Abuja-Jikwoyi road decongestion: Over 600 illegal structures for demolition soon
All is now set for the next stage towards finding lasting solution to the perennial congestion of the Abuja-Nyanya-Karu-Orozo-Jikwoyi route, as authorities of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) last week completed marking of all illegal structures along the road that would be demolished soon.

Numerous sign posts, billboards, shanties, illegal car wash points, vulcanizer spots, abandoned vehicles, illegal or make shift shops, petty trading activities, meat sellers stands, containers and all sorts of unapproved attachments, structures and refuse which add up to more than 600 were the ones marked for removal.

Chairman of committee for the decongestion, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Nienge, while speaking to journalists on the last day of the marking exercise expressed, appreciation to all the stakeholders, especially those directly causing the congestion, for their compliance so far, in removing such structures by themselves.

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According to him, the decongestion committee, which was given a six-month period to complete its task has already spent two months, during which it completed two stages of sensitisation and persuasion of the people on the need to have seamless traffic on that axis; as well as the marking of illegal structures on the route.

Having completed the markings, the chairman revealed that his committee would provide a window within which those who were yet to comply are expected to comply by removing the illegal structures that contravene the laws, failure to which, the committee would help them remove such structures.

According to experts, five meters (5m) is the legally permitted distance away from the gutters, on the shoulders of the road and residents were strongly advised to keep to it and avoid encroachment that would definitely have their structures demolished.

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The committee spokesperson and Assistant Director of Information, Mr. Tony Ogunleye, while speaking on behalf of the committee chairman, called for change of attitude of those who fragrantly abandon practically empty bins, preferring to dump refuse on the grounds to have a rethink and desist from such acts.

Decrying the sad fact that people actually knew they were doing wrong things, as they scampered away with their stuffs on seeing the taskforce personnel, he appealed to them to change their ways in the interest of the general public.

This revelation is contrary to the views held by some residents that unavailability of refuse bins were responsible for indiscriminate dumping of refuse, as it was glaring that right where there were bins, refuse only littered their surroundings.

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Regretting that traders preferred to stay along the roads, display their goods and run after vehicles, thereby endangering their lives and causing congestion, the chairman disclosed that several of them were taken to the markets and given spaces for their trade, but same persons were found back on the road hawking.

The chairman also disclosed that the FCT Administration has concluded arrangements to accommodate the affected traders by Karu market and promised to hold further discussions with the management of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, operators of the market in doing so in good time.

Our correspondent also gathered that the remaining two stages of the decongestion task were said to be removal of the marked illegal structures, which the retired Major General was not categorical on a specific date of commencement; and then the stage of maintenance or sustenance, which forms the major part of the post-decongestion phase of the exercise.

Logically speaking, The Abuja Times can report that having taken two months for the completion of the two stages of the decongestion task, it may take more than two months –about three months for the remaining two stages of the task to be completed since they are the core of the task.

Therefore, those whose structures are marked along this route could take the side of caution and remove them within two months to avoid their forceful removal, which could also mean their destruction.