By Stanley Onyekwere
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday renewed its war against illegal roadside mechanic workshops, and motor parks within the city centre.
To this end, over 30 vehicles were impounded, while six persons were also arrested during the raid, which started at the popular A.Y.A junction, in Asokoro District.
Also, the clean up exercise terminated at Jabi district, where some illegal structures were removed.
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah explained that the exercise was in series of wars the administration has been launching against illegalities, in a order to keep Abuja clean and safe for all.
Attah, who decried the persistent environmental nuisances in some parts of the city, noted that with the support of FCT Ministers, the joint team involved in the city sanitation exercise, won’t relent, but sustain the tempo.
He reiterated that the illegal mechanic workshops, and motor parks operators had been warned severally to vacate the locations, but refused to comply.
According to him, the suspects arrested during the operation, would be charged to Court by relevant agency of government, while the fate of all impounded vehicles solely depends on the verdict of a competent court of jurisdiction.
“ Our plans for sustainability is to keep doing the job. That is the only we can defeat illegalities. Look at the numbers condemned tyres that are been evacuated from a highbrow district of Asokoro.
“ Attempt to stop doing what we are doing will mean loosing the city, but we won’t allow that.
“ This exercise is a combined war against illegalities. We have launched a war against illegal construction and shanties and now unapproved mechanic workshops. We are determined to address all the illegalities holistically”, he stressed.
Also speaking, Deputy Director of Enforcement in Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello, said the intensity of the cleaning exercise was increased to match the strength of those bent on destroying the ambience of the city with their illegal activities.
Bello noted that Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB) had strived to keep the city sanitation upbeat despite the attacks by those promoting illegalities.
Similarly, a Director at FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Services ( DRTS), Baba Abubakar, opined that more synergy will be created by relevant agencies to ensure that operators of the illegal mechanic workshops do not return.
