Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon Christopher Zakka Maikalangu has announced the dissolution of it’s security outfit, the AMAC Marshal created by the previous administration.
In its place, Maikalangu said he has empowered the AMAC Taskforce to take over from the AMAC Marshal to ensure internal security and assist technical partners in ensuring revenue generation for the council.
Addressing newsmen in his office in Abuja, after an Executive Council Meeting (ECM), on Tuesday, the AMAC chairman said the AMAC Taskforce would be trained to ensure they discharge their duties professionally.
Represented by the Supervisory Councilor for Special Duties, Hon. Emmanuel Inyang, Maikalangu said the AMAC Taskforce has taken over the power from AMAC Marshall to ensure internal security.
He said: “We inherited some agencies and parastatals from the previous administration, including the AMAC Marshal. Indeed, they have been doing they best and we feel we should energize it the more and add to the security, considering what the Marshall was expected to be doing.
“However, after a review of the activities of the AMAC Marshal during today’s Executive Council Meeting, the Council agreed to dissolve the Marshall. We have given AMAC taskforce the power from AMAC Marshall to ensure internal security.
“The taskforce will also liaise with our technical partners to ensure that revenue is paid to the council. They will ensure that residents pay their taxes. They will be trained and well-kitted to be able to live up to expectations as professionals. When everything is put in place, we will generate more revenue to be able to carry out more projects.”
He continued, “As you may probably know, there is no political ward in the 12 wards of AMAC that has not recorded one project or the other sited in it by the Executive Chairman of the council, be it rural electrification, water project, construction of classrooms, road projects, among others.
“Most of the projects have been completed and awaiting commissioning, while other projects are nearing completion. Some of the projects were abandoned by the previous administration, but we’re taken up the amiable council Chairman in his magnanimity. We have to complete them because they are for the benefit of AMAC residents. Moreover, government is a continuum.
“We are presently paying contractors over debt by the previous administration. Some of the contractors took us to court to garneshe our account, but have withdrawn their cases after seeing the genuineness of the AMAC Chairman in offsetting the debt. Apart from offsetting the debt owed the contractors, we are also carrying out new projects.
“No matter how little, we ensure that, every month, we reduce the debt owed by the previous administration to contractors.”
Continuing, he said: “Presently, we are facing security challenges in Keti, under Kabusa ward. The council is sympathetic because of the security issues. We have received a lot of reports regarding the security issue. The road to Keti from Kabusa is actually very bad.
“Security agencies often delay in getting there because of bad road. Therefore, the council, in its wisdom, has approved immediate rehabilitation of the Keti to Kabusa road, in order for it to be accessible to security agencies whenever there is distress call. Apart from security issues, rehabilitation of the Keti to Kabusa road will also be of immense benefit to Nigerians plying the road.”