FCTA Clamps Down on Forex Hawkers, Drug Peddlers
By: Wisdom Acka
The Federal Capital Territory Administration has Monday, resumed another round of clampdown on illegal roadside Bureau De Change operators in Wuse Zone 4.
This was as the Administration also stormed some areas in the City’s Central Business District, ransacking and setting ablaze places suspected to be drug peddlers colonies.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, who led the exercise threatened that the enfornment team would have no option than to begin arrest and prosecution of the illegal hawkers, if they refuse to respect the laws.
Attah explained that the intelligence reports from the Economic and Financing Crimes Commission (EFCC) about the currency hawkers were worrisome; insisting that unless they comply with regulatory guidelines for the business, relevant force may be deployed to sanitize the industry.
He stated that FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, wants people to flourish in their various enterprises, but must do whatever they are doing lawfully.
According to him, the EFCC reports against the Wuse Zone 4 Bureau De Change operators, exposed so much illegalities, which the present administration will not condone, but work in synergy with other agencies of government to address.
On why the Taskforce stormed the suspected drug peddlers colonies, he stated that efforts need to be doubled, to ensure that the festive period remain peaceful in Abuja.
He added that the Taskforce would remain steadfast to the duty of dismantling everything that contribute to insecurity within the nation’s capital.
Attah said: “We had to address the issue of insecurity, removing all the shanties around the Bolingo hotels and the Churchgate building.
His words: “The currency hawking is a very difficult one. FCT Minister had gotten correspondences from the EFCC, appealing to the Administration to use its enforcement components to stop the currency hawking.”
He added, “We had met with them before and now we warn them to find a way to stop the illegalities and do their business in line with the regulatory guidelines. Let them do their business in their shops, because the Minister and EFCC have frowned over the issue.”
“We also believe that it is dangerous for them to change currencies on the roadside, because they could be attacked by criminals,” the SSA emphasized.
Also Speaking, Alhaji Danlami, the Deputy National Chairman of Burea De Change operators said: “The leadership of the Union of Burea De Change operators have been trying to organize the people.
We are law-abiding citizens and we want everyone to do everything according to the law”.
