FCTA orders parks to close 7pm
…bans alcohol sale in gardens
By: Wisdom Acka
All parks, gardens and recreational facilities in Abuja are directed to close latest 7pm.
Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuiabu issued this directive during a media briefing on Wednesday in his office in Wuse Zone 6, Abuja.
He said that the event was held to intimate stakeholders of the Council’s plans to commence implementation of its new Park Policy.
According to him, the new FCT Park Policy stipulates that daily park operations must end at 7.00pm; prohibits excessive noise and sale of alcohol in all parks and gardens in Abuja.
Mandating the FCTA Parks and Recreation department to recover all outstanding revenues owed the Administration, Shuiabu regretted that operators of parks have continued to rake in fortune without remitting the stipulated charges and fees.
He, however, said the debt recovery would be done with a human face as Government in its magnanimity has granted indebted operators discounts and the option to pay in installments.
Shuiabu said: “We need to make it clear that operators who refuse to take advantage of the Administration’s humane gesture and continue to default on their payments may have their Parks withdrawn, licenses revoked and facilities transferred to compliant operators. “
“All Park operators must ensure that they submit their plans for approval at the Park and Recreations Department and obtain their approvals signed by the Development Control before they commence development. They also must develop in line with the approval granted and the provisions as stipulated by the development regulations,” he stressed.
The Coordinator added, “We wish to reiterate that Parks are meant for the protection of our green components in the building fabric of the city, beautification and relaxation of the citizens in peace and tranquility. “
“They are never created to serve as drinking and drug peddling joints. Henceforth, all these are going to be checkmated”, he emphasized.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Director of the department, Hajia Riskatu Abdulazeez noted that the department would soon come up with a template for payment.
