*Orders recreational parks to close at 7pm
*Abuja is secular, for all citizens
*Directive is anti-biz, tourism – Operators
By Our correspondents
Indications by the FCT Administration that it will soon commence the enforcement of stopping parks and gardens from operating after 7pm daily has been greeted by outrage by citizens of Abuja.
The parks and gardens’ regulators, the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, courted the angst of residents, when it announced last week to go tough on park operators by ensuring strict enforcement of all relevant park policies.
Coordinator of the AMMC, Umar Shaibu, said the enforcement has become necessary as the rights of the neighbors for protection against excessive noise remains sacrosanct.
Shaibu made reference to the 2019 FCT Park Policy Regulations which he claims prohibits parks from operating after 7pm
Specifically, Shuaibu said the administration will also ensure the safety and security of parks across the territory against being converted to alcohol and drug peddling centers, adding that the exercise will enable the FCTA have data of parks and checkmate their activities especially the ones that violate the laws.
“The 2019 FCT Park Policy has categorized parks into neighbourhood, district, city and regional parks all with their various designations. The policy is now fully operational.”
However, checks by The Abuja Inquirer on the policy which was signed into law by by Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello and published in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette No. 70 dated 8th May, 2019 does not specify any time for businesses operating in parks and gardens to close.
The policy grants the Department of Parks and Recreation “the responsibility to enhance, ensure development, management and operation of Parks, Green Areas, Open Spaces and other recreational sites in the FCT that include Wildlife Reservations, other environmentally Historic Scenic Sites, Rock Outcrops, Green Belts and River Valleys.”
It further in 1.1.4. on the functions of the department states that it shall “(i) To liaise with other stakeholder departments for the identification, planning, classification and documentation for the development and management of Parks, Green Areas, Open Spaces, other recreational sites and designated Wildlife Sites for recreation and wellbeing, biodiversity, conservation and ecotourism.”
To add fire to the announcement, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the minister of the FCT, Ikharo Attah, said the exercise commence “from Monday the 4th of July, all parks should remain close from 7pm. Any parks that refused to close from the stipulated time, our team will be going round to ensure that they comply.”
Already, park operations are expressing their displeasure over the decision, with many describing the policy as anti-people, which can be detrimental to operators and even the tourism sector in Abuja.
A garden operator, who simply gave his name as Layi, and did not want his full identity for fear of victimisation, believes the policy was ill-timed and if enforced, will send many people out of business.
According to him most parks and gardens in Abuja are made up of a several businesses like food vendors, gardening, event catering and would be wrong to ask all these businesses to close at their peak period.
“How do you expect a business that feeds on relaxation and recreation to close shop as early as 7:pm which is our own peak period. It is unfortunate that government would even be considering such policy at a time when we most economies are struggling to find their footing in the aftermath of COVID-19.
“If the FCTA thinks some gardens are violating extant laws then go after those parks and gardens but to ask every garden operator to close at 7pm simply because some play loud music or sell drugs in their premises is to simply paint all us with same brush.”
Another park operator who runs his business at Area 10 axis of Garki, Mr. Kadepo, said the policy was ill-advised for a secular community like Abuja and a misplaced priority by the AMMC.
“This is not sustainable. People should be at liberty to hang out or seek leisure wherever they desire to do so in the city. What the government should be doing is to sanitise the few available recreational parks and not shutting us down simply because it goes against what you believe.”
The manager of Burma Park and Gardens Katampe, James Ernest, who said he was yet to be briefed on the new regulation, pleaded with the administration to reconsider extending their closing hour.
“Frankly speaking, we have not been briefed of such information but if the information is correct then it will badly affect our business because that 7pm is when we start operation. That’s when the customers come to buy one or two things from the garden, so it will really affect the business because people don’t come in the daytime, they start coming to relax from 7pm and close by 10pm.”
Another operator expressed the hope that the administration will call for a stakeholder’s meeting so as not to give the wrong impression and throw thousands into the labour market.
The operator, who asked not to be named, said if the administration fails to engage them in dialogue, then they will have no alternative but to seek for legal redress and examination of the policy.
