The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has declared that the ongoing demolition of illegal structures and shanties serving as criminal hideouts in Abuja will continue as part of efforts to enhance security and maintain the city’s aesthetic standards.
Last week, a joint operation involving the FCTA Development Control Department, Security Services, and the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) targeted high-risk areas, dismantling illicit structures, impounding vehicles, and confiscating weapons.
In a press statement issued on Sunday, the FCT Minister’s Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media, Lere Olayinka, clarified that the demolition of a section of Jazz and Blues Entertainment at Panorama Recreational Park, Wuse Zone 3, was part of a broader security operation.
“The operation was a targeted public safety intervention based on credible intelligence, not an act of persecution against anyone.
Security agencies, including the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), identified several locations and facilities that serve as criminal hideouts and safe havens across the Federal Capital City (FCC).
“Notable among these areas was the Banana Green Belt, extending from the Central Mosque area towards Wuse Zones 3 and 1, including the Area 10 corridor. In these areas, innocent citizens are frequently assaulted by criminals who then flee into the surrounding vegetation to evade arrest.
“Intelligence gathered and verified through surveillance confirmed that a segment of Jazz and Blues Entertainment at Panorama Recreational Park, Wuse Zone 3, harboured shanties and makeshift structures linked to organised criminal networks operating in the FCT,” he stated.
Olayinka stated that in line with Abuja’s Development Control Regulations and public safety protocols, the FCTA, in collaboration with security agencies, commenced a city-wide cleanup exercise on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, to dismantle these criminal hideouts and restore order.
“A section of the Jazz and Blues Entertainment Park was cleared. Contrary to claims of abrupt action, the FCTA Department of Development Control issued multiple Contravention Notices to the Park’s Management before the demolition.
“A formal notice was first served in February 2024, followed by three additional notices between October 2024 and June 2025, and a final eviction order on July 25, 2025.
“However, these warnings were ignored. For clarity, the main facilities within the park, such as the football field, viewing platforms, gymnasium, and other recreational sections, remain intact and operational following the removal of illegal structures,” he said.
The minister’s aide said that while the FCTA acknowledges and respects Air Commodore Balogun’s military service, it emphasises that national service does not grant anyone the right to harbour criminal elements or endanger public safety.
“Despite any misleading media reports, the FCTA will proceed with the city-wide cleanup in the coming weeks, extending the exercise to other districts within the FCC. This aligns with the administration’s commitment to building a safe and secure city for residents to live, work, and relax,” he said.
The FCTA has reiterated its resolve to sustain the operation, ensuring that Abuja remains free from criminal enclaves while urging compliance with development regulations.
