FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has initiated a comprehensive operation aimed at ridding Abuja and its satellite towns of various social nuisances and criminal elements.
The campaign, dubbed ‘Operation Sweep Abuja’, targets street beggars, hawkers, one-chance syndicates (criminals posing as taxi drivers to rob passengers), scavengers, and other undesirable individuals.
Lere Olayinka, Mr Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, in a statement on Wednesday, said the directive aligns with the Abuja Environmental Protection Act and other relevant laws.
“Our nation’s capital should be a secure symbol of pride and beauty, not a site for street beggars and scavengers, most of whom are agents of criminal elements,” he said, emphasising the FCT Administration’s commitment to restoring order and safety.
To achieve this objective, a Joint Task Force, comprising various security agencies and relevant FCT Secretariats, Departments, and Agencies (SDAs), has been deployed.
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Mr Olayinka said the agency’s mandate is to apprehend any individuals found begging, scavenging, loitering, or engaging in activities detrimental to the well-being and security of residents.
The FCT Administration has also made arrangements for those apprehended to be profiled before being handed over to their respective home state governments.
Underscoring the government’s priority, Mr Olayinka reiterated, “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.”
He urged residents to actively participate in enhancing security by reporting suspicious activities to dedicated helplines: 08061581938 and 08032003913.
