Illegal Structures: Federal Capital Territory’s Minister lauds Taskforce Sanitation Team
Hudu Yakubu, Abuja.
The Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing reinvigorated enforcement activities by the FCT Taskforce on City Sanitation, as they are aimed at ensuring the restoration and maintenance of sanity in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
Bello, who made this assertion during an interface with heads of enforcement-related departments in the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), affiliate operational commander, and field commanders from various security agencies involved in enforcement activities in the FCT, said without enforcement it is not possible to attain sanity in the city.
He noted that he had no reason to intervene and stop all the demolitions and other enforcement activities, especially those affecting high profile persons that the Taskforce has carried out.
“Honestly, I appreciate you all for what you are doing.
“All the demolitions; all the arrests that you have done, no big man could call me to stop you because they know I don’t do so; I won’t.
“That’s why they don’t talk about it. So, just go and do your work.
“What I’m telling you is exactly the feeling of the Commander-in-Chief also, because we have to enforce.
“Without enforcement, it is not possible.
“The difference between us and animals is enforcement simply, and we in the Administration have to try our best to help you,” said the Minister.
Similarly, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said the authorities are really feeling the impact of the taskforce, as their work is very palpable and appealing to the stakeholders.
This he, however, noted could not have been possible without the political will and support of the Hon. FCT Minister, who always wants the right thing to be done.
“I have always been seeing the face of Ikharo Attah as the face of all of you, so it is good we are seeing you all today.
“We are really feeling you, because we are seeing the work that you are doing.
“On the service delivery platform, I’m always there, and the feedback we received from you is worth encouraging and appealing. This is how is should be.
“All these couldn’t have been possible without the political will and support of the Hon. Minister, who always wants the right thing to be done.
“What we are telling people now is that we have to obey and comply with the law.
“I thank the Hon. Minister for receiving you personally, this is to tell you that you have all the moral support, political support and what is left is for you to do more, and make sure you deal according to the law, and don’t do anything out of vengeance.
“Please we assure you of our total support, financial support or otherwise,” he added.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police, in charge of the FCT, Sunday Babaji, reassured that the Police and other security agencies involved in the enforcement drive would not relent in working towards maintaining the sanctity of the nation’s capital city.
He, however, appealed to the FCT Administration to continue to support them to keep the tempo.
On his part, DCP Operations, FCT Command, Bennett Igweh, reiterated the readiness of the security personnel to do their work professionally, without fear or favour as they are always ready to move into any place for enforcement.
“I as DC Operations have always told the field officers to do what is right and lawful, assuring them that I will take full responsibility for whatever the outcome is,” Igwe reassured.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, said for the Minister to receive them shows that they have not disappointed those who chose them from their various security agencies and FCTA departments to do the enforcement work.
Attah noted that if it was not for the FCT Minister’s strong political will and desire and firmness to stand on what is right, they would not do much in their field assignments.
“In doing our job, one thing we have discovered is that there are strong beneficiaries of all illegalities and criminalities in the FCT.
“Anywhere we go, to even chase criminals, somebody is benefiting.
“You chase hawkers, somebody is benefiting; to remove illegal structure, somebody is benefiting; to remove roadside traders, somebody is benefiting; and to arrest okada, somebody is benefiting.
“And when we step on those big toes, our source of comfort is that our bosses are always there to defend us.
“Hon. Minister, we want to thank you for the stiff support with strong political will we have received to carry out our job.
“We thank you for the will power to stand by us in difficult times because when we look at the job we do in the field, most times we discovered that if not for your strong political will and desire to stand and be very firm in what is right, I don’t think that we will go far at all.
“I want to appeal very strongly that our bosses should sustain the support going forward, and I’m very sure we will not disappoint you because our committment to do what is right certainly knows no bounds,” said Attah.
