Concerned about alleged criminal activities in Abuja’s suburbs, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation on Monday demolished a scavengers camp and illegal markets at Lugbe on the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport Road.
The exercise was led by Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Minister of the FCT’s Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement.
Attah hinted that the ‘babanbola’ activities involving illegal marketplaces were generating problems.
He explained that the Lugbe Federal Housing Authority Estate junction phases 1&2 and the Lugbe by Berger yard are particularly sensitive areas that must comply to the highest standards, and that illegal activities would not be tolerated.
While adding that, the minister of FCT Malam Muhammad Musa Bello after inspecting the area with the Taskforce team over the weekend, had reminded the team on the need to maintaining sanity on the Airport road.
According to him: “We cleared shanties and scavengers on the Airport road some times ago but suddenly the illegal activities are gradually returning. The minister of FCT visited Lugbe area at the weekend, and directed that serious action must be taken.
“The FCT commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji who plays key role in the operation, also insisted that all the illegal activities that pave way for criminal acts on the road must be checked”.
Attah hinted that many of the demolished illegal shanties were suspected criminal hideouts, where hoodlums smoke marijuana and other illicit drugs freely.
He said :“Innocent members of the public, who have been complaining bitterly about activities of these unbecoming activities around Lugbe on the Airport Road, can now sleep with their two eyes closed.
Meanwhile, a trader, whose illegal structure was affected by the demolition, Mrs. Rukiyat Abiodun decried the frequent dislodging of their shops by the FCT officials, saying the government should consider the traders plight.
“Demolishing of our shops is not good, there should be a way of checking activities of the babanbola”
Another residents, Emmanuel Aigbokhai said the exercise will stop criminal activities caused by the scavengers and illegal markets around the area.
