Bureau de Change (BDC) operators in the popular Zone 4 business area of Abuja have been operating partially.
Daily Trust had reported how the Federal Capital Territory Administration, through its City Management Team, demolished shanties in the area.
Fielding questions from journalists after clearing the shanties, which include makeshift shops, trees, leader of the team and Director, Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the shanties serve as hideouts for suspected criminals in the city centre.
He said the place was full of illegal activities that have become a threat to security and must not be allowed to remain.
Galadima, who described the area as an eyesore, said the exercise, which was based on directive, would help to bring out the aesthetic nature of the place.
Our correspondent, who was at the area on Friday morning, observed that it lacked of activities.
There was also a heavy presence of security operatives; police and civil defense.
Officials of the FCTA were seen with caterpillars evacuating the destroyed shanties.
Speaking with our reporter, Mallam Mohammed Hadejia, an operator, claimed that they were being targeted by the government unnecessarily.
“As you can see the environment is dry. We have been harassed severally by the police. We are just being cheated. It’s not our fault that the dollar is rising. The rich men have dollars in surplus.
“The allegations of the shanties harboring criminals are totally false. There are no criminals here. It’s just a means of asking the BDCs operators to leave.”
Another operator, Haruna Gimba, said: “Last week, a lot of our members were arrested. My brother was among them. This isn’t fair. It’s not our fault that the dollar is rising. The harassment should stop. It is through this business we feed.”
Efforts to get the reaction of one of the chairmen of the operators proved as they were said not to be on seat.
Currency traders have been accused of speculating against the naira.
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