The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, has condemned the invasion of the Idu industrial area by hoodlums.
Bello, who stated this during an on-the-spot assessment of the level of destruction, said his administration will work with relevant stakeholders to provide adequate security at the Idu Industrial zone.
The Minister was accompanied to the area by the FCT Security Task Force, represented by the Commissioner of Police and heads of various security agencies.”For the last few hours, we have been going around the Idu Industrial Layout of the FCT together with the Abuja branch Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, with the support of the FCT security task force represented by the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, and others heads of various security agencies in FCT.
” We have visited a number of factories and warehouses that were vandalised during the last 48 hours. We have seen the enormity of the destructions.
“We have also visited other factories that were not attacked and we realised the extent of the investment that is available here. And it is very important now going forward we are going to work with all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the Idu Industrial zone is protected.
” Particularly, because it is the economic nerve centre of the city and it is also a centre where hundreds or probably thousands of people are employed if you look at the entire manufacturing value chain.
“We have also with us his Royal Highness the Chief of Jiwa, who is in charge of this area. We have discussed, we have gone round and now we will go into communities and start engaging with them to ensure that this kind of thing never happens again,” Bello said.
The FCT Commissioner of Police assured that police would put a stop to vandalisation in the area, get to the top of the matter and fish out the perpetrators of the act.
Ciroma disclosed that the task force and security agencies would make adequate deployment and ensure constant patrol to ensure that no more damages were caused.
“We also realised that there is a need for us to ensure that another investment was not affected this time around and properly secured.”
On his part, the Emir of Jiwa, Alhaji Musa Idris, described the incident as a very unfortunate and great loss to the country.
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The monarch used the occasion to warned the youth in his domain to shun such an ugly act and actions that are capable of undermining peace and harmony in the area.
“If you pinch yourself and feel pain when you pinch somebody he will feel the same thing.”
Branch Chairman, MAN, Odun Emasealu, expressed delight with the visit of the FCT minister to the industrial zone of the city.
“As manufacturers, we invest a lot and do so much to keep commerce going.
“To now know that we have the support of the FCT Administration and they actually care. In fact when the looting was going on the minister was in touch with us, calling more than 15 times to ensure that we are at peace.
“And today he has come to see for himself. For us, this is a big encouragement for us the manufacturers and we will keep investing to employ many youths and create a peaceful environment for us to leave,” Emasealu said.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
