…cordon off Federal Secretariat, maintain air surveillance around Eagle square
. FRSC deploys 365 personnel to ease movement
Ben Peters, Abuja
Barely three days to the inauguration of the President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday May 29th, 2023 , the major roads linking the entire Central Area of Abuja, where the Eagle square is located, is gradually being cordoned off by security operatives.
The usual business activities around the Eagle square suddenly disappeared because the civil servants were asked to stay away from work on Friday and Monday.
The area is also looking like a ghost town due to the presence of fierce looking security operatives.
Meanwhile, Haruna Garba,the Commissioner of Police , FCT , has enjoined Residents not too panic ahead of inauguration eve’s proposed fireworks.
Consequently , he said due to the forthcoming 2023 Presidential Inauguration scheduled for May 29th, the FCT Police Command has deployed human and material resources across the nooks and crannies of the Federal Capital Territory to ensure a safe and peaceful Inauguration.
The deployment according to the Police Public relations officer, SP Josephine Adeh, is consists of all Intelligence and tactical assets at the Command’s disposal, solidified with inter-agency collaboration is borne out of the need to ensure a peaceful atmosphere during the inauguration and to avert any form of threat on the nation’s democratic process.
She said the strategic operational deployment is characterized by visibility policing across the Territory, stop and search duty, intelligence-led raids on black spots, surveillance, vehicular/foot patrol, and diversions at strategic points namely: 1 : Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal 2. Deeper Life Junction,3. Bond/Total Filling Station,4. POWA/FCDA Junction,
- Finance Junction by ECOWAS/Women Affairs, 6 Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
7 Eagle Square ( Phase 1 & Phase 11),
8 Kur Muhammad Way / National Mosque, 9 Abia House ,10 : NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo,
11 Gana Junction/Transcorp, 12 Bayelsa House by Federal High Court,
13 Aso Drive, 14 :Ceddi Plaza
15 NNPC Twin Tower and16 NNPC/NBS.
“The CP equally wishes to notify the public of proposed fireworks scheduled to take place on the eve of the inauguration, being midnight of 28/05/23, at the City Gate and the Millennium Tower, to usher in the new administration. The fireworks will be carried out by Messrs Innate Arts and Media
“The Commissioner of Police FCT, CP Haruna G. Garba psc, while briefing senior officers from all units and formations of the Command on the operation order, charged the officers to ensure that attention is paid to details as they discharge their duties in tandem with best global best practices and respect for Fundamental Human rights. He equally called for vigilance and urged residents to take advantage of the Police Control Room numbers in reporting suspicious activities: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883.”
Also, the Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps, Dauda Ali Biu has ordered the deployment of 365 personnel, 40 patrol vehicles, 15 BIKES and 10 tow trucks to ensure safety of road users and ease of movement along all routes leading to the venue of the inauguration of the President-elect, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
In addition to the aforementioned, the Corps also deployed 155 traffic cones, 15 ambulances, 84 patrolites and a number of reflective tapes to augment the entrenchment of safety and ease of movement across board.
The Corps Marshal also directed the personnel deployed to collaborate with the Officers and Men of the Nigeria Police Force as well as other security organisations detailed for the national programme.
He therefore called on road users to comply with restrictions of movement around areas cordoned off by security operatives so as to allow for a seamless inauguration programme.
Areas to be cordoned for diversion of traffic the following; Goodluck Jonathan Expressway by Court of Appeal, Deeper Life Junction, Bond/ Total Filling Station, Federal Capital Development Authority Junction, Finance Junction by by ECOWAS, Ministry of Women Affairs junction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eagle Square ( Phase 1&2).
Others are; Kur Mohammed road/ National Mosque, Abia House junction, NITEL Junction by Ademola Adetokunbo street, Gama Junction/ Transcorp, Bayelsa House by Federal High Court, Aso Drive, CEDDI Plaza, NNPC Twin Towers as well as NNPC/ NBS.
The Corps personnel will also play active role in piloting dignitaries from the following locations; Old Parade Ground – Eagle Square, International Conference Centre, Eagle Square, and Eagle Square Pavilion.
The Corps will also engage in strategic crowd control in and around the inauguration venue.