… Says Violators Will Face Prosecution
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has warned against the illegal and indiscriminate use of drones within the FCT and its environs.
The Commissioner of Police FCT Command CP Babaji Sunday, therefore, directed the immediate enforcement of Drone usage Regulations, and ordered the arrest of violators, and the confiscation of such Drones.
The Commissioner of Police, tasked the Divisional Police Officers and other vital organs of the Command to carry out the enforcement and urged the residents to be law-abiding.
He also urged them to be calm bearing in mind the assurance of the Command’s commitment to bringing crime and criminality to its barest minimum.
The FCT Command said, it frowned at the use of its personnel and commercial drones in the FCT by individuals adding that the activities are causing nuisance
on government-restricted air-spaces contrary to extant laws.
The command said the actions are causing fear and apprehension among residents of the Abuja.
In a statement on Thursday, the Police Public Relations Officer, FCT Police Command, Abuja, DSP Josephine Adeh, said the Command has banned the use of Drones in Abuja.
“The attention of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has been drawn to the indiscriminate and illegal use of personal and commercial drones in the FCT
“Information at the disposal of the Command as well as public outcry on the sighting of drones hovering over personal and government-restricted air-spaces contradict extant laws, thereby creating fear and apprehension in the minds of residents.
“Consequent upon the above, the Commissioner of Police FCT Command CP Babaji Sunday has directed the immediate Enforcement of Drone usage Regulations, arrest of violators, and the confiscation of such Drones
“In the light of the above, it is pertinent to state 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 found to be flying one:
“The CP while calling for calm, noted 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 statement said.
According to the Commissioner of Police, the Force would continue to take proactive security measures, while urging the residents 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” The statement reads.
