NAN-H-85
Safety
By Kabir Muhammad
Abuja, Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), is to begin soon the prosecution of pedestrians, who are not using the pedestrian crossing.
Mrs Olanipekun Omolola, the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to her, those people, who cross the roads without using the pedestrian crossing, risk their lives and this has become worrisome to the government.
“I know that very soon, the government will take the right step, that is to enforce the laws, as the right measure for the safety of lives.
“It is of no use to try to cut corners because at the end of the day, you are risking your life but I believe that the rightful department will soon come up with something to enforce it.
“You know everything depends on the power of the law. For now, it is not that the law does not capture it in the AEPB Act, but our concern is for the safety and security of the lives,’’ she said.
On the artisans doing their businesses all over the city, Omolola said it was an unfortunate happening now in the city of Abuja that could be attributed to population explosion.
“Population explosion and the in-flow of people into the city, ridicule a lot of critical environmental issues that need attention.
“You know these artisans have association or a body, even if you allocate a place for them, you will continue to have them where they are, trying to disobey the laws.
“They will be seen in areas not designated for them, we will not relent in our efforts, we will continue to go after them till they relocate to the appropriate places,’’ she said.
She noted that AEPB and Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), had met to make the artisans understand and know the places marked out for them.
“These places are meant for them to build their shops and do their business. We will move them to the designated places. We are doing all these so that the city is not defaced,’’ she said.
She pledged the board’s commitment under the administration to do everything humanly possible so as to bring sanity, cleanliness and order into the city.
According to her, whatever the board is doing is within the ambit of the laws that establish it. (NAN)
KM/TO/YEMI
Edited by Tola Okinbaloye
Controlled by Yemi Idris-Aduloju