By Sarah NEGEDU
Residents running businesses in unapproved markets in Lugbe and Dutse-Alhaji areas of the FCT, were dealt a heavy blow last week, when the FCT Administration removed all unapproved structures along road corridors in the areas.
Chairman of the FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Ikharo Attah, said the affected markets and shops contributed to the traffic gridlock at Lugbe and the Dutse/Bwari roads.
The Task team pulled down illegal markets located at Federal housing junction and the popular car wash bus stop, at Lugbe. The exercise was later extended to Dutse Makaranta, Sokale and Kubwa F01 axis of the Bwari-Dutse road where occupants of illegal structures including scavengers were also dislodged.
Some of the structures removed at Dutse-Alhaji include illegal shops, car wash marts and attachments belonging to E-Fountains Event Centre, Total Child Model Schools, Salvation Teaching Centre, and Khalad international Schools, located around Sagwari Layout and Sokale.
Also demolished were illegal pantaker dumpsite in Jabu layout within Kubwa FO1 as well as Nino prestige Lounge on waterways in the area.
Attah, noted the properties affected had no appropriate title, but over the years were built heavily, and conscripted the road corridors, turning the place into notorious markets.
Attah said the renewed war was a demonstration of commitment to holistic Sanitation along the Airport Expressway, being one of the most strategic gateways to the nation’s Capital.
On the Lugbe demolition, Attah explained that the gateway into the city, as well as other parts of Abuja won’t be abandoned to recalcitrant traders, artisans and their collaborators who are bent on defacing every available space, just to satisfy their personal needs.
He warned the traders and other violators to desist from reconvening the illegal markets, and other economic activities in unapproved places, the committee’s taskforce has been briefed to start arresting offenders for prosecution.
He reinstated the FCT Minister’s resolve to continue with the ongoing Sanitation, both within and outside the city centre.
“It is very painful that these traders have returned here, after we have dislodged them and cleaned up this place. We shall continue with the exercise, and henceforth anyone caught violating the FCT urban and regional planning rules in this place would be arrested and prosecuted,” Attah added.
Also speaking, the Secretary FCT Command and Control, Peter Olujimi, said the committee has equally taken into cognisance residents outcry over the constant criminal attacks at the EFCC Jabi office junction.
