Bereau- De- Change, BDC, Headquarters in Zone 4, Abuja, was today a shadow of itself, as the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s City Sanitation team dislogded and cleared illegalities in the area.
During the enforcement, the Director, Department of Development Control, Muhktar Galadima, expressed concern over the high level of criminal and unwholesome activities that takes place in the Area by some of the unlicensed operators.
He therefore advised Bureau-De -Change Operators operating from the bushes or yet to be licensed, to legally obtain their licenses for security reasons.
According to him, the enforcement is in line with the directive to sanitize and clear the area of all illegalities to keep the environment safe, and by extension the territory.
Although the site in question had been under litigation, Galadima who said the exercise has nothing to do with the price of the dollar, noted that the safety and security of residents was sancrosant.
” it started since 2007 between corporate entity and the government, including some companies claiming ownership of the land. Is still under litigation but you see, security is paramount so also safety and cleanliness, so we have to look at these parameters very well, not forgetting that the site is under litigation but we have to provide safety and security for Abuja residents”.
” The place is a sorry situation in terms of aesthetics, is an eyesore to the city’s fabric,that is why we have to do everything possible so that we sanitize the place.It serve as a hideout for criminals and miscreants that is why we have to come and clear everything.
“Bereau De Change operators are expected to operate from designated and licenced areas, they are not supposed to operate under trees in the bush, so that is why we have cleared the place.” Galadima said.
Talking from the Security perspective, the Secretary, Command and Control Center FCTA, Dr Peter Olumuji, said the cleared spot had been harbouring drug dealers, miscreants,and criminal elements that frequently attack innocent residents along Sheraton and the National Mosque axis.
Some weapons such as jack knives, matches among other harmful tools were recovered during the exercise.
“The area is part of where there is security challenges especially on the residents in the city centre, when they transverse through the Abuja Continental Hotel (Sheraton hotel) through zone 4 going to the National Mosque”.
“You can see shanties which are not supposed to be in the city centre, harbouring the criminal elements. They operate by dispossesing residents around the area and they come down to hibernate. They also attack residents and road users within the area”.
“We have recovered weapons from them which they use in attacking the residents and motorists around the place,we also have drug related issues and other incidences that occur here”, Olumiji said.
Speaking on the traffic implication of the exercise, the Deputy Director Operations DRTS, Deborah Osho said the Joint task force has evacuated about 20 vehicles that were parked along the road side, that usually caused traffic jam in the area.
On sustainability, Osho said the exercise is going to be a continuous one to ensure that sanity is maintained in the area.
“This is not a car park, they should not used this place,environment or arena as car park, is not a place to park car and go for business, we will continue to raid this place. There is going to be constant monitoring to ensure this place is free.You can see all we are doing here is to remove all these cars that are parked and abandoned here. People come here to park their vehicles and, they have gone.We have taken a lot of cars today, about 20 vehicles from this road stretch.” Osho said.
By Remi Johnson, Edited By Grace Namiji
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