The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday in Abuja decried the increasing rate of criminal activities in Mpape community after six months of clearing illegal structures in the area.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr Ikharo Attah, said this at the stakeholders meeting with Security Agents, Traditional Rulers, Market Associations and Pan-taker Operators in Abuja.
Attah, who presided over the meeting, said the enforcement team was committed to addressing the complex situation at Mpape community.
He said that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello and the Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu were saddened that criminal activities and other illegalities had persisted in the community.
The minister’s aide explained that the aim of the meeting was to sensitise and galvanise support for the re-launch of demolition in the area.
Attah said that the FCT Administration’s plans to transform the Crush Rock Area of the Mpape community to a world class tourism site had not been dispensed with.
According to him, the plan is still on course with a committee already working on it.
He urged all the stakeholders to convey the important outcome of the meeting, which included the imminent return of bulldozers to the community to clear illegal structures.
Attah, however, assured that legal structures, especially that of the original inhabitants would not be destroyed.
Earlier, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Community Relations, Mr Tanko Yamawo, who was also present in the meeting called on all stakeholders to work in synergy in tackling the criminalities.
Yamawo restated the FCTA’s resolve to protect all legal structures of the indigenous people but warned that they stayed away from illegalities.
Also, the Secretary of Bwari Area Council, Mr Kadanya Peter, who was represented by the Chairman of the Council, pledged support to the proposed return of demolition bulldozers but pleaded that the areas not marked should be spared.
Contributing, the traditional ruler of Mpape community, Chief Musa Haruna, while consenting that the planned removal of rebuilt illegal structures be demolished, pleaded that the roadside traders and metal Scraps sellers (pan-takers) be given a more convenient place.
Secretary Pan-taker Association in Mpape said, Kassim Mohammed, ”We have no objection to the eviction notice already given to us.
“We are pleading that Bwari Area Council should hasten the plan to moving us to the permanent place they’ve allocated to us.”