The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Tuesday demolished shanties at the popular UTC Complex and surrounding areas as part of an ongoing effort to flush out criminals using the location as a hideout.
Director of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the exercise began with the removal of a nearby dumpsite before focusing on the main area where hoodlums operated.
The operation, he explained, was carried out on the directive of the FCT Security Council and will be sustained to ensure long-term safety.
According to him, the cleared land—part of the transit way corridor in the Abuja Master Plan—will be fenced to prevent future encroachment.
“It has not been developed yet, but it is being maintained and protected against land grabbing,” Galadima noted.
Addressing criticism over an alleged demolition at Panorama Garden in Zone 3, Galadima clarified that the park remains intact.
“The Park allocated to Panorama is still in existence. The playground, gym, lounge, and other facilities are still there. Only makeshift structures and scavengers’ shanties were removed,” he said, adding that notices had been issued since October 2023, with follow-ups in 2024 and February 2025.
Director of Security, Adamu Gwary—represented by Peter Olumuji—said the clearance forms part of a wider crackdown on criminal hideouts. He reported a significant drop in crime rates in areas cleared over the past week, citing statistics from the FCT Police Command.
“Several machetes used to attack residents have been recovered, and arrested suspects are being profiled for prosecution,” he disclosed, adding that the ongoing “Operation Sweep Abuja” is also targeting displaced criminals elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Area 7 Petty Traders Association has urged the FCTA and local authorities to help clear a major road in the area.
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Vice Chairman Clifford Azarama thanked the administration for its efforts but called for better collaboration, alleging that some officials have not worked in tandem with traders.
“To address this, we will deploy our own task force to manage traffic and enforce a ‘No Parking’ policy,” he said, adding that the association will also reach out to nearby businesses to form a united front in keeping the area organised.
