SAD: Two Years After Utako Raid, FCTA Threatens To Demolish More Night Clubs

Barely two years after demolishing the popular Caramelo strip club in Utako, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the city administration has vowed to demolish another set of clubs in Karu.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the weekend sealed off Cool Leo and Paris Nightclubs in Karu for violation of covid-19 protocols and arbitrary change of land use from residential to mix use of commercial and hospitality purposes.

The Head of Public Enlightenment of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Taskforce on Enforcement of COVOD-19 Guidelines, Comrade Ikharo Attah, disclosed this at the Eagles Square during the arrest and trial of 29 persons across the FCT over violation of Covid-19 health protocols.

According to him, “the FCTA authorities would stop at nothing to ensure demolition of the two popular night clubs unless they reverted to approved residential land use for the area.

He added that “two clubs in Karu Site, very offensive clubs, have been asked to close. They operate in residential area, against COVID-19 protocols and disrupt the peace of residents at night.

“They are Paris Club and Cool Leo and they have been sealed off indefinitely.

If they revert to the original land use, should they refuse to revert, then we invoke other aspects of FCT master plan and demolish. We will not allow them to continue disturbing the neighbourhood.”

Ikharo further explained that the COVID-19 offenders will be prosecuted, adding that “29 persons were apprehended, brought before the court and subsequently the judge found them guilty and they were given the option of fine, which they all paid the fines.

“We want residents to know that the fundamental thing to do is to obey health protocols, conform with it going forward, and ensure that they live peacefully and happily.”

Also, he stated that all the FCTA is “doing is to vigorously continue with FCT COVID-19 contravention enforcement directive given by the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello and the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bala Ciroma, our Chairman that we go out and sustain COVID-19 health protocols in the FCT.”

Ikharo however scored his committee high: “But in all, the compliance in Abuja is very high, compared to other places in the country. You will score us very high.”

However, some residents who asked not to have their photographs in this report, told THE WHISTLER that the city administration has a misplaced priority.

Ijeoma, a food vendor who sales local delicacies called “Abactha” close to the proscribed night clubs said “see this people, is this club Nigeria’s problem.

“people come here to escape the harsh reality of living in Nigeria, and this guy’s who call themselves AMAC or whatever, not having anything good to do come here to close this place.”

A patron, Jude Bature asked “what happens to the young men and women who gets their daily bread from these places.

“On the one hand we see crime everywhere in the country due to unemployment, on the other hand the government is encouraging unemployment by taking away even the little ones existing.”

Residents however applauded the FCT authorities for promptly heeding to their calls.

Mr Augustine Nnaemeka said he’s lived in the neighborhood for over 10 years, “the past few years have been hell living here as these young boys smoking whatever their hands finds, litter this area especially at weekends, constituting nuisance and a security threat to us.”

His sentiment is echoed by Alhaji Isah who insisted “that besides demolishing these structures, there proprietors should be arrested for violating the city’s urban code and for making this place unbearable these years.”