FCTA clears roadside traders, illegal park in Area 1

In continuation of its cleaning exercise, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) over the weekend, cleared illegal structures which are turning into shanties around Garki, Area 1.

AMMC officials, in company of the Department of Development Control, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), alongside the Ministerial Joint Taskforce and other security agencies stormed the area and pulled down illegal structures and sites used for roadside trading and transportation activities around the popular Area 1 bridge and the Old Federal Secretariat.

Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engineer Gambo Jibril, said the exercise was a directive, from the FCT minister to keep the area clean as some federal ministries’ offices which had to do with foreign investment operated from the axis.

“If the area remains clean and well preserved, it will also help in giving the country a good image when foreign investors come in to do business,” he said.

While commenting on the exercise, the Coordinator of AMMC, Shuaibu Umar, said the major roads should not be choked up by illegal motor parks and other human activities, adding that the roads must be free from traffic congestion.

“After sanitising the area, government intends to develop temporary car park, transit terminal and food court, as a temporary measure to prevent the reccurrence of the nuisance there.

He, therefore, advised affected persons to find lawful places for their business activities instead of constituting nuisance.

Also, the Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the area was hitherto used by hoodlums and street hawkers for nefarious activities, such as drug peddling, roadside trading, thereby causing traffic congestion and crimes.

He said prior to the removal, the affected people were given two weeks notice to enable them vacate the place.

Meanwhile, reacting to the development, AMAC Councillor for City Centre, Dogara John Bassa, decried the exercise.

According to him, most affected people were Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), doing business in the area to survive.

He appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, provide an alternative place for the people to continue their trading activities.