At least 54 shanties were pulled down on Friday at Karu Site and Jikwoyi suburbs in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) over violations of land use and established COVID-19 protocols.
Also, Paris Lounge and nightclub, which was sealed off recently, with a warning to revert to the original approved land use was partially demolished.
The shanties demolished were mostly beer parlours.
Officials of the Development Control Department and Covid-19 Enforcement team in collaboration with other relevant agencies under the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), carried out the exercise Friday morning.
Most of the structures affected were located along road corridors of Agriculture Quarters, under power high-tension line in and by St. Simon’s Church, Jikwoyi phase 1 Extension off Sada Cruz.
The Acting Director, Development Control, Garba Kwamkur, said the exercise was directed by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello.
He said the “cleaning” exercise would get rid of miscreants, unapproved developments and make the city habitable for all well-meaning citizens.
“We are removing all infractions and unapproved developments within the city road corridors.
“Right now we are going around satellite towns, and we are starting with Karu Site and Jikwoyi.
“It is a continuous exercise, we are going even up to Abaji that we have not being going there for sometime. We are ready for all the satellite towns in the FCT.”
Also speaking, head of media and enlightenment of the COVID-19 Taskforce, Ikahro Attah, expressed optimism that the demolition will deter those who may want to violate the protocols and abuse the land use.
“What we did in Karu was a joint effort with the Covid-19 Enforcement team. We saw several violations of the protocols, which we reported to the development control, and officials moved in with their bulldozer and removed contravening structures in the area.
“Not less than 54 shanties were removed in Karu Site alone that tells you how bad it is here,” he said.
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