By Sarah NEGEDU
Over 47 Point of Sale, POS, agents were arrested over the weekend, for operating in residential areas and other unapproved places within the Federal Capital Territory.
The FCT Administration on Wednesday asked POS operators to move their businesses away from roadsides and other unapproved places, and restrict their activities to commercial areas only.
The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, Umar Shuaibu, had said the indiscriminate activities of the operators was becoming threat to security, and that the FCTA would not allowed PoS operators take over sensitive areas that are not designated for commercial purposes.
He disclosed that there were intelligence reports and complaints from residents that strange people were roaming about some neighbourhoods, pretending to be POS operators.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, while addressing the violators at the premises of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB, Area 3, said the FCTinister has no plan to stop POS business, but concerned about security issues surrounding it.
Attah stated that the arrested violators may face a mobile court as they have violated some environmental laws, for operating their businesses in an unapproved places.
He explained that POS business was not illegal, but operating outside commercial zones and indiscriminately on the streets was an offence.
According to him, “reports on the arrested violators would go to the minister, to determine and see if the operators comply with the rules of the city which would not give criminals the shield to disguise as POS operators.”
Also Speaking, the Assistant Director, Enforcement at AEPB, Kaka Bello, noted that environmental laws forbid business activities at residential areas and on the streets.
Bello noted that AEPB Enforcement team was prepared to give effect to the restrictions on the POS operations.
He further explained that those who operate at commercial places will have no issue with the team, but violators of the restrictions will be made to face the wrath of the law.
