Insecurity: Mpape community begs FCT Minister to demolish illegal structures

Residents of Mpape Hills have sent a distress message to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, calling for immediate demolition of all illegal shanties and other structures that have continued to multiply and constitute security threats and traffic gridlock along the Mpape only major road corridor.

The residents said life has become very unbearable for them, following persistent criminal activities in the area.

The Chairman, Mpape Residents Association, Gen. John Agi (Rtd) who made the call when he led members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the Minister, lamented that even moving in and out of Mpape has become very tiring and precarious for motorists and commuters.

Agi stated that intelligence reports have revealed that the wave of crimes in the community was alarmingly increasing, due to unchecked migration of many questionable characters who are indiscriminately building shanties and other illegal structures along the road shoulders.

He said that many of these suspected criminals pretend to engage in petty trading along the road, but resorts to crimes at night.

He also added that traders and mechanic workshops have taken over large parts of the roads, imposing painful constraints on residents and other users of the road.

The retired Military officer pleaded that FCT Administration should immediately   carry out a comprehensive sanitation both along the road shoulders and other places in the community to get rid of the criminal elements, to guarantee safety and security of lives and properties.

While adding that the demolition was urgently needed, he also called the Minister to facilitate provision of basic amenities to the community.

Preserving Abuja’s master plan

Earlier in his remarks, the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said his administration has remained consistent in ensuring that Abuja master plan was preserved, while the administration works hard to ensure quality infrastructures across all the districts.

The Minister also directed the Director, Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, to immediately galvanise all relevant agencies to commence clean up of the Mpape Road corridors and environs.

He also noted that all illegal structures must be removed, and that there is no hiding place for criminal elements and law breakers within the nation’s Capital.

Emmanuel Ukoh