Insecurity: FCTA Demolishes Shanties at BDC Headquarters In Abuja
By Wisdom Acka (Abuja Digest)
Authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have pulled down shanties at the Bureau De Change (BDC) headquarters in Wuse I District, Zone 4, Abuja.
Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the operations disclosed this while speaking to newsmen after the exercise, Wednesday.
According to him, the shanties served as hideout for suspected criminals in the city centre, thereby becoming a serious security threat and must not be allowed to exist.
Describing the area as an eyesore, Galadima explained that the exercise would also help to bring out the asthetic nature of the place.
The Director stated that BDC operators were expected to operate in designated and licenced areas, but not under trees and bushes as being experienced in Zone 4.
Galadima stressed that the concern of the FCT Administration was to ensure safety and security of residents and their property; assuring that the operation had nothing to do with fight against BDC operators.
Asked on why the area has not been developed for a long time, he said the place was under litigation until the Court decides.
“Our clean up exercise here is based on directive for us to keep sanity. The place is in a sorry situation in terms of aesthetics. It serve as a hideout for criminals and miscreants that is why we have to come and clear everything,” the Director said.
“BDC operators are expected to operate from designated and licenced areas, they are not supposed to operate under trees and in bushes, so that is why we have cleared the place, which is in the interest of both the operators and the FCT residents,” Galadima restated.
The place is still under litigation but you see, security is paramount so also is safety and cleanliness, we have to look at these parameters very well not forgetting that the site is under litigation but we have to provide safety and security for Abuja residents”, he explained.
Dr. Peter Olumuji, Secretary Command and Control Centre, Federal Capital Territory Administration, who spoke further on security, said the demolition would provide adequate security for residents especially those that ply the area.
He stated that the new slogan in FCT under the current administration is “We no gree for criminals in FCT”, which is an indication for more strategies against criminal elements.
Olumuji continued: “The area is part of where there is security challenges, especially to the residents in the city centre, when they transverse through the Abuja Continental Hotel (Old Sheraton hotel) through zone 4 going to the National Mosque.
“You can see shanties which are not supposed to be in the city centre, harbouring the criminal elements. They operate by disposing residents around the area and they come down to herbinate. They attack residents and road users within the area,” he remarked.
“We have recovered weapons from the area, which they use in attacking the innocent residents and motorists around the place, we also have drug related issues and other incidences that occur here, Olujimi stressed.
“Where people are dealing on hard drugs and other substances the rate of crime is always high, because the criminal elements want to be high to carry out their nefarious activities. So, what we are doing with other agencies is to sustain our operations,” he added.
On her part, Deputy Director, Operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Deborah Osho revealed that motorists and BDC operators have turned the area into motor park, causing traffic gridlock.
“This is not a car park, they should not use this place, environment or arena as car park, is not a place to park car and go for business, we will continue to raid this place. There is going to be constant monitoring to ensure this place is free”, she said.