By Sarah NEGEDU
Officials of the Federal Capital Territory, on Wednesday, impounded 16 vehicles, seized four cows and arrested seven beggars, for constituting nuisance in restricted areas of the territory.
The operation, which is part of the the FCTA’s renewed enforcement against unapproved motor parks, cattle herding, among other infractions, also led to the sacking of illegal food vendors and hawkers around the MTN office in Maitama.
The combined enforcement team combed premises of federal secretariat, Eagle Square, Appeal Court and the ministry of women affairs where the vehicles were impounded for operating at illegal parks.
The exercise, which was extended to Lugbe on the ever busy Nnmdi Azikiwe Airport road, led to the seizing of about four cows and arrest of seven beggars that constitute nuisance to the environment.
Speaking on the operation, the Secretary Command and Control Centre, FCTA, Mr. Peter Olumuji, said the administration was keen on making the city clean and safe for residents.
He noted that the operation was the continuation of enforcing sanity across the city by combined officials of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Social Development Secretariat, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, with support from the security agencies.
According to him, “The exercise is meant to tackle various nuisances within the territory, especially the aspect of illegal motor parks, most of the taxi can be used for criminal purposes.
“We are also clearing and arresting beggars across the territory as part of measures to maintain sanity.
“The enforcement on open grazing shows that FCT Administration still has zero tolerance for herding cattle in unauthorised places, today we have arrested about four cows. We also arrested somebody that has been impersonating as a security operative before members of the public, but today luck ran out of him. The police will handle it and he will be prosecuted accordingly.”
Olumuji said the exercise was going to be sustained for the good of the Federal Capital Territory and its residents.
Also, the head of operations, Directorate of Road Traffic Services, popularly known as VIO, Deborah Osho, said negativities will not be allowed to continue in the city.
According to her, indiscriminate parking of vehicles, operating of illegal parks and motorcycles plying unauthorised places, if allowed would dent the image of Abuja, as a federal capital.
“The exercise is a general clean up that is aimed at restoring sanity across the territory. This is also in line with the directive of the Senate recently, that the FCT Administration should end illegal motor parks in the territory.”