Mr. Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has emphasized the need for more stringent laws to combat crimes in the territory. During a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Wike expressed his concern that the current penalties in the existing law were insufficient to deter criminal activities.
He cited an example of criminals vandalizing solar-powered street lights in the FCT, highlighting that the current penalty for such offenses is only N30,000. Wike pointed out that if a vandal is apprehended and the court imposes a meager fine of N30,000, the offender is likely to pay the fine and continue engaging in the same criminal behavior.
Wike proposed the implementation of legislation that would make it more difficult for criminals to operate freely. He suggested that imposing heavy penalties would discourage individuals from participating in criminal activities or make it financially burdensome for them to do so. For instance, if the penalty for vandalism were set at N10 million, few people would be able to afford such a significant sum for the theft of a single solar panel, thus serving as a significant deterrent.
The minister called upon Senator Ireti Kingibe, the representative of the FCT in the Senate, to initiate a review of existing laws aimed at combating crime in the FCT. Wike believes that strengthening the punishments through legal amendments would complement the efforts of security agencies and ensure that those caught committing crimes face severe consequences for their actions.
Wike assured the residents of the FCT that the government is actively addressing the security challenges affecting certain parts of the city. He emphasized that the government is working tirelessly in collaboration with security agencies to tackle these issues, demonstrating that they are committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of FCT residents.