In a bid to check the excesses of roadside forex hawkers constituting nuisance around the city centre, the Federal Capital Territory Administration on Monday raided the Wuse Zone 4 area of the FCT where they dislodged many hawkers.
The enforcement team of the FCT also stormed suspected criminal hideouts in the Central Business District where drug peddlers are said to find cover for their nefarious activities.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, said the enfornment team will have no option than to begin arrest and prosecution of the illegal currency hawkers, if they refuse to respect the laws.
Attah explained that intelligence reports from the Economic and Financing Crimes Commission, EFCC, about the currency hawkers were worrisome, insisting that unless they comply with regulatory guidelines for the business, relevant forces may be deployed to sanitize the industry.
He noted that while the FCT Administration would always encourage private businesses in the territory, such businesses must be done within the ambit of the law.
He disclosed that EFCC reports against the Wuse Zone 4 Bureau De Change operators, exposed so much illegalities which the present administration will not condone, but work in synergy with other agencies of government to address.
On why the taskforce stormed the suspected drug peddlers colonies, he stated that efforts need to be doubled, to ensure that the festive period remain peaceful in Abuja.
He added that the taskforce would remain steadfast to the duty of dismantling everything that contribute to insecurity with the nation’s capital.
Attah said, “We had to address the issue of insecurity, removing all the shanties around the Bolingo hotels and the Churchgate building.
“The currency hawking is a very difficult one. FCT Minister had gotten correspondences from the EFCC, appealing that the administration to use its enforcement components to stop the currency hawking.
“We had met with them before and now to warn them to find a way to stop the illegalities and do their business in line with the regulatory guidelines.
“We want them to do their business in their shops, because the Minister and EFCC have frowned seriously over the issue.
“We also believe that it is dangerous for them to change currencies on the roadside, because they could be attacked by criminals.
Also Speaking, Alhaji Danlami, the Deputy National Chairman of Burea De Change operators, said, “the leadership of the Union of Burea De Change operators here have been trying to organize the people .
“We are law abiding citizens and we want everyone to do everything according to the law”.
