The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders in the next presidential election have received assurances from the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
Residents were also urged by the command to abide by the directive restricting vehicular mobility on election day from 12 am to 6 pm on Saturday.
The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Josephine Adeh, released the following statement to news media in Abuja: “The residents, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders in the elections have been assured of adequate preparation by the Command for the Saturday, May 25, 2023 Presidential elections.
“The CP stated that the Command is collaborating with other security agencies to ensure the public space for the successful conduct of the election through the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“The CP also encouraged locals to abide by the directive restricting vehicular mobility on Saturday, February 25, 2023, from 12 am to 6 pm. He issued a warning that violators will be arrested by security forces and urged locals to work with the security forces so that everything could be done to ensure a smooth election.
In a related development, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command has stationed a total of 3,000 combatant personnel in key locations throughout Abuja, the country’s capital city, to improve security coverage and protect vital national assets during the conduct of the 2023 general elections.
Personnel from the Armed Squad, the Antivandal Unit, the Disaster Management and Medical Unit, the Intelligence Unit, the Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Explosives Unit are among those who have been dispatched (CBRNE).
These policemen, according to what has been learned, will be stationed in key locations such INEC headquarters, polling stations, and collation facilities, among others, to provide protection for INEC assets, INEC Ad hoc Employees, and the environment.
Additionally, they must adequately secure government sites, buildings, infrastructure, and national assets against vandalism.
The deployment, according to the FCT Commandant of the Corps Dr. Peter Maigari, was made in accordance with the declarations and instructions of the NSCDC Commandant General, to establish a secure environment for the successful conduct of the general elections in 2023.
In order to ensure the success of the elections, the Directorate also deployed supplies and vehicle logistical assistance.
“There are 53 Hilux vehicles, 20 motorcycles and riders, 20 iron barricades, 4 Juggernaut numbers, and 1 coaster bus among the equipment and logistical support.
But, the statement said, “The officers were directed to demonstrate a high level of discipline as established in the operational standards of the Directorate’s regulations.”
Maigari urged all parties involved and the general public to contribute to making sure the election is free, fair, safe, peaceful, and credible. He also urged everyone to refrain from using violence or doing any other action that could influence the outcome of any election, warning that anyone found inciting mayhem would be subject to the full force of the law.
In a same vein, the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services (DRTS) has disclosed the deployment of a total of 507 personnel to man the roads during and after the current elections as part of efforts to ensure FCT roads safe, especially during the 2023 Presidential elections.
In order to ensure the free flow of electoral materials and those performing important activities, the officers are specifically tasked with controlling traffic in every area of the Territory.
The number is to cover nine sectorial zones of the territory, including the Abaji/Rubochi, Karishi/Karu, Kwali, kuje, Gwagwalada, Municipal, Dutse/Bwari, Kabusa, and Zuba/Dei Dei sectors, according to a statement from the head of the public relations division of the FCT, DRTS, Kalu Emetu.
It further stated that 25 officers must be stationed in each sector to implement traffic restrictions throughout the election period. Every sector must have two Hilux vehicles operating it.
In order to block off traffic from the thirteen traffic access points near the collation centers, 87 officers were stationed at the national situation room collation center, according to the statement.
Moreover, sixty officers had been stationed at the FCT’s three boundary points to keep an eye on traffic. These places included Abaji, Zuba, and Nyanya.
The 520 vehicles transporting electrical materials to various places around the FCT were similarly subjected to inspection and certification by fifty inspection officials.
It went on to say that fifty policemen and personnel had been sent to the Territory to join other security agencies in the territorial show of force.
In order to ensure the success of the elections, the Directorate also deployed supplies and vehicle logistical assistance.
“There are 53 Hilux vehicles, 20 motorcycles and riders, 20 iron barricades, 4 Juggernaut numbers, and 1 coaster bus among the equipment and logistical support.
But, the statement said, “The officers were directed to demonstrate a high level of discipline as established in the operational standards of the Directorate’s regulations.”
