Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate closure of illegal car dealership lots operating on green areas, parks and gardens across Abuja.
Wike also directed the FCT Administration to closely monitor the affected areas and ensure that they are not used for purposes other than those for which they were designated.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka.
According to the statement, Wike expressed concern over the conversion of areas meant for parks and recreation into car lots, citing the Millennium Park and other similar locations as examples.
The Minister said the move was part of efforts by the FCT Administration to address flooding in parts of the Federal Capital City.
To enforce the directive, Wike ordered the establishment of a task force that will monitor the affected areas and ensure compliance.
“An investigation has been ordered into some civil servants who granted illegal approvals for the use of green areas as car dealership lots. The affected officials, particularly the Directors of Parks and Recreation, Environmental Protection, Traffic Management and Urban Affairs, have been summoned to explain their roles,” the statement said.
The statement further revealed that the officials have been summoned by the FCT Head of the Civil Service, Nancy Sabanti Nathan, to explain their roles in granting the approvals.
Wike orders immediate closure of illegal car lots in FCT green areas