Traffic congestion: FCTA dismantles shanties at Deidei, Kubwa

By Stanley Onyekwere

In continuation with its reinvigorated clean up exercise, a combined team of FCT Administration’s city management officials yesterday stormed and cleared structures mainly makeshift shops that allegedly encroaching on road corridors and power installations within Kubwa and Deidei, in Bwari Area Council of Abuja.

Most of the affected structures kiosks, extensions attached to perimetre fence of Deidei Livestock, tables and chairs used for various trading activities, purportedly constituting environmental and security challenges in the area.

However, as the team accompanied by a joint team of security personnel went deep into the clean up exercise, some persons attempted to carry out a mop action, by hurling stones at the officials, who managed to disperse them, and continued their work.

Explaining the exercise, the Special Assistant to the FCT Minister, Comrade Ikharo Attah, said due to the volatile nature of the area, a strong combined team was mobilised to free the traffic congestion by getting rid of shanties along the major road corridors, which also constitutes security threat to road users and other residents.

Attah added that the whole Deidei road axis is about the issue of removing the entirety of illegalities around the place particularly the service lane of the Zuba-Kubwa Expressway is fully covered, and the other main lane is also blocked road connecting down to Zuba axis is also blocked as well as the Livestock market area is completely blocked.

He said: “We came out for a general clean up in Kubwa, Deidei and Zuba axis. And during the exercise in Deidei, the team came under attack, because Deidei has been known to be volatile with so much criminalities and illegalities in the place.

“So we are removing illegalities, so as to free Deidei from traffic congestion and security threats.

“We have been able to do very sufficient work in Deidei and Kubwa. We know that for sure that some of the criminal elements will want to resist that, but as a government we pushed them back, minor injuries sustained and we are good to go.

“One or two persons were injured but largely, the area is calm now, and those who are criminal elements, who tried to stop the enforcement were dispersed, and work continued”.

Reacting to the development, one of the Livestock dealers at Deidei, Murtala Idris, expressed sadness over the exercise, which he said was carried out without due notice.

“We are not happy, because it is the same government through the management of the International Livestock Market that gave us the permission to be build shops for our livestock activities there, and they generate revenue from us.

“And we were not adequately informed about the exercise, even they were the ones that gave permitted us to build shops here, and so there is no expectation that they will just came and demolish everything without due notice, that is why I’m not happy.

“Now, I have been displaced, but if the government had notified me to remove my shop, I will follow the rules, and remove it myself”.