Demolition: Scrap dealers get two-week ultimatum to vacate Mabushi Forest

By Stanley Onyekwere

In furtherance to its ongoing intensive clean up exercise, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a two-week ultimatum to dealers in metal scraps otherwise called Pantakers inside Mabushi Cashew Forest to vacate or face demolition of the area, purportedly notorious criminal hideouts.

The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah gave the ultimatum at the weekend, at a stakeholders meeting with the Gwan-Gwan Traders Association Mabuchi.

Attah said: “After two weeks grace, whatever they are left in the area will be demolished without empathy and sympathy.  But , we will stay action since you have appealed and we will convey your message to the Minister but ensure that you pack all your belongings before the expiration of the two weeks grace.

“ Please don’t give us chance to remove your valuables because the bulldozer will not know how valuable they are to you. You have two weeks to remove them last week, you begged us on site . 

“We will tell the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the Commissioner of Police , Sunday Babaji that you have two weeks to remove your valuables. 

“The Minister of FCT, has directed them to comb and clean all criminal hideouts in the nation’s capital, leaving no stone unturned”.

He adds: “The only place we enjoyed in a situation like this was at Apo-Dutse Pantaker Market, they pleaded for time and after the expiration of the time, they started demolishing the shanties themselves. 

“But the way you are going, I’m not convinced that you people are ready to leave after two years, you are still asking for more time. 

“We will come on Monday to start demolishing, is like you are asking for another two years. The meeting was called to  rob minds and cart a way forward”. 

Similarly, the Assistant Director of Enforcement in Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Kaka Bello said , we will give them two weeks grace but  we will be moving in to check compliance. 

According to him: “ The moment will be in phases, before the end of the two weeks , every batchers must go; all their it terms must be evaluated including the heavy duty machines” .

Earlier, the Chairman,  Gwan-Gwan Traders Association Mabuchi, Salisu Rabiu appealed for more time to pack their valuables and that the administration should provide them with an alternative place where they can do their legitimate business.