17 August 2009

The leadership of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCTA) Administration in Abuja at the weekend swooped on beggars, street hawkers and commercial motorcyclists, saying it was part of plans by the administration to sanitize and entrench orderliness in the city.
The exercise involved a combined team of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), the police, the Peace Corps, the Department of Development Control and officials of the Vehicle Inspectorate Office (VIO) who combed the Garki Modern Market, Wuse 11 mosques and old Federal Secretariat complex in Durumi, Area 1, all within the vicinity of the Abuja city.
Buses conveying beggars to Wuse market and Yoruba Mosque in Wuse 11 were intercepted, while the beggars were arrested and whisked away.
Speaking on the exercise, the Director of AEPB, Mr. Abubakar Yabo, explained that the operation was divided into three: Evacuation of beggars, removal of commercial motorcyclists and clearing of the Garki Modern market.
“I took part in the removal of beggars in Wuse 11 market and the Yoruba Mosque. It was a very successful operation. It is not true that we raided worshippers in the mosque, we did it in an orderly manner and we did not enter the mosque. We (stopped) buses coming with beggars inside and we arrested them, while those moving freely were arrested and taken to Area 3,” he said.
Yabo said the arrested traders and commercial motorcyclists operators would be taken before the Abuja Mobile Magistrate Court .
“The mobile courts sit every day except on Sunday. The goods seized at Garki Market have been taken to Area 3. The court will fine them (culprits) and they will pay and get their goods back,” he added.
On the destitute and beggars removed from the mosques, he said the FCT Secretariat for Social and Human Development had created some programmes for them at the FCT Rehabilitation Centre.
But many people condemned the act especially the masses.

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