By Ismaila Jimoh, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has vowed that its ongoing clampdown on any identifies shanties and parks harbouring criminal elements within the territory will be sustained.
This was contained in a statement made available to journalists on Sunday by the FCT Minister’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, saying the demolition carried out at Jazz and Blues Entertainment at Panorama Recreation Park, Wuse, Abuja was part of ongoing clean-up- exercise.
He disclosed that the operation was aimed at restoring public safety based on credible intelligence, not an act of persecution against anyone.
It would be recalled that men of the FCTA Development Control Department, Security Services, and Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) last week had cleared some areas identified as major threats to the capital’s security and aesthetic standards.
The exercise, which involved removing illicit structures, impounding vehicles, and seizing weapons, is being followed up with mop-up operation to ensure criminal elements do not return.
The statement read; “Security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), identified several locations and facilities that serve as a criminal hideouts and safe havens across the Federal Capital City (FCC).
“Notable in these areas were the Banana Green Belt, extending from the Central Mosque area towards
the Zone 3 and Zone 1 of Wuse District, including Area 10 corridor.
“In these areas, innocent citizens are assaulted by assailants who then run to seeks refuge within the surrounding Banana Green Belt/vegetation cover to escape arrest.
“The intelligence obtained and verified through several surveillance and undercover investigations of these locations, amongst which was the Jazz and Blues Entertainment at Panorama Recreational Park, Wuse Zone 3, was that a segment of the park containing shanties and batchers had evidence of sustained criminal activity tied to organized networks operating within the FCT.
“Thus, in accordance with Abuja’s Development Control Regulations and public safety protocols, the FCTA, with other security agencies commenced a city-wide cleanup exercise of all identified criminal hideouts across the FCC on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, so as to remove these criminal hideouts, and restore sanity and security to the FCC.
“Contrary to claims of abrupt action, the FCTA Department of Development Control issued several Contravention Notices to the Park’s Management prior to the exercise carried out on the August 6, 2025.
“However, these Contravention Notices issued by the FCTA were completely ignored.
“Not minding any orchestrated media reports, the FCTA will continue with the city-wide cleanup exercise in the coming weeks and this shall be extended to other Districts within the FCC, in order to achieve the administration’s goal of building a city where its residents will be safe to live, work and recreate.”
