By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has moved to crush illegal settlements and shanties in Abuja.
Ahead of this exercise, officers of the Department of Development Control have been instructed to submit a list of all shanties and informal settlements for verification.
According to the Director of the Department of Development Control, Tlp. Mukhtar Galadima, the goal is to identify and address illegal shanties and informal settlements that may harbor criminals and criminal activities.
Galadima disclosed this during the removal of illegal shanties and shops at Durumi 1.
He said, “The move is part of the administration’s broader strategy to enhance security and orderly development within the Federal Capital Territory.”
He stated, ” looking at the rising insecurity in FCT we were mandated to clear all shanties and squatter settlements in the Federal Capital Territory. So this is in line with the directive given by the FCT Administration.”
“The exercise is not limited to the city centre, we are going beyond the city center but we have a line of direction that is why we are starting from the city centre outward.”
“Looking at the rising insecurity in the Federal Capital Territory, we have been mandated to clear all shanties and illegal settlements.”
“Where we are clearing now is the continuation of Moshood Abiola way which starts from the International Conference Center runs through Area 10, Area 2 down to Durumi going to games village. You can see this is a road stretch known as Festival Road then.”
“The New strategy is that once we clear the place , we hand over to the responsible agency, and if they fail to do their responsibility, then they should be blamed not Development Control nor the Taskforce.”
” Like this one now , once we clear it we are going to write to the News Engineering even if it is a temporary road they should make it available to the Public so that these people will not come back again.”
Furthermore, Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security Service, Dr. Peter Olumuji has pointed that Durumi is another Notorious place where crisis takes place.
According to him, “when people decide to build a Road corridor automatically you know that you cannot have a definite address in which you can track them down.”
“So that is why we are here, as we are clearing it we are removing the vices within this environment because most of these boys here around in the nighttime they become something else to those who ply this road and even under Area 1 bridge. This is a holistic clearance we are also doing in curbing crime.”
Durumi is a popular place and people will attest to it. And as we are here, we have contacted the divisional police officer who also has sent personnel here to beef up what we have from the command and control. The crime rate here definitely will reduce to its nearest minimal.”
On the sales of drugs, the secretary said, the NDLEA and the task team have been going round and have been able to confiscate some substances already suspected to be India-helm, adding that it is part of the devices being talked about because here people have access to any type of drug.
For now, we have made three arrested for drugs and obstructing the demolition exercise, he disclosed.
