***As FCT Minister Authorized Massive Cleanup of Utako, Environs
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Thursday burst an illegal farm used in growing cannabis in one of the undeveloped plots.
This is coming as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister , Malam Muhammad Musa Bello ordered aggressive and massive sanitation in Utako, Jabi parks, Wuye District and its environs, in order to tackle enviromental degradation and other illegalities in the Districts.
The leader of the Ministerial Tasks Team on City Sanitation who is also the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah made this known on Thursday in Abuja.
He , however, bemoaned the activities by some lawless persons that were gradually turning the Utako and Jabi parks areas to places that jeopardise both health and security of the city.
He also lamented that even the scavengers that took over a nearby undeveloped plots around the districts, have added growing cannabis to their other illegal activities and the plant has been forwarded to the NDLEA for further investigation.
According to Attah: ” A number of illicit car lots, mechanic shops, places of worship, roadside vendors, and a known scavengers colony have been forced to relocate dramatically as a result of the sanitation project that started on Thursday morning.
“I was saddened when he recently inspected activities in and around these Districts, according to Ikharo Attah, who also said that residents have abused the administration’s propensity to uphold the law to a great extent.
He noted with dismay, that the residents had taken for granted the administration’s decision to use stakeholders engagement and respect for human rights in dealing with developmental issues before any enforcement.
According to him, the sanitation would remain a priority of the administration until total sanity was restored and the environment reclaimed for better developmental projects.
He further stated that: ” what is going on here is a total clean up in Utako, Wuye and Tunde Idiagbon connecting point . The Minister gave us the order and we started the joint operations this morning.
” At this place we are removing Baban Bola, you could be shocked seeing a matured grown cannabis. We have been seeing them regularly within the Baban Bola colonies. It is not safe for people to stay here, especially when Baban Bola take over a karelia expanse of land like this.
” Both environmental, security and planning issues are reasons why we are carrying out this massive clean up exercise and I believe the whole of this road stretch will wear a new look in the next one week “.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Director of Enforcement in Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB) Kaka Bello, said the clean up had become necessary following reports of security breaches coming from the Scavengers colony.
Bello who admitted that the areas pose challenges, also explained that the administration’s resolve to sustain the clean up exercise was justifiable, as the areas had been severally sanitised, but the lawless occupants refused to give up.
He also explained that the administration had reached out to the owners of the empty plots with several notices, and may take actions if such owners refuse to commence development after three months.
He noted that ” this is a place with a lot of challenges. The Baban Bola colony here is not just constituting environmental, but security challenges and that is why we are here.
” We came here yesterday to give them notice, beside the notices we have been giving them.
” The measures we have is to ensure continuous enforcement. Just as you clean your house every day, we will continue to enforce compliance.
” Beside that FCTA has directed that all plot owners should come and take ownership of their properties within three months. That is those that have building plan approval, and those who don’t have should also come forward, or appropriate actions will be taken”.
