Abuja: The Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has condemned the harassment and molestation of officials of the Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), while they were on official duty. This condemnation was made by the institute’s President, Dr. Chime Ogbonna, during a visit to the department’s director, Mr. Mukhtar Galadima, in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Ogbonna expressed his concern over a recent incident in Lugbe where the department’s operational vehicle was vandalized, and several officials were assaulted by unidentified security personnel. During his visit, Dr. Ogbonna extended his commiserations to Mr. Galadima regarding the unfortunate incident and emphasized that the institute would no longer tolerate such actions.
Dr. Ogbonna warned individuals and organizations against future harassment of the development control officials, stating that perpetrators would face appropriate legal consequences.
In response, Mr. Galadima expressed gratitude to the institute for its support and revealed that the FCT Administration was actively investigating the incident to ensure justice is served. He highlighted that the incident raises significant concerns about the safety and well-being of development control staff, stressing the importance of respecting and protecting professionals performing their statutory duties.