…holds stakeholders meeting
By Muhammad Abdullahi, Abuja
After six months of storming and clearing illegal structures and street urchins in Mpape Community, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), has said that its demolition bulldozers are going back there, because extreme criminal activities have remained a source of concern.
The Administration expressed this concern on Monday during a stakeholders meeting, it held with Security Agents, traditional rulers, market Associations and pantaker operators, organised to sensitise and galvanize support for the relaunch of demolition exercise.
The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who presided over the meeting said the case of Mpape Community seem very complex, but his team is committed to solving it.
Attah noted that FCT Administration’s plans to transform the Crush Rock Area of the Community to a world class tourism site, have not been dispensed with, but is still on course, with a committee already working on it.
He disclosed that both Ministers of FCT were saddened that criminal activities and other illegalities have persisted in the Community, with consequential effects on law abiding residents.
While he urged all the stakeholders to convey the the important notices, including the imminent return of bulldozers to the Community, he assured that legal structures, especially that of the Original inhabitants won’t be destroyed.
Tanko Yamawo, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Community Relations, who was also present in the meeting called on all stakeholders to work in synergy in tackling the criminalities.
He restated FCTA’s resolve to protect all legal structures of the indigenous people, but warned that they stay away from illegalities.
Also Speaking, the Secretary of Bwari Area Council, Kadanya Peter who represented the Chairman of the Council, pledged support to the proposed return of demolition bulldozers, but pleaded that the areas not marked should be spared.
Speaking earlier, Chief Musa Haruna, the traditional ruler of Mpape Community, while consenting that the planned removal of rebuilt illegal Structures should be demolished, but pleaded that the roadside traders and panteker operators be given a more convenient place.
Haruna stated that dislodging this categories of people from their trade without an alternative, may increase the rate of crimes in the community.
Kassim Mohammed, Secretary Pantaker Association in Mpape, said , ” 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”.