Stories by Stanley Onyekwere
In its bid to tackle the prevailing insecurity, the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) through its Operation Sweep Abuja Clean has intensified its crackdown on vehicles with tinted glass permits, allegedly that many of the permits in circulation are fake and traced to criminal activities in the Territory.
Also, FCTA sustained its ongoing demolition of shanties with the removal of over 1,000 makeshift structures along the Ring Road 3 corridor connecting Gwarimpa and other adjoining areas in the city
Speaking with Journalists, Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, explained that raid is part of the Citywide Sanitation Operation aimed at enhancing security and aesthetics of Abuja.
Similarly, FCTA Director of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, who was represented by the Director of Command and Control Unit, Dr. Peter Olumuji, during the Operation on Monday, said the action was necessary given that vehicles with illegal tints were frequently implicated in “one-chance” robberies and other crimes in the FCT.
However, both directors assured residents that the FCTA’s combined clearance and enforcement operations would continue across the capital, with an emphasis on securing lives and property, improving the city’s aesthetics, and curbing crime in the city.
According to Galadima, the stretch of road the corridor is about two kilometres, and it has been taken over by shacks, squatters and people of questionable character,” he said.
He explained that while indigenous settlements along the corridor were left standing pending the presence of the Resettlement and Compensation Department, other illegal structures would be demolished to prevent them from serving as cover for criminal elements.
He added that the FCTA has discussed with relevant authorities about ensuring the cleared areas are not reoccupied, especially since work is ongoing on the adjoining N16 road project.
“We have been intimated by the Department of Resettlement and Compensation that there are some indigenous communities on the corridor.
“That’s why we try as much as possible not to interfere with the existence of such communities.
“However, for tomorrow’s exercise to be smooth, we want our representative of Resettlement and Compensation to be with us, so that they can guide us which and which is the indigenous communities.
“And those that are not indigenous communities, we can excuse them and tell them to move on,” he stated.
For Gwary, who explained that security concerns justified the clampdown, vehicles with tinted glasses, there are constant reports that they are vehicles being used for one chance.
He said: “We’ve been able to do other clearance operations within the City Center, especially impounding . And people have also raised the concern that the IG of Police has given October 2025 as the effective date for implementation.
“But notwithstanding, I want to tell you without mincing words that we have impounded vehicles that have faked the tinted glass permits, you know, and anybody that has that capacity to fake that permit, also has the capacity to commit crime.
“So, when people try to bring up the sentiment that the IG talked about October 2025, we also want them to consider the security implications of allowing such people to continue roaming the streets with their glass tinted.”
