Insecurity: FCTA Removes Shanties Under Bridges

By: Wisdom Acka

To improve on the current state of security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), authorities of the FCT Administration (FCTA) have removed shanties providing shelter to scavengers in some parts of the Federal Capital City.

Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Murktar Galadima, who led the operation explained that the exercise was to ensure safety and sanitation; adding that such makeshift structures serve as hideouts for hoodlums, who commit crimes and criminality in the city.

Galadima was represented by the department’s Deputy Director, Monitoring and Enforcement, Hassan Ogbole, who said that the department was directed to clear about 10 under bridges and subways to prevent unwholesome activities of the scavengers.

Some of the under bridges and subways cleaned up include those from Abia House, all the way to the National Mosque axis.

Abuja Digest can authoritatively report that during the exercise, cooking pots, blankets, sleeping mats, heaps of refuse, comprising empty plastic bottles, assorted wine bottles and cartons, among others, were found in the scavengers’ dens.

Galadima explained that some of the scavengers arrested would be profiled and taken to Wasa site, a layout earmarked for pan-takers, while the spaces would be put to good economic uses.

He expressed dismay over the manner the bridges and the columns had turned dark due to the fires caused by the scavengers; assuring that the locations would be handed over to the park operators for management.

His words: “Gone are those days when places recovered were not put into use effectively. Some of these subways and under bridges were proposed subject to the Minister’s approval that they should be given to relevant agencies and individuals, parks and commercial outfits that will manage them.”

“So this is the purpose. They would be put into active use for sustainability. It is left to those who will manage them to decide on what to do for a little token, especially for the subways which are commercially viable,” he said.

“Some of the challenges we have discovered is that some of the columns of the bridges have been exposed through the activities of the scavengers and some due to ecological factors. This is a big discovery for everybody,” Galadima restated.

“The scavenging is a very serious issue -they are all over the city. The Wasa Layout has made provision for scavengers and pan-takers, so we will organize them through the Urban Affairs department to profile and take them there to stay and not to spread all over the city,” the Director said.