Authority of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Abuja, nation’s capital has demolished a mini market, said to be notorious for vehicle papers and other documents forgery.
The mini market located directly opposite the headquarters of FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services in Mabushi, is said to have been infiltrated by fraudulent merchants whose stock in trade is to collaborate with some government staff to produce fake vehicle papers and number plates.
Speaking on the exercise, the Director DRTS, Dr. Abdulatef Bello said that several intelligent reports have exposed the illegal activities being perpetrated in the place.
Bello, who displayed some vehicle papers and number plates, said to have been impounded from some of the arrested suspects, noted that some criminal elements had infiltrated the place and indulged in forgery.
He lamented that apart from losses of revenue, due to the illegal activities of the place, the safety of motorists and other residents have been threatened.
He warned bothering motorists and people who patronise quacks for vehicle registration to desist from it and resort to the seamless registration platform, backed with technology that the government has provided.
Bello said, “we have observed over a long period of time, this particular building harbours illegitimate activities such as pirates, pirates some of our documents and then perpetuates criminal activities.
“we have been making efforts over a period of time to see how we can bust their activities, but today faith caught off with them and the building or structure here are brought down, and they were able to uncovered so many of our documents that have been pirated by the criminals.
” And then the most important thing is that it is not just about revenue loss but you know it also about something that has to do with security as well because as we are trying to go into e- enforcement, some of these vehicles that are registered with fake documents would be very difficult for us to track them, because the camera will pick them but because they are not registered, it will be difficult for us to track, and these are the kind of vehicles they use for criminal activities in territory.”
Earlier, the Secretary, Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, said the gesture was part of the administration commitment to reap the city of some illegality perpetrated by some criminally minded individuals.
He called on the culprits to desist from such acts or face the full wrath of the law.
Dr Olumuji then enjoins the residents to continue to always cooperate with the administration and security agencies by providing them with the relevant information concerning those involved in such activities.
Also speaking, Barrister Alexandre Owobi, who claimed to be the manager of the open space property where the business centres operated, said that the most worrisome part of the demolition was that, the development control department did not give the occupants adequate notice.
Owobi stated that he was not aware that criminal elements have invaded the place, noting that no security agency has ever given him such reports.
Shakirat Sadiq
