The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has banned scavengers from operating within the nation’s capital.
The development is due to the unwanted removal of manhole covers in some parts of the city.
The Commissioner of Police in FCT, Mr. Olatunji Disu, made this known while briefing journalists after the FCT Security Committee Meeting chaired by the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike.
Mr. Disu said the scavengers were allowed to operate only on dump sites located in the outskirts of the city and suburbs.
He said: “All security agencies have been tasked with ensuring that this order is enforced, beginning from January 14, 2025.
The police boss said the administration has also banned the operation of ‘pantaker’ markets where fairly used items and scrap iron, including furniture and home appliances, are sold for two weeks, beginning from Tuesday across the Federal Capital of Nigeria.
Disu explained that the two-week suspension was to allow security agencies to profile the ‘pantaker’ operators.
This, he said, would ensure that only legitimate operators operate in ‘Pantakers’ across the FCT.
He said the security committee has concluded that everybody arrested for vandalising public infrastructure would be charged to court and tried for economic sabotage, and if possible, attempted murder.
