FCTA Bursts Illegal ‘Refinery’ in Abuja
By: Wisdom Acka
An illegal oil refining facility has been discovered in the heart of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) with operatives of security personnel made the discovery Thursday afternoon in Mabushi, just opposite Mobil filling station on Ahmadu Bello way.
Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, who led the operation said that the illegal refining site was discovered during continuation of the city cleaning exercise.
According to him, about three to four plots of land designated for commercial purposes were been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.
Galadima explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.
He said there was no arrest but the items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.
His words: “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated, we have done the needful by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.”
“From what we have seen so far, about three or four plots of land designated for commercial purposes have been converted to unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware, there will be consequences,” he added.
“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration,” the Director emphasized.
He said the Administration would continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval, especially revocation of the titles.
Head of Operations in the FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho, while corroborating Galadima, added that the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the nation’s capital have been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.
She disclosed that fifteen vehicles have so far been impounded since the operation commenced about two days.
