By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has justified its ongoing clampdown on vehicles with fake tinted glass permits, saying majority of them have been found to be used for all manners of criminal activity.
This was disclosed by the Director of Security Services FCTA, Adamu Gwary during a Citywide Sanitation Operation in Abuja on Monday.
Represented by the Secretary of Command and Control Unit, Dr. Peter Olumuji, said the clampdown was necessary even though the Inspector- General of Police has pegged October 2025 as the enforcement date.
Olumuji explained that security concerns justified the clampdown, noting that vehicles with illegal tints were frequently implicated in “one-chance” robberies and other crimes in the FCT.
“We’ve been able to do other clearance operations within the City Center, especially impounding vehicles and tinted glasses, which are constant reports that these are vehicles being used for one chance. And people have also raised the concern that the IG of Police has given October 2025 as the effective date for implementation.
“But notwithstanding, I want to tell you without mincing words that we have impounded vehicles that have faked the tinted glass permits, you know, and anybody that has that capacity to fake that permit, also has the capacity to commit crime.
“So when people try to bring up the sentiment that the IG talked about October 2025, we also want them to consider the security implications of allowing such people to continue roaming the streets with their glass tinted,” he stated.
The Operation to rid the city of illegal activities also extended to the demolition of shanties in Bunkoro District, popularly referred to as Gwarimpa, near the Map Global Estate.
Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, told journalists during the exercise that over 1,000 makeshift structures had already been cleared along the Ring Road 3 corridor.
“Today’s exercise is part of the Citywide Sanitation Operation aimed at enhancing security. The stretch of road here is about two kilometres, and it has been taken over by shacks, squatters and people of questionable character,” he said.
He explained that while indigenous settlements along the corridor were left standing pending the presence of the Resettlement and Compensation Department, other illegal structures would be demolished to prevent them from serving as cover for criminal elements.
According to him, the FCTA has discussed with relevant authorities about ensuring the cleared areas are not reoccupied, especially since work is ongoing on the adjoining N16 road project.
“We have been intimated by the Department of Resettlement and Compensation that there are some indigenous communities on the corridor. That’s why we try as much as possible not to interfere with the existence of such communities.
“However, for tomorrow’s exercise to be smooth, we want our representative of Resettlement and Compensation to be with us, so that they can guide us which and which is the indigenous communities. And those that are not indigenous communities, we can excuse them and tell them to move on,” Gwary stated.
