Terror threat: FCTA evicts illegal food vendors, mechanics near presidential villa

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Tuesday evicted illegal food vendors, mechanics, fuel hawkers and petty traders on the rail and road corridors in Area 11 Garki, near the presidential villa, Abuja.

Mr Kaka Bello, the Assistant Director, of Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), who led the operation, said the FCTA has zero tolerance for environmental nuisances in the nation’s capital.

Bello, who advised residents to have a healthy attitude towards the environment, noted that if all residents ensured discipline and do what was right, Abuja would remain a clean city.

” As you can see this area falls within the Asokoro District and it is bordering the residents of the number one citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

” And as such this illegality that is happening here will not be allowed to continue. You can see a lot of sundry nuisances from food vendors, illegal petroleum sellers popularly known as black markers, and illegal mechanics occupying this road corridor.

“This has led to the spillover of their illegal activities on the R.B. Dikko Road off Lord Lugard street. This is unacceptable and that is why the Director of AEPB, Mr Osilama Braimah, gave us a matching order to come and ensure that we sanitise this place.”

Bello promised that the board and other agencies of the FCTA saddled with the responsibility of city management would sustain operations in the area on a daily basis.

“We will ensure that this place is sanitised. The enforcement will continue on daily basis. As you can see the operation is been carried out by different agencies such as the FCT Directorate of Traffic Road Services (VIO), FCT Ministerial Task Force on City Sanitation, NDLEA, and the rest.”

He appealed to illegal food vendors, mechanics and illegal petrol sellers to desist from engaging in illegal activities.

”There are legitimate platforms in the territory were such businesses could be carried out without going against the law,” he said.

Also speaking, Mr Ikharo Attah, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, explained that the place being occupied by the illegal vendors and mechanics was a green area given as a temporary food court.