Thursday, July 16, 2026

FCTA begins mass demolition of shanties in Abuja

A special adviser to the FCT minister on security said most of the shanties “are safe havens for miscreants, armed robbers, kidnappers and drug dealers.”

• August 17, 2022
FCT task force demolishing shanties
FCT demolished shanties used to illustrate the story [Photo Credit: Vanguard News[

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it has embarked on mass elimination of shanties, regular raiding and clearing of hideouts harbouring criminals and hoodlums in the territory.

Abu Mohammed, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Security Matters, said on Wednesday in Abuja that most of the shanties “are safe havens for miscreants, armed robbers, kidnappers and drug dealers.”

“There are also security threats and environmental hazards such as open defecation together with other breaches of sanitation laws coupled with the current security situation, the menace of shanties in the FCT are no longer going to be tolerated at all.

“Same applies to abandoned buildings and bushy undeveloped plots, particularly in built up areas. A ministerial taskforce charged with that responsibility conducts its activities almost on a daily basis.

“This has brought sanity in many parts of the territory,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said that the administration was also curtailing the menace of “okada’’ riders in the city, adding “the ban on them in the municipality introduced in 2006 is still in force.”

The minister’s aide said that the enforcement of the ban was still on and thousands of motorcycles seized were being crushed quarterly.

“You are aware that most of the riders are nuisance, causing accidents here and there, and it is the popular means of transportation for bandits and armed robbers.

“Miscreants also use it to snatch bags and other valuables from commuters.”

Similarly, Mr Mohammed said that the administration had ensured the removal of scavengers otherwise known as ‘Baban Bola’ from the streets of the FCT.

“Due to public outcry on the increasing activities of scavengers and the menace of vandalism and theft of private and public property, including critical national infrastructure, Baba Bola has been outlawed in the FCT.

“It was as a result of these efforts that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello directed all relevant Secretariat Departments and Agencies (SDAs) to work jointly and close down identified scrap markets (Panteka) where the transmission lines and other stolen infrastructure are sold.

“Also, consideration is being given to stemming the demand side of the scavenging activities by targeting the end users. It is strongly believed that if the end users are identified and punished, it will curtail the rampant cases of vandalising critical national assets,” he said.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.

More from Peoples Gazette

farmers

Agriculture

FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology

The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Katsina State

Politics

Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku

“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

World

ECDC warns drug-resistant gonorrhoea spreading across Europe

ECDC said that gonorrhoea remains one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases globally. 

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention

Heading 3

NCDC reaffirms commitment to preventing Ebola outbreak

Mr Idris said Nigeria currently had no confirmed Ebola cases.

States

Troops foil bandit attack in Kano, recover 97 cattle, 50 sheep

“Recovered cattle have been returned to their rightful owners,” he said.

Anambra state

Economy

Tinubu approves two road projects in Anambra

The projects are the 108-kilometre Otuocha–Anam–Abaji Road and the 150-kilometre Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Ihube/Okigwe Junction Road, both approved for dualisation.

FAAN

Economy

FAAN set to introduce facial ID screening at airports

The agency said the system will enable passengers to verify their identities digitally, reducing reliance on physical identification documents at airports.