The Federal Capital Territory Administration has vowed to sustain removal of illegalities before 2023 election and after the election.
The Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah state this when he led a team on a cleanup exercise to Dutse market and it’s environs in Abuja.
He said those rejoicing that demolition enforcement would soon stop for 2023 election campaigns are merely day dreaming.
Comrade Attah who frowned at the adamant manner with which some persons erect buildings indiscriminately, said such violations would not be tolerated in a Capital city like Abuja.
He said the FCT Minister Malam Muhammad Bello had given a marching other to ensure that the city is clean before, during and even after election.
According to Comrade Attah, as long as the government is paying salaries and allowances of the enforcers, the work must go on.
‘Yes people have said within a short time that we are going to get tired and they even boosted before us that election is coming that we are going to get tired but the Minister has said that the city must be clean in and out of election, until the last day we leave office as long as government are paying us our salaries and allowances we must work for the money and that is what we are doing here, DRTs, Development Control, AEPB, SSA’s office etc, every department that are under enforcement are all under high pressure by the Minister to go and do their jobs.
“I think people don’t understand that those of us doing enforcement are under heavy pressure, the Minister of FCT appears not to be relenting at all. The Minister gave a matching order that all enforcement officers must do their jobs and all political appointees must do their jobs so I don’t see any enforcement stopping soon”, he said.
On the issue of compromise, Comrade Attah said no government officials had been found wanting, however warned that anyone caught in the act would be made to face the wrath of the law.
“We come out to do our jobs and if possible also looking inward to ensure we are not compromised. That is why some of the people we removed their illegality claimed that an officer in the government gave them the place. If possible we purge ourselves and keep doing our jobs”, he maintained.
Earlier, some of the market women that pleaded anonymity allegedly accused the FCTA officials in the market of allocating space to those who built illegal shanties, containers, etc.
According to the women, “It is not only the market manager that allocates space, the FCT officials also collect money and allocates space too.
Reporting by Remi Johnson; Editing by Annabel Nwachukwu