City Clean Up: FCTA justifies Kuje Area Council operations

By Hudu Yakubu Abuja

The Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, hinted that it has resolved to cleared part of the forest in Pasali in Kuje Area Council due to the report of insecurity, sales of illicit drugs in the Area. Explained why it had to clear part of the forest in Pasali area of Kuje.

The Administration who spoke through the Head of Monitoring and Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello, gave the hint in Kuje Area Council while embarking on clearance operation in the Forest on Monday.

Mr Bello further gave reasons for the exercise that the Area Council want to move perishable traders at main Kuje market, in order to stop street trading on the road corridor.

Speaking on compensation, Mr Bello said, it is the kuje Area Council that will compensate the owners of the economic trees that were removed and not the FCT administration.

According to Kaka, “From our previous work we found out there is spill over in the market that is why we have people trading on the road corridor because there is no space in the market. We are facilitating the relocation of the market here. We have decided to clear this place in order to relocate them here, especially those who sell perishables will be relocated here.Well we have some security challenges in this area, there were cases of sale and consumption of illicit drugs in this area. And we have some cases of reported theft, snatching of bags and phones. It also have some security challenges but with the coming of the market we hope all these security challenges will be subside. There are so many economic trees here but the Area Council will compensate them. Yes they are going to be compensated the Area Council will compensate the owners of the the economic trees”, he added.

Anglo Benjamin, a farmer, resident and one of the owners of the economic trees, lamented that nobody told them the trees would be removed on Monday, neither did they get compensation for removing the economic trees.

He said he had Cashew and Gmelina trees and they were all cleared.

Ishaku Adamu, from shetuko, Kuje Area Council, said the land belong to his family and there has not been any negotiation of any kind, from the Area Council.

“They have cleared our economic trees. The government should compensate us”, he insisted.