The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Tuesday
explained why the administration will continue to clamp down on illegal
settlements in Abuja
Director, Department of Security Services, Adamu
Gwary, who disclosed this in Abuja while fielding questions from journalists,
said no government would fold its arms and allow illegal settlements.
He added that most of these settlements harbour
criminals that cannot be traced once they are in such settlements.
According to Gwary, “So even you can see the situation
as it were at that time, you see the population. You will be sure that bad
elements always find a circle in such an environment because it’s not a defined
location where you can easily trace somebody.
“And as such, the FCT administration deems it
necessary to ensure that measures are in place to ensure that we destabilize
such settlements that are not recognized. Yes, they are citizens, but all are
encouraged to live within a defined location where whatever you do, whatever
you have, whatever you say, you can be located. And when you contribute
something positively, you can equally be located.
“So the removal of illegal settlements and the
occupation of uncompleted buildings is a continual process by our security
agencies. There is no way the government will fold its arms to leave things
just because somebody claimed that he is a citizen and he has the right to stay
where he wants. No, he has the right to stay where the law allowed him to do”.
He noted, “It has to be a registered location. But
then you look at the entire area of that location, those of you that are with
us, you know that all is not well. Taking into consideration the linear path of
the rail facility from the Kukwaba station behind the National Stadium that
moved towards the OCC, the main station at Idu, Kukwaba.
“So when you look at that, the entire stretch of that
slum is by the rail side. The only thing dividing this is the wall, which they
are even removing, which is not only right but a security threat to the
operation of the rail facility. And they are the same people that are
vandalizing the rail facilities, which recently the FCT administration provided
streetlights for the entire stretch of the rail facilities.
“Yet the facility that is meant to illuminate the
entire location is still being vandalized. So the elements that are vandalizing
and quickly dashing back to such slums are all located. So the administration
cannot and will never allow such a thing to exist for the benefit of safety and
security of the FCT residents”.
Head, Internal Security, Sunday Olubiyi said the
administration has concluded arrangements to fully enforce the ban on hawking
around the office premises.
He said the administration has resolved to tighten up
security surveillance in and around office premises, to forestall incidences of
theft and other crimes.
He noted that the full enforcement will commence
immediately by January next year.
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