Muhammad Bello, FCT Minister
By GRACE AUDU, Abuja –
Executive Secretary of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Umar Gambo Jibrin, has inaugurated a Task Force to audit the vandalized or stolen Manhole and Gully Pot Covers in the Federal Capital City.
The action is in response to the deep concern by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, at the high level of vandalization and theft of Manhole and Gully Pot Covers in the nation’s capital and the need to address the ugly situation.
Ag. Head, Public Relations and Secretary to the Task Force, Mr. Richard A. Nduul, who made this known in a statement on Monday, said the Inter-Departmental Task Force has the Director, Special Duties, Arc. Eze C. Sunday as Chairman and other Directors and Heads of various Departments in the FCDA as members.
They include Engr. Ferdinand O. Ezeoha (Director, Engineering Service),
Tpl. Zaliha’u Ahmed (Director, Urban and Regional), Surv. M.B. Mahmood (Director, Survey & Mapping, FCDA), Abdullahi Kuyanbana (Director Legal Services) and, Aminu Aliyu Gaya (Director, Finance & Admin.).
Other members are Engr.Omoniyi M. Olaloye (Director, Facility Management & Maintenance, AMAC), O.E. Braimiah, AEPB (AMMC), Muktar Galadima (Director, Development Control, AMMC), Mrs. Joy Okoro (General Manager FCT Water Board) and, Richard A. Nduul (Head, Public Relations, FCDA) as Secretary
The Task Force, among other terms of reference, is expected to (a) Identify all the Manhole and Gully Pot Covers for (Storm Water, Sewer, Telecommunication etc) that have been vandalized or stolen; (b) Identify the locations (Districts, Sector Centres, Roads, Streets, close etc); (c) Identify the level of vandalization or theft; (d) Estimate the cost of restoration or replacement, and (e) Recommend appropriate measures to forestall future occurrence.
To facilitate its assignment and in line with its Mandate, the Task Force has coopted professionals across the various Mandate Secretariats, Departments and Agencies of the FCTA as well as the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
In furtherance of this, the Task Force has also constituted ten (10) different Teams to cover the five (5) Districts for the field work which has since commenced and is on-going to physically identify the actual locations where these Manhole and Gully Pot Covers have been stolen/vandalized with photographs and video clips in special cases where photographs may not convey the peculiar situation on group.
According to Mr. Nduul, the Task Force is soliciting the cooperation of the general public for the Field Workers and to assist them in any way possible for an unhindered execution of their assignment especially volunteering useful information that could lead to this recovery of stolen Manhole and Gully Pot Covers.
“This appeal becomes more imperative when viewed against the fact that it costs the Administration so much money to put these infrastructures in place and replacing them due to vandalization and theft will further require huge resources that could have taken care of other infrastructural needs of the city and territory,” he explained.
He added that the work of the Task Force, which is intended to make Abuja better and safer, is to be completed within a period of four weeks with the submission of the field report which will give the FCT Administration the true picture of the damage involved as well cost implication to remedy the situation.
The replacement of the stolen/vandalized Manhole and Gully Pot Covers is expected to commence before the coming of the rainy season in order to restore the beauty of the roads and also check against the flooding of these road whenever it rains.