Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has identified intelligence gathered by security agencies at the Bwari Area Council where the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School is domiciled, as the reason for the deployment of heavy security in the area.
He echoed this yesterday when the delegation of the Nigerian Law School, led by its Director General, Prof. Isa Chiroma, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
The minister noted that the security cordon was necessary as any breach at the school would constitute a setback for country and the FCT.
“As far as I am concerned, when I heard about the opening of the section, I was told I had to send security, without even talking to you, because we did not want to take any chances at all, knowing full well that period, the information we were getting and the intelligence we were getting.
“So, that is why it does appear there was so much security within Bwari. We did not want to take chances, because if anything happens there, of course it is a setback to the entire country and then to the FCT,” Wike said.
He, however, promised to consider the request of the institution for the construction of a staff quarters and provision of vehicles for the school, noting he had directed the General Counsel of the FCT Administration to liaise with the school for the construction of the staff quarters to be added to the budget.
“As far as we are concerned, we are here to make institutions, agencies of government that carry out business in the FCT, to give them every necessary support.
“You made two requests which are very germane: the staff quarters and vehicles. So, the General Counsel will liaise with you so that before we submit our budget to Mr. President to convey to the National Assembly.
“ If it will be necessary, between now and Monday, we will see if you have the designs, so that we will be able to know what it will cost us and then see whether we can include it in the budget.
“And then the vehicles we talked about, we don’t know the type of vehicles, but I believe they are not SUVs. Maybe you are looking for buses and Hilux. So, we will look at the number we have and then be able to make that available to you,” he said.
Speaking earlier, Chiroma said the purpose of the visit was to congratulate the minister on his appointment and to inform notify him that he was also one of the recipients of an award at the Nigerian Law School’s 60th Anniversary.
“On behalf of our colleagues who are here, and those who are not here, on behalf of the council management, and staff as well of the Nigerian Law School, we welcome you to Abuja.
“ Why we are here also is to inform you that this year, Nigerian Law School is 60 years, and we are mandated to inform you that you are one of our distinguished awardees on this 60th anniversary,” he said.
