The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is continuing its demolition exercise in the FCT. The operation targets shanties and illegal markets that have become a security threat to the residents. Osi Braimah, Director AEPB, disclosed this during an interview on Sunday. He stated that the removal of shanties and illegal settlements in Area 11 and other parts of the city is aimed at curbing the incessant insecurity faced by residents.
Mr Braimah emphasized that the exercise is ongoing and that AEPB has been given the go-ahead by the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to scale up all shanties, illegal settlements, and squatter camps in the FCT. He noted that the operation will improve the city’s sanitation and cater to the attendant problem of insecurity.
The director explained that most of the people living in the shanties were without addresses and identification, which could pose a security challenge. Therefore, it is essential to scale up and achieve the objective set out by the FCT minister. He added that the FCT minister has urged everyone to develop their property in the FCT to avoid the erection of illegal property on empty plots.
Mr Braimah clarified that before any demolitions, abatement notices are issued to the residents. The board does not just come in one day and remove illegal structures. He urged residents to pay their waste management bills, saying that there is a big challenge in this area. He emphasized that waste management services are rendered, and it is a struggle to collect money for services rendered. Therefore, paying for waste services is not a levy or a tax.