According to Saharareporters, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday demolished a private garden, Spotlight Garden Events and Recreation, located in Wuye District of Abuja.
Spotlight Garden, popularly called Ayangba 2 by lawyers who visit the garden, was demolished by FCTA in accordance with its guideline for park operators not to go beyond 7pm, also revoked an allocation of the garden.
The FCTA claimed that the owner and allottee of the demolished garden had received multiple notifications for repeatedly breaking the park operation rules.
The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, also alleged that thugs invaded the garden last week and killed a security officer.
According to Shuaibu, the administration could confirm that the facilities were not only demolished but the allocation has been revoked.
He argued that FCTA was enforcing the 7pm closing time for parks and gardens because of the peculiar security situation in the Nigeria’s capital city.
Shuaibu noted that both the allottee and the operator of the garden would also be prosecuted for the violation of the regulations leading to the attack and killing of the security officer.
He said, “Just last week at a park, called Spotlight Garden Events and Recreation in Wuye District, the operator flagrantly violated our closing time regulation by operating beyond 7pm. This attracted the activities of armed hoodlums who gunned down a gallant security officer in cold blood. This could have been avoided if they had complied with our regulations.
“The park allottee and the operator will henceforth be prosecuted for the violation of the regulations and for creating the enabling environment that led to the death of an innocent citizen. Already the park operator has been arrested.
“Hence, this allocation stands revoked and the site will be demolished and recovered by the Administration immediately. This should serve as a warning to all park allottees and operators who deem it fit to arrogantly violate the laid down rules and regulations.”