BY DAVID ADUGE-ANI, ABUJA
As part of the activities to tackle insecurity in the nation’s capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun the removal of all unapproved business activities operating in Abuja under bridges.
The operation, tagged, City Management, was led by the director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, with a visit to a bridge near Abia House, along the Ahmadu Bello way and other bridges in the Central Business District of the FCT.
Galadima, who spoke to journalists after the exercise, explained that the operation was necessitated by directive by the FCT minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike to clean up and conduct a visibility study on subways and under bridges suspected to be hiding places for criminals.
Represented by the
deputy director, monitoring and enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, Galadima pointed out that there were outcries from the residents over rising wave of security issues associated with most of the locations.
According to him, “The team which comprises all the strategic agencies of FCT Administration went round in the last two weeks on preliminary findings, from Area 1, Ahmadu Bello way to Area 2, and we have 10 underbridges that will be cleared.
“The operation is a fall out from the Minister’s directive to clean up or conduct a visibility study on subways and under bridges within the territory arising from security issues associated with most of the locations
“After the exercise rightful persons will take over the areas for proper management.
“Gone are those days that places are recovered and abandoned, It depends on the people that we will be handed over these places to, but we must ensure that the right thing is down.
“We have close to 10 bridges, some of the places are ecological reserved areas, We will organize them through the Urban affairs department, they will be well profiled and they will have a place to stay”
Also speaking, the secretary, Control and Command FCT Administration, Dr Peter Olumuji said the operation is to guarantee safety of residents.
According to Olumuji, “Part of the reasons for the operation is to guarantee the safety of residents, members of the public have been complaining about unwholesome acts of criminal elements under these bridges, anytime they commit crime they run to the bridges to hibernate, the administration is committed to making under bridges uncomfortable for criminals”
On sustainability, he said, “After the clearing, all Divisional Police Officers in those areas are to take charge, they have been informed and they have assured us that the bridges will be kept under control.
“The areas recovered will be converted to better use than leaving it in the hands of suspected criminals, it is not that we are displaying people but the places can be used for viable economic reasons”.