By Remi Johnson
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has launched a comprehensive cleanup exercise tagged ” Operation Sweep” to eliminate street begging, illegal trading, scavenging, and criminal activities linked to “one-chance” syndicates across Abuja and its satellite towns.
This directive was issued by the Minister of the FCT, Dr Nyesom Wike, as part of ongoing efforts to restore order, safety, and environmental sanity in the nation’s capital.
This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the Minister.
According to the statement “Operation Sweep Abuja of Miscreants, Street Beggars/Traders, Scavengers, and Other Criminal Elements”commenced this week.
“”In line with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act, and other relevant laws, the FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike has directed the immediate evacuation of miscreants, street beggars and traders, scavengers and other criminal elements from the FCT. ,” the statement read.
The Statement emphasized that, “Our nation’s capital should be a secured symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements”
To enforce this directive, a Joint Task Force made up of security agencies and relevant FCTA departments has been deployed to arrest individuals involved in begging, scavenging, loitering, or any act deemed harmful to residents’ well-being.
The FCT Minister, Dr Nyesom Wike in the statement noted that arrested individuals will be profiled and repatriated to their respective state governments, urged residents to support the initiative by reporting suspicious movements or activities via the following hotlines: 08061581938 and 08032003913.
“Security of lives and properties of residents of the FCT is of paramount importance to the government, we must all join hands to achieve a safer Abuja.”