No fewer than 500 parks and gardens in the Federal Capital City (FCC) will be raided and purged of illegal structures and nefarious activities.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Department of Development Control and the Department of Parks and Recreation, had commenced the move to end the sales and consumption of alcohol and drugs in parks and gardens in the FCC.
The intensive clean-up operation, which kicked off in the wake of increasing insecurity in FCT is seen as a subtle measure to tackle the menace.
Our correspondent reports that the exercise, which started Tuesday in Wuse Zone 6 and continued Thursday in Wuse Zone 5, saw the removal of all illegal structures in all the parks and gardens located in the nation’s capital city.
Consequently, illegal structures in Wuse Zone 5 and 6, in 11 gardens and parks, which include, Unique Park, Surich Park, Covenant Favour Park, Tikus Garden, Excellence Park, among others, were removed.
Speaking with newsmen on the exercise, Director, Parks and Recreation Department, Ali Ukele stated that people who live near the parks and gardens complained about noise pollution and insecurity in the areas.
Ukele frowned at the operators of parks and gardens, who turned the areas into business and residential areas.
While stating that intoxicating beverages and drugs are not allowed in the parks, he said the exercise would also lead to the end of the abuses.
“Most of the activities being carried out in parks and garden are wrong ones; these places are for relaxation and not for selling of intoxicating beverages or hard drugs.
“The exercise is going to be comprehensive and no illegal place would be spared for any reason. We have been holding meetings with the operators against the act,” he said.
