The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Wedneday, made it compulsory to use of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras in all public premises within the FCT to enhance security.
The coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, made this known during a news conference.
Shuaibu said the mandatory use of CCTV would be included in the requirements for building approval in the territory.
He said; “We have made the announcement and we are making sure that we implement the decision to the later. Our major decision now is to make sure and we are going to inform everybody within the city and the entire territory to ensure that all public places have CCTV.''
“There must be CCTV in all public premises in the FCT as from now and our officers will be going around to ensure the enforcement of this very important decision which is an of national security.''
“When all areas are well covered we believe we are going to monitor whatever activities in the city and if there is any crime that wants to create havoc they are all going to be monitored by the cameras. It will go to help tremendously the security agencies in fighting crime and criminality in the territory.”
“This one is there in the provision for the approval of building in Abuja. You must have it before you will be allowed to build in Abuja.”
The FCTA’s director of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, on his part said; “One way that we could curtail the issue of criminality is using the provision of Urban and Regional Planning Law for the Department of Development Control because this is part of global best practices.''
''Part of our Development Control Guideline is that in your new submission, you must make provision for this facility (Close Circuit Television camera), so that nefarious activities could be detected, and where necessary action will be taken by relevant security agencies.”
''It could also be public places like motor parks, recreational parks, football fields and all public places, so CCTV cameras should be installed so that activities of the men of the underworld could be monitored.''
''However, we have given a time limit, thereafter, we will start going around to monitor level, as it is something that we can’t just start and expect results immediately.''
“We have to engage, sensitise, and thereafter monitor compliance, that is what we are doing now.”