TBy Sarah NEGEDU
he FCT Administration has said it will be beaming it searchlights on relaxation centres in order to check the activities of drug peddlers and other criminals converting such premises to their hideouts.
Director of the FCT Development Control Department, Muktar Galadima, said administration is in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to end the worrisome trend especially in parks and gardens.
Galadima who stated this shortly after a raid of the popular Peb Plaza Gardens in Wuse, said the department was not going to allow parks be used for illegalities.
“We are not going to wait and allow another park to be identified, we are working on collaboration with NDLEA. We urge them to spread their tentacle further to other parks and then we will take necessary action”.
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency had, penultimate week, raided Peb 04 plaza park and arrested six persons for selling drug cookies and noodles.
The Abuja Inquirer in its last edition reported how a 29 year old woman, Rachael Famiyesun, was arrested along with her salesgirl,Stella Sunday, 20, for dealing in drug cookies.
The duo was also caught selling bottles of a drink called ‘Zobo’ prepared with cannabis.
Another business operator in the garden, Moses Obi, 30, was also arrested with his salesgirl, Aisha Abdulrahman, 19, for selling indomie noodles prepared with cannabis.
A bar man, Ahonye Jonah, 31, who worked with the garden owner, was equally arrested while one of their customers, 38-year-old Ngozi Justina Emelogu, also picked during the raid on Jan. 19.
The FCT Administration thereafter sealed the Peb plaza gardens in Wuse, for allowing drug peddling and other criminal activities thrive in their premises.
Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, Tpl. Umar Shuaibu, ordered that all activities at the park are to cease and all illegal structures be removed as soon as possible.
Shuaibu explained that the seal up was necessary following the reports about the sale of drugs in the garden.
He said the report prompted an investigation into the history of the park where it was discovered that the owners carried out illegal extensions outside the approval granted them.
According to the coordinator, “yes we gave approval for extension, to the owner of PEB 04 Plaza that sort for extension of the building and it was granted. But any extension we grant is specifically for greening not for any activities or commercialization. We however found out that even the structures and activities that were not approved by us are taking place here.
“This matter is very weighty. We will seal off the place pending further investigation on the matter. This will serve as deterrent to others and anyone that is caught violating our laws we will prosecute. NDLEA has raided this⁹ park and they caught them with drugs. So it is already established that they were peddling drugs here.
“We have already serve them the enforcement notice and whatever is illegal we are going to remove it as soon as possible.”
Council elections: Politicians asked to shun violence
Political actors in the forthcoming area council elections in the FCT have been asked to eschew all forms of violence, as the unity and peaceful coexistence of the territory are not negotiable.
The Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Youth Matters, Isaac David, gave the advice when he led an advocacy campaign around the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The minister’s aide specifically advised youths in the FCT not to allow themselves to be used as political thugs, adding that their lives are not worth wasting for any politician to achieve his or her political ambition.
He noted that the minister of the FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello, and the minister of state FCT, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu, are both advocates of peacefully co-existence and would not tolerate one single loss of life or property during the elections.
David called on youths to use their numerical strength to vote massively for a visionary leader, in the forthcoming FCT Area Councils election.
“It is time we the youths of the FCT use our heads and not allow anyone to be using our heads for their selfish interest or inordinate ambition.
“There is nothing we can achieve without peace. FCT is blessed with ingenious and competent men and women.
“FCT unity is not negotiable. It is not about a political party or ethnicity any more, we must follow the government at the center to get the dividends of democracy to realise the FCT of our dream. We are stronger in unity. However, I know unity is a daunting task but achievable” he said.
While emphasizing on the need to build bridges among the different ethnic groups in the area councils, David specifically called on residents of Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Council to embrace peace noting that though it may seem difficult, but it is achievable.
“As it stands now Bwari and Gwagwalada area councils have recorded much youth violence in this electioneering campaign period and we are not happy about it. Our youths are very precious to us because they are the hope of tomorrow and not elections tools.”
The minister’s aide further called on the FCT Commissioner of Police, and other security agents to deploy its men on special duties to monitor and arrest youths who are found with drugs and weapons during the ongoing campaigns and during the elections.
