Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration has demolished over 349 illegal structures in Lugbe, a suburb of the nation’s capital along Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
The operation tagged ‘2021 mother of clean ups’ was led by the chairman, FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation, Mr Ikharo Attah, accompanied by security personnel and Fire Service officials.
He said the operation was part of the regular exercise on the Airport road corridor considering the need to keep the gateway into the nation’s capital, Abuja clean.
Attah explained that the Minister of FCT, Malam Muhammad Bello visited the area recently with the commissioner of Police and some strategic army officers including other security heads in the territory, and they were displeased with the level of infringement.
The chairman stated that the Chief of Garki, Usman Nga-Kupi who was also among the entourage lamented that most of the areas that the residents ought to park their cars along the fence line were all converted into shops.
According to him, the FCT Administration had fenced the organic settlement for the residents waiting for resettlement but regretted that the plan had been contravened by those within the area, which violates the Abuja master plan.
“The people have turned the fence line to motor park, where car owners park and pay N1,000 on a daily basis”
He said, “In line with town planning rules and to keep the city clean and safe, we are not going to be detered, this comprehensive clean up show that FCT Administration is committed to keeping the city clean.
“One of the key issues is to keep to the acceptable standards, if you are driving in through the Airport Road what you see is not befitting, Abuja Environmental Protection Board is doing well by evacuating the heavy waste, there are dumpsites at the back of the Villages but some still come to the front to dump waste”
Attah explained that the exercise was to ensure that Abuja especially along the Airport Road is maintained in line with the best practices of orderliness and sanitation.
The demolition exercise which started at Lugbe-Across, Lugbe Berger, Car wash and Lugbe zone 5 lasted for seven hours.
Nnenna.O
