AMAC: Monarch bemoans rising shanties, seeks gov’t intervention

• Structures marked for demolition -FCTA

By Stanley Onyekwere 

In the wake of the prevailing insecurity in the country, the Sakaruyi of Karu, HRM Emmanuel Yepwi decried the increasing rate of illegalities in his domain, which is one of the Chiefdoms in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Yepwi said it was discovered that the illegalities being perpetrated by  some suspected criminal elements, who live in makeshift shanties and other illegal structures around the community, while some pretending to be traders, have defied all rules and  taken over the roadside for their activities. 

The Monarch, who disclosed this when the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister,  Ikharo Attah visited him over the weekend, pleaded that FCT Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation to  immediately visit and remove the shanties where some suspected criminals hibernate under different guises. 

Yepwi while expressing serious concerns over the situation,  noted that the suspected  law breakers initially came in as law abiding citizens to the community,  but over time has revealed their real characters, by disregarding procedures and extant laws. 

He added that he has been mobilising the powers within his constitutional reach to fighting the illegalities being orchestrated by these elements, but now  needs government’s support  to defeat them and restore sanity to his troubled  domain.

He specifically noted with dismay,  that some of the people who disguise as traders at Karu Market, but may have other nefarious plans, have taken over the roadsides, and are causing unbearable traffic stress and inevitable disaster. 

He therefore urged the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello through the Ministerial Committee on City Sanitation to quickly intervene, by removing all illegal structures within Karu, one of the largest satellite towns in FCT.

According to him: “ karu is a major satellite town sitting on  major road corridors in the FCT. Karu links  to Orozo and up to Karshi. It should be the best. Sadly most people choose to sell on the road and cause traffic problems.

“Please help us fully clear Karu of some illegal structures and batchers that are not good for our community” 

“ Tell the Minister, we support him fully for whatever he wants to do to remove all these traders from the roads. We have been warning them to leave but they refuse to”.

Earlier in his remarks,  Attah said the FCT Minister, had expressed worries over the illegalities in the Karu satellite town and would work in synergy with all stakeholders to addressing them. 

Attah also disclosed that the visit to the Sakaruyi’s Palace was motivated by the myriad of complaints that have continued to trickle in from residents living in Karu axis.

He added, that more worrisome was a situation where some traders have arrogantly abandoned the empty spaces in the Karu Market,  and opted to sell by the roadsides, not minding the traffic problems being created by their actions.

He said, “  it is a pathetic scene at the entry point into  the Karu Model market as trader now occupy the entire road allowing only one car to pass per time. Those selling fresh catfish and vegetables now occupy better part of the road.

“Some traders are selling directly under power high tension wire; and here are those who has decided to build makeshift shops and cover the Transformer. All this, your Royal Highness are not good for Karu in particular, and the city at large.

“With sensitive security agencies having/ offices and residential quarters  from Karu to Karshi, complaints keep pouring in daily of difficulties crossing the Karu Market portion of the road. Also FCT residents including staff of the Satellite Town development Department at karshi waste manhours daily on the  road.”