The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has clarified that its ongoing demolition of shanties and recreational parks being used as criminal hideouts is a necessary security measure, not an act of persecution.
This comes after the recent clearance operation at Jazz and Blues Entertainment within Panorama Recreational Park, Wuse Zone 3, sparked mixed reactions.
In a statement issued on Sunday by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, the administration explained that the demolition was based on credible intelligence from security agencies, including the NDLEA and DSS.
These agencies identified several locations across Abuja, including the Banana Green Belt and Area 10 corridor, as hotspots where criminals attack residents and escape into dense vegetation.
Investigations revealed that parts of the Jazz and Blues Entertainment facility had been converted into shanties linked to organized crime. The FCTA emphasised that the operation strictly targeted illegal structures, leaving the park’s main recreational facilities, such as the football field, gymnasium, and viewing platforms, intact.
The statement further clarified that the park’s management had received multiple contravention notices since February 2024, with a final eviction order issued on July 25, 2025, all of which were ignored. The FCTA stressed that the action was not sudden but part of a broader city-wide cleanup to enhance public safety.
While acknowledging the military service of Air Commodore Balogun, linked to the park, the FCTA maintained that no individual, regardless of status, should shield criminal elements.
The administration vowed to extend the cleanup to other districts in the coming weeks to ensure Abuja remains safe for residents and visitors.
The FCTA urged cooperation from the public, emphasising that the exercise is essential to curb crime and maintain the capital’s security and urban planning standards.
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