The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has reacted to the indiscriminate and illegal use of personal and commercial drones in the FCT, saying that henceforth violators would be arrested and prosecuted.
A statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer DSP Josephine Adeh, and made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), revealed that there is public outcry on sighting of drones hovering over personal and government-restricted air-spaces contrary to extant laws, and creating fear and apprehension in the minds of residents.
The statement noted that as a result, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Babaji Sunday, has directed the immediate Enforcement of Drone Usage Regulations, arrest of violators, and the confiscation of such drones.
It has therefore become pertinent to state, according to the statement, that flying drones in the FCT requires meeting certain qualifications, obtaining certifications, as demanded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), and Obtaining approval from the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) as the case may be without which it becomes an offense to at any time and any day be found flying one.
The CP however, called for calm, noting that investigations carried out has shown that the small and lightweight drones sighted are of zero imminent security threat as they are flown by individuals for leisure or commercial purposes. However, to help the Police effectively police the air-spaces, it is important to, in addition to the above, notify the Police of the usage of the drone in every instance, especially for commercial purposes
The Commissioner of Police, while tasking DPOs and other vital organs of the Command to carry out the enforcement, urged residents to be law-abiding and exercise calm bearing in mind the assurance of the Command’s unalloyed commitment to bringing crime and criminality to its barest minimum.
While the Police continue to take proactive security measures, residents are urged to remain vigilant, and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrences to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, while the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352
