By Stanley Onyekwere
Residents of Mpape Hills have sent a distress message to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Mallam Muhammad Bello, calling for immediate demolition of all illegal shanties and other structures that have allegedly continued to constituting security threat to people in the area.
They noted that life has become very unbearable for them, following persistent criminal activities as well as a frustrating traffic gridlock along the only major road corridor in the area.
Chairman, Mpape Residents Association, Gen. John Agi (Rtd) who made the call yesterday, when he led members of the Association on a courtesy visit to the Minister, lamented that overtime, moving in and out of Mpape has become very tiring and precarious for motorists and commuters.
Agi stated that intelligence reports have revealed that the wave of crimes in the community was alarmingly increasing, due to unchecked migration of many questionable characters who are indiscriminately building shanties and other illegal structures along the road shoulders.
He noted that many of the suspected criminals pretend to engage in petty trading along the road, but resorts to crimes at night.
He also added that traders and mechanic workshops have taken over great parts of the roads, imposing painful constraints on residents and other users of the road.
The retired Military officer pleaded that FCT Administration should immediately carry out a comprehensive sanitation both along the road shoulders and other places in the community to get rid of the criminal elements, to guarantee safety and security of lives and properties.
Stressing that the demolition was urgently needed, he also called the Minister to facilitate provision of basic amenities to the community.
In his remarks, the Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello said FCT Administration has remained consistent in ensuring that Abuja master plan was preserved, while the administration works hard to ensure quality infrastructures across all the districts.
Also, the Minister has directed the Director, Department of Security Services, Adamu Gwary, to immediately galvanise all relevant agencies to commence clean up of Mpape Road corridors and environs.
He also noted that all illegal structures must be removed, and that there is no hiding place for criminal elements and law breakers within the nation’s capital.
