking about, because for us to salvage this country, we must return to the maintenance culture we have thrown away,” he said.

The minister disclosed that he sat down with the Police Commissioner where they discussed some of the major challenges of the Command, which had to do with mobility, and that he told him that FCTA cannot afford to buy new vehicles for the Police, but resolved to approve the sum of N9 million to refurbish what can be repaired amongst the rickety ones on ground.

He lamented that public institutions seemed not to be taking good care of their assets and promised that since this has been achieved, the next phase would be renovation of police stations across the territory.

The minister charged the Police high command to re-establish own mechanical workshops to effect maintenance of its operational vehicles.

Taking the minister and the FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr Babatope Ajakaiye, round the refurbished vehicles, the FCT Police Commissioner, Muhammad Mustafa, appreciated the N9million the minister released to the Police and expressed satisfaction for what that sum has been able to achieve.

The Police Commissioner called on corporate organisations and well-meaning individuals to embark on corporate social responsibility.

He disclosed that Chinese Embassy had also donated a new Honda Car to the Command in addition to the N1million donated by a hotelier to augment the repairs.