By Philip Yatai

The City Sanitation Operation of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Monday, cleared illegal occupants and traders around UTC, in Area 10, Abuja.

Mr Mukhtar Galadima, Director, Development Control, who heads the operation, explained that the exercise was directed by the FCT Security Committee.

Galadima said that the goal was to enforce sanity and rid the city of criminal elements.

He explained that the UTC was one of the areas identified as dark spots harbouring criminal elements.

He explained that the team equally evacuated a pile of refuse that were left unattended, raising serious health concerns.

“So, as part of city sanitation, we have to clear that site first before coming to the main area where the hoodlooms are.

“On getting here, we have seen what is really disturbing and alarming. So, something serious has to be done,” he said.

He explained that the space taken over by the illegal occupants and traders was designated as a transit corridor in the Abuja Master Plan.

He said that based on Land Use Plan for Phase I and Garki District, the area was part of the the transitway corridor.

The director described the transitway corridor as a “system” that runs across the city, from UTC, and passes behind Abuja Municipal Area Council Secretariat and Ministry of Defence towards Wuse Zone 3.

He said that the corridor had not been developed yet but being maintained and protected against any form of intrution by land grabbers.

He said that after the clearance, the area would be fenced as directed by the FCT Security Committee and only allow usage that would be friendly to city development, particularly transportation.

This, according to him, will ensure that the illegal occupants do not return to the site again.

On his part, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, said that the clearance operation was focused on identifying locations that criminals were hibernating and attacking residents.

Gwary, who was represented by the Secretary, Command and Control, Dr Peter Olumuji, disclosed that the rate of crime had reduced in locations that have been cleared since the exercise began a week ago.

He said that the city sanitation exercise was ongoing side by side Operation Sweep Abuja, adding that several criminals have been arrested while several shanties have been cleared. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru