The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has started demolishing more than 100 buildings built on waterways at Dutse Makaranta, a populated suburb in Bwari Area Council if the nation’s capital.
This is as a result of residents’ failure to heed all legal warnings regarding the valid devastating forecast on flooding disaster in Abuja.
The Administration said it could no longer wait for unwilling residents to comply with early warnings to save lives, after the destructive flooding that occurred in the community four days ago.
Comrade Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, who led the demolition team to the community on Wednesday, stated that it would be extremely irresponsible for any administration to carry out the demolition.
He, however, expressed utmost disgust that occupiers and owners of the buildings on waterways in the community have deliberately refused to heed warnings, said the administration was welding the big stick to save lives, properties and environment.
He stated that it was an act of God that the heavy flooding that swept through the area four days did not leave any record of death, sparing the government of any careless social media backlash.
Attah explained that the owners and occupiers of the buildings on the waterways have been warned and asked to leave the area from the onset, but refused to comply, hence the forceful ejection.
He was particularly bittered that some of the doomed buildings were a private school, churches where innocent children, wards and worshipers would have been swept away, had the flooding occurred on working days or even during religious feast.
According to him: ” Today we are commencing a citywide operation against buildings sitting on water plains and riverbeds.Here in Dutse Makaranta, you could see heavy flooding, we thank God the rain fail on Sunday afternoon at about 1 and 2pm when many had left the church and school was closed. The water got to the window levels and members had fled. The casualties here would have been extremely massive.
” Most persons in this area where out, only two men who where on their beds . When the water came onebof the walls to one of the buildings fell on the bed of one man and the man fled his house and packed everything quickly.
” We hope that this will send a strong message to all those who have been on water plains and corridors.
” We thank God that we did not loose any life here. But we wonder how people will put their buildings without a building plan approval and now they are telling us to try and understand.
” FCTA has marked the buildings from Foundation level, they have been warned to leave that this is a disaster zone. They kept marking at window and roofing levels, warning them to leave that flooding was coming, but they never believed”, he added.
A resident of the Community, Ibrahim Shaibu confirmed that those affected by the demolition actually were aware that the area was prone to flooding, but ignored all warnings.
Shaibu who claimed he has lived in the community for about 20 years acknowledged that the flooding that occurred three days ago was unprecedented, but thanked God that no life was lost.
He claimed that the indigenous people should be blamed for whatever destruction the flooding has caused, as they have continued to resell the place after each demolition exercise.
Rams should not be sold anywhere other than the places that are authorized to do so in the Federal Capital City, according to a statement from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, gave the warning while inspecting the designated locations on Thursday in Abuja.
According to Attah, the authorities would not allow anyone to sell rams throughout the city.
He issued a warning that anyone caught selling ram in an unapproved location will have their ram seized and face legal consequences.
When that occurs, he asserts, the government will appear before the judge and request a forfeiture order; if that is granted, the ram will be confiscated and taken to orphanage, less privileged homes and prison.
According to him: “The position of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has remain the same in the last three years and even more tougher this year.
” The minister said there is nothing wrong in bringing rams for sales in Abuja during this global widely recognise festivity.
“But what the minister found inappropriate is and kept telling each and every one of us is that we should not allow selling of rams in none designated areas particularly in the city centre.
” Except at spot that are already earmarked for such purposes like the abattoirs, ram market at Dei-Dei, Kugbo ram market and some other few ram markets.
“But outside the designated areas it will not be allow by the authorities,” he said.
Attah hinted that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) headed by Mr Osi Braimah, had set up a committee which has been up and doing.
He explained that the the committee had been reinvigorated to check the sales of ram and warned persons not to sale ram in an areas not designated.
He, however, advised ram sellers to contact AEPB for proper guidance on how to go about selling the rama without violating the law.
Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), expressed his delight with the Taskforce on City Sanitation’s continued, renewed enforcement actions.
The enforcement exercise is being conducted to ensure the restoration and maintenance of sanity in Abuja, the country’s capital city.
Bello asserted that the city cannot become sane without enforcement during a meeting with the FCTA’s heads of the departments involved in enforcement, the affiliate operational commander, and field commanders from other security agencies engaged in enforcement actions in the FCT.
However, he pointed out that he had no justification for interfering with or stopping any of the demolitions or other enforcement efforts the Taskforce had carried out, particularly those that involved well-known individuals.
According to him: “Honestly, I appreciate you all for what you are doing. All the demolitions; all the arrests that you have done, no big man could call me to stop you, because they know I don’t do so (I won’t), that’s why they don’t talk about it. So, just go and do your work.
“What I’m telling you is exactly the feeling of the Commander in chief also, because we have to enforce.
“Without enforcement, is not possible, the difference between us and animals is enforcement simply, and we in the Administration have to try our best to help you”.
Similarly, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said the authorities are really feeling the impact of the taskforce, as their work is very palpable and appealing to the stakeholders.
This, he noted couldn’t have been possible without the political will and support of the Hon. FCT Minister, who always wants the right thing to be done.
According to him: “I have always been seeing the face of Ikharo Attah as the face of all of you, so it is good we are seeing you all today. We are really feeling you, because we are seeing the work that you are doing.
“On the service delivery platform, I’m always there, and the feedback we received from you is worth encouraging and appealing. This is how is should be. All these couldn’t have been possible without the political will and support of the Hon. Minister, who always wants the right thing to be done.
“What we are telling people now is that we have to obey and comply with the law. I thank the Hon. Minister for receiving you personally, this is to tell you that you have all the moral support, political support and what is left is for you to do more, and make sure you deal according to the law, and don’t do anything out of vengeance. Pls we assure you of our total support , financial support or otherwise”.
Also speaking, the FCT Commissioner Police, Sunday Babaji, reassured that the Police and other security agencies involved in the enforcement drive would not relent on working towards maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s capital city.
He however appealed to the FCT Administration to continue to support them to keep the tempo.
On his part, DCP Operations, FCT Command, Bennett Igweh, reiterated the readiness of the security personnel to do their work professionally, without fear or favour as they are always ready to move into any place for enforcement.
Igweh adds: “I as DC ops has always tokd the field officers to do what is right and lawful assuring them that I will take full responsibility of whatever the outcome is”
Earlier, Comrade Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, said for the Minister to receive them shows that they have not disappointed those who chose them from their various security agencies and FCTA departments to do the enforcement work.
Attah noted that looking at the job they do in the field, most times if not for FCT Minister’s strong political will and desire to stand and be very firm on what is right, they won’t do much in their assignment.
He said: ” Doing our job, one thing we have discovered is that there are strong beneficiaries of all illegalities and criminalities in the FCT.
“Anywhere we go, to even chase criminals , somebody is benefiting, you chase hawkers, somebody is benefiting , to remove illegal structure somebody is benefiting; to remove roadside traders, somebody is benefiting ; and to arrest okada, somebody is benefiting. And when we step on those big toes, our source of comfort is that our bosses are always there to defend us”.
He continued: “Hon. Minister, we want to thank you for the stiff support with strong political will we have received to carry out our job. We thank you for the will power to stand by us in difficult times, because when we look at the job we do in the field, most times we discovered that if not for your strong political will and desire to stand and be very firm on what is right, I don’t think that we will go far at all.
” I want to appeal very strongly that our bosses should sustain the support going forward, and I’m very sure we will not disappoint you, because our committment to do what is right certainly knows no bounds”.
Kashifu Inuwa, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment as the country’s top IT regulatory body to developing enabling policies for the development, use, and adoption of digital technology in order to support and improve the living standards of women entrepreneurs across the country.
This was expressed by Inuwa at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) Women and Youth Leadership Symposium in Abuja, which was held for the first time.
Inuwa, who was represented by Dr Amina Sambo Magaji, Deputy Director of the Agency’s Digital Economy Development Department, remarked that given NITDA’s objective, the organization was deeply drawn to developmental efforts, which underlined the importance the Agency placed to the symposium.
“NITDA supported the symposium with Technology Tools that will help enhance Entrepreneurship especially amongst Women and Youth in general”.
According to the NITDA boss, the inability of a country to create digital presence in today’s dynamic digital world translates to having a non-existent nation.
“Technology is an enabler that many people around the world leverage to create their digital presence. Without the right technological tools, we will not be able to advance as a country, economically and politically. In the light of this, NITDA is very interested and supportive of this symposium”.
Outlining the Agency’s several opportunities that support Women and youth entrepreneurship, Inuwa said a subsidiary was specifically established and named Office of the Nigeria Digital Innovation (ONDI), primarily to foster the growth of Technology and Innovation in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the President of the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA), Filimena Viera, while observing that whereas, women and youths constitute the significant percentage of the world’s population, their continued deprivation in virtually all areas of affairs has increasingly become a source of concern.
She attributed the factors responsible for this ugly development to their age, gender, limited opportunities and assumed lack of political experience.
Viera noted that among the major reasons for African continent’s backwardness is the fact that women and youth have not been given their rightful places in governance.
“Youths are the future, hence the need for the creation of relevant platforms where they can exchange ideas, experiences and amplify best practices.
“To address the menace of Women and youth marginalisation, effective policy framework mechanism has to be in place, so as to ensure equity and to guarantee a sustainable society where basic human rights are recognised.
“Platforms that will inspire, mentor and avail the women and youth training on the required skill set cannot be over emphasised”.
Also, as part of its contribution towards guaranteeing the development of women and youth entrepreneurship as championed by the sub – regional Parliamentarians Association, 20 laptop computers were donated by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
The ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA) is an umbrella body of all Female members of the ECOWAS Parliaments; primarily established to assist Parliamentarians from the Sub – region use their legislative mandates to empower Women through qualitative legislation.
UNICEF, Katsina State Government and partners today inaugurated a cash transfer initiative to provide learning opportunities for over 20,000 out-of-school children in the state, as well as to improve the socio-economic well-being of recipients and their families.
Katsina State currently has 536,132 out-of-school children.
“The partnership between Katsina State Government and UNICEF has yielded many positive results, not just in the education sector, but in other sectors of the state,” said Rt. Honourable Aminu Bello Maisari, Governor of Katsina State at the launch in Mani.
“We are grateful to UNICEF and the Educate A Child (EAC) project for the funds. The Programme Implementation Unit for the cash transfer programme will monitor the programme closely and ensure that the beneficiaries make judicious use of the resources,” added governor Maisari.
Through the cash transfer programme, a total of ₦332,832,000 will be disbursed to 20,802 out-of-school children (OOSC) and Almajiris in Kafur, Mani and Safana LGAs of Katsina State. The funds will be disbursed through 10,557 female parents/caregivers to increase school enrolment and attendance rates for boys and girls.
Each female parent/caregiver will receive N8,000 per tranche twice in 2022, amounting to N16,000.per beneficiary.
The cash transfer programme will also ensure that beneficiaries are enrolled and retained in any form of organized school, including Integrated Qur’anic Schools (IQS) and provided with literacy and numeracy skills linked to employability and livelihood schemes.
The cash transfer programme is being delivered together with the birth registration programme which has so far seen registration of 20,400 children. Social workers will be equipped with required skills to track and reunify children living on the street or similar situations with their families, thereby ensuring family-based care for children. Already, 50 Mallams of Tsangaya schools in three LGAs have been trained on safeguarding and keeping children safe from violence and abuse in their facilities.
Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria said, “We are thankful to our partners, the Educate A Child Project, for funds for the cash transfer programme in Katsina State. The take-off of the cash transfer programme provides the opportunity to take children off the streets back to the classrooms where every school age child should be. We urge the government to continue to build on these interventions to ensure that every school age child is in school and learning.”
“UNICEF is excited that with this launch, we’ll be addressing the important issues of not just access to education, but quality of learning as we focus on literacy and numeracy skills to build the foundation for employability and livelihood skills,” said Hawkins.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Friday arrested two employees in charge of a cold room at Garki International Market Abuja for allegedly selling rotten chicken to consumers.
Kaka Bello, the head of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), who was accompanied by security police and board workers said the report came from the market management and the Public Complaints Commission.
His words : “We are here base on the report we received from the market management and the public complaints commission. We have been going round to talk about environmental issues generally, but today we are here to talk about environmental health issues.
“The board received an information of stock pilled chicken and meat which has already decayed and unfortunately those operating the cold room are selling them to the public, and is not good for human consumption, before we came in here, the meat has been evacuated, according to the people we saw operating the cold room.
“So, we have taken the two persons operating the cold room into custody for more findings to make sure that the rotten meat is not transported to another place for sale. According to them, We want to know where it has been evacuated to, if they destroy it we want to see where it was done. We want to be sure that is not transported to other markets for sale.
“This is for the public to know that such act is not allowed in the Federal Capital Territory, basically we know that they have been selling these things before the market management and Public Complaints commission get to know about it and alerted us.
“We are going to charge them to court after necessary investigations are concluded, and they will pay for their sins. People cannot come to market to buy what to eat for their good health, and buy rotten items. This is unacceptable” he said.
Bello further stated that the board would come down hard on any one found selling or involved in unwholesome meat activities.
High-risk populations in Africa are being vaccinated against COVID-19, with promising outcomes. Over half of health workers and those over the age of 60 are fully vaccinated against the virus in countries that report to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Data from 31 nations reporting on COVID-19 immunizations of high-risk categories shows a significant increase in comparison to the end of December 2021, when just 33% of health workers and 10% of the elderly were fully immunized. The World Health Organization recommends that health workers get 90 percent of their vaccinations and that persons over 60 get 80 percent of their immunizations.
Only two African countries (Mauritius and Seychelles) have fully vaccinated 70% of their total population. Rwanda is expected to achieve this target by the end of the month based on the pace of its current uptake, bringing to three, the number of countries in Africa reaching the 70% global target by the end of June.
However, Africa has a largely youthful demography, with 45% of the continent’s population under the age of 18. In a bid to use vaccines strategically, most countries are targeting their adult population. WHO is recommending to countries with low vaccination coverage to focus on high-priority groups – health workers, older adults and people with comorbidities. The continent’s coverage of people over 18 years is estimated at 34%, significantly higher than the 18% full coverage in the general population. Nine countries have fully vaccinated more than 70% or their adult population, while 21 have reached more than 40% of adults.
“Having been beset by poor access to doses, costly delays and shortfalls, Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination progress so far is no mean feat,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “Africa’s youthful population has helped the continent weather the COVID-19 pandemic. While protecting young people at high-risk of COVID-19 is paramount, focusing efforts on vaccinating older people, health workers and other vulnerable populations will ensure we stay a step ahead of the virus.”
WHO recommends that countries continue to focus on high-priority populations such as health workers, people with comorbidities and older people, and to diversify vaccination delivery strategies, combining vaccination in fixed health facility sites with efforts to take vaccination to the communities through mass vaccination campaigns and intensification of routine immunization activities.
To date, at least 31 countries have planned mass vaccination campaigns until end of the year. During mass vaccination campaigns, WHO recommends that countries set up bespoke mobile teams for targeted vaccination of high-priority groups. Learning from the experience of HIV testing and treatment, provider-initiated COVID-19 vaccination should be offered in primary health care and in special units offering care to people with comorbidities such as HIV, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
WHO and partners are focusing support on countries that risk falling behind. Fourteen African countries with less than 10% vaccination coverage are to receive multi-partner country support, with WHO stepping up efforts to strengthen the management of COVID-19 vaccination data in its assistance to these countries, many of which are also grappling with humanitarian crises and/or diseases outbreaks.
Over the past week, the number of new COVID-19 cases in Africa marginally increased following a sustained three-week decline. This slight uptick was due to the recent surge in cases reported in East and North Africa. As of the 13 June 2022, there were 11.9 million COVID-19 cases in Africa, including 254 442 deaths.
Dr Moeti spoke during a virtual press conference today facilitated by APO Group. She was joined by Dr Daniel Kyabayinze, Director, Public Health, Ministry of Health, Uganda; Professor Emmanuel Nakoune, Acting Director of the Institut Pasteur in Bangui, Central African Republic; and Dr Peter Fonjungo, Director of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Democratic Republic if the Congo.
Also on hand from WHO Regional Office for Africa to respond to questions were Dr Abdou Salam Gueye, Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response; Dr Thierno Balde, Regional COVID-19 Incident Manager; Dr Fiona Braka, Team Lead, Emergency Operations; and Dr Phionah Atuhebwe Vaccines Introduction Medical Officer.
Mr. Olusade Adesola, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has established a Coordinating Committee on the Recovery of Outstanding Ground Rents of N29, 506,643,943.98 owing to the Administration by property owners in Abuja.
This, he claimed, was to increase money generation into the administration’s coffers.
The Permanent Secretary stated during the Committee’s inaugural meeting at the FCT Minister of State Conference Room in Abuja that improving revenue production has been a priority for this administration from its establishment.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Director, Information & Communication, Federal Capital Territory Muhammad Hazat Sule, Adesola reaffirmed that money is critical in the operation of government, the supply of infrastructure, and the provision of infrastructure as well as delivery of quality services to the residents of the Territory.
He explained that funding of FCTA activities is being hampered due to paucity of funds, which is necessary for the running of a modern capital city such as Abuja.
He said: “The decision to embark on recovery of Ground Rents has therefore, become a matter of necessity. We are serious about this. All those owing should come forward to settle their debts”.
The Permanent Secretary, however, recalled that the FCT Administration has earlier migrated all revenue collections to Treasury Single Account (TSA) via REMITA Platform, to boost revenue generation in compliance with the Federal Government directive.
According to him, “despite all these efforts, the rate of revenue generation has not met the realities on ground, hence the need to exploit other frontiers”.
The 9-Member Coordinating Committee is headed by the FCT General Counsel / Secretary of Legal Services Secretariat, Muhammed B. Umar.
Arc Olamilekan Adegbite, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, has informed global investors that Nigeria’s solid minerals are among the best in terms of quality and quantity.
Because they are closer to the surface and produce at a low cost, these minerals are rated highest in terms of return on investment.
He also reassured them that the Buhari-led administration is committed to providing the best incentives available anywhere in the world to serious businesses.
The Minister gave this assurance in his paper titled: ‘The Mechanisms of Transparency and Commitment in Mining Governance as Tool for Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to Nigeria’ on the Nigerian Day at the ‘2022 Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) International Convention, Trade Show and Investors Exchange’ in Toronto, Canada.
He added that, the Nigerian Government is seriously focusing on the solid minerals sector, which investors and investments bare top on its priority list as as far as policies are concerned which make the mining sector very business friendly because of mechanisms put in place to promote ease of doing business as this is built on strong policy and regulatory structure is very the years.
He further stated that the robust structure, line by line, is the reason Nigeria is seeking to attract investment into the sector.
Adegbite said that, the fact that global economies have experienced unprecedented challenges since the break out of COVID-19 pandemic, and as a result the conference is holding in June.
According to him: “Nigeria has been part of this event for several years because of our determination to see exponential growth of the mining sector’s contribution to our GDP more than it has done in the past forty years.
“We are here to collaborate and network with global leaders, professionals, investors, Chief Executives of junior, mid-tier and major mining companies. It is also on this premise that the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, vowed to pull resources and consolidate on the 2016 Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry.
“In pursuit of the goals set forth in the roadmap, the government initiated an ambitious reform regime in the sector, the flagship of which was the National Integrated Mineral Exploration Programme (NIMEP), designed to rapidly generate bankable geoscientific data with the aim of de-risking the sector and attracting high caliber investments.
“Target minerals under the first phase include Gold, Lead-Zinc, Iron Ore, and the Battery Minerals, among others. The contractors have executed and completed the exploration works on Gold, Platinum Group of Elements (PGEs), Lead-Zinc, Iron Ore and Barites.
“Currently, there is an ongoing review of the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act 2007, aimed at bringing legislation into conformity with global best practices, limiting the role of government to that of regulation, and creating the space for the private sector to maintain a more expansive presence in the sector.
“The early evidence that our framework is on the right track is the inflow of notable investments.
“These include Thor Exploration Limited’s Segilola Gold Mine Project, in Osun State, which has an initial production capacity of 80,000 ounces of gold annually, representing the first large-scale Gold Mine in Nigeria.In June last year, we commissioned the Dukia Gold & Precious Metals Refinery (DGPMR) Project.
“The company set out to be a foremost indigenous refiner and trader of gold and other precious metals. Its potential impact on the gold sector is nothing short of revolutionary.
“By providing offtake opportunities through the establishment of Precious Metals Buying Centres, it serves as a spur for more small and medium scale mining investment, while its refinery symbolizes its focus on value addition in the gold and precious metals industry in Nigeria and West Africa.
“A similarly remarkable investment is the integrated Iron Ore Mining and Processing Plant set up by African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) in Kaduna, which has an initial production capacity of 4.704 million tons of iron per annum and will scale up to 5.88 million tons per annum by 2025.
“In line with the economic diversification plan of the Government, my Ministry has issued a Request for Qualifications for bidders interested in receiving concessions to begin the production of bitumen in Nigeria as the country possesses about 42 billion tons of proven reserves of bitumen, estimated to be the sixth largest in the world.
“These blocks are located close to key ports for export purposes and import of mining equipment, and railways cutting across areas with bitumen deposits.
“Therefore, we seek for suitably qualified investors with pre-requisite experience, technological expertise and financial capacity for the development of bitumen resources in Nigeria.”
He (Adegbite) also made it known that: “Results on Greenfields and Brownfields are on process to be declared for investment opportunities.
“We have also commenced the process of retrieving Nigeria’s colonial geological data from the United Kingdom by engaging the British Geological Survey (BGS) to build a national electronic geo-data archiving management system to be called the Nigerian Geo-Data Center at the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA).
“This would provide easy access to geoscience data for prospective investors on potential areas to target for exploration and mining within and outside Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, he hinted that there are a lot of incentives enshrined in the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act, 2007, which include:Customs and import duties waiver for plant, machinery and equipment imported for mining operations; Tax holidays of between three to five years as applicable;Free transferability of funds and permission to retain and use earned foreign exchange;Capital allowances of up to 95% of qualifying capital expenditure; Deductibility of Environmental Costs (money meant for environmental remediation will be tax free); and100% ownership of mineral properties.
“Meanwhile, part of our modest efforts towards achieving the desired aim is repositioning the Mining Cadastre Office to promote transparency in mineral title administration.
“The processes have been streamlined to enable investors to apply online and obtain licenses and leases within and outside Nigeria.
“From the revenue drive perspective, the Nigerian Mining Sector has demonstrated a marked improvement despite the challenges of the pandemic. The secret of the sudden jump can be attributed to the introduction of “First Come, First Served” and “Use it or Lose it” in the licensing administration.
“This has helped to re-organize, eliminate speculators, and led to the revocation of about 1,566 mineral titles, activated many dormant licenses and increased revenue inflow into the treasury”, he stated.
Miscreants acting as scavengers are wreaking havoc on lawful residents in the Lugbe Community, and indigenous people have expressed their unhappiness.
They bemoaned the situation and demanded that the government intervene immediately.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) resumed its assault on roadside selling and other illicit scrap market operators on Thursday.
The surge of miscreants and their rising criminality in the area has left some of the community’s youth leaders feeling helpless and unprotected, according to those who raised the alarm.
One of the leaders, Yohanna Habila, hinted that: ” The community has tried to control them, but you know that these people are rude, they seem to have overshadowed the community at the moment. That is why we are appealing that the Taskforce should continue with this exercise to help in controlling them”.
Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah who led the squad for the operation, vowed that enforcement against roadside trading and other illegalities won’t be abated until the administration achieves the desired result.
He said that containing the excessess of the miscreants has been tasking, but the squad will continue to live up to its responsibility.
While he expressed dismay that the dismantled illegal roadside markets that defaced the Airport road, had been reorganised by some residents, he stated that the cleaning exercise will be sustained.
According to him, “The administration would soon begin to arrest both traders and those who promote roadside markets, as a deterrence to others in various communities.
” What we came here to do is part of controlling roadside trading along the Airport road. We discovered that where we cleared last year for the community to use for their car park have been reoccupied again .
” We will persistently keep coming and keep removing. Enforcement officers are paid to enforce, so we must enforce. It is contemporary deception to think that a city will grow to the extent of not needing enforcement.
” We are working to keep enforcing urban and regional and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board laws. Subsequently, we will also begin to make massive arrest”.
