FCTA arrests 166 destitutes, 636 hawkers, 50 prostitutes, 863 motorcycles, 432 tricycles

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) through its Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management, has arrested 166 destitute, 636 hawkers, 50 prostitutes as well as impounded 863 motorcycles, 432 tricycles within two months of its existence.

The FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, made the disclosure, during the enlarged session of briefing of the Operations Departments, FCTA, said out of the 636 hawkers and traders arrested, 386 have been convicted, with 68 sentenced accordingly.

While speaking on the activities of the FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Joseph Mbu-led joint task team, which began operations on March 17, 2014, Mohammed, noted that efficiency municipal management has remarkably improved in the Federal Capital City.

According to a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, Muhammad Sule, the minister, however expressed displeasure over poor sanitary condition in the area councils, and called for immediate reversal by the chairmen of the six councils.

Also, the minister disclosed that the FCT Administration conducted structural stability tests on 48 abandoned buildings in the Territory, to ascertain their strength.

Mohammed said the test was done in April, reiterating that one of the buildings on plot 3, Sabongida District, failed the integrity test and it had been demolished, according to statutory Urban and Regional Planning regulations.

He added that the FCT Administration through the Department of Development Control also removed two abandoned but failed structures in Apo Mechanic Workshop.

Mohammed therefore warned that poor sanitary condition cannot be condoned at any level within the 8,000 square kilometres of the FCT by the administration.

“We cannot fold our arms to watch the Area councils abdicating one of their primary responsibilities of refuse collection and general cleanliness,” the statement quoted the minister.