The Federal Capital Territory Administration has demolished structures at the headquarters of Abuja Bureau De Change (BDC) in Zone 4 area of the capital city.
Bulldozers were deployed by the Department of Development Control to the area where they destroyed makeshift shops, shanties and even trees used by the BDC operators.
The operation is coming as the federal government intensified efforts to stabilize the value of the naira in the face of raging foreign exchange crisis.
Earlier, the federal government had deployed security operatives that included the police, DSS, civil defence to the area to be closing shops and chasing away the BDC traders as the forex crisis worsens.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has deployed more than 20 policies within one month to arrest the ongoing foreign exchange crisis.
The team leader that headed the operation and director of the Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima, said the shanties serve as hideout for suspected criminals in the city centre.
He said the operation was to ensure safety and security of Abuja residents, claiming that the operation has nothing to do with fight against BDC operators.
Galadima said, “Our clean up exercise here is based on directive for us to keep sanity.
“The place is in a sorry situation in terms of esthetic, it serves as hideouts for criminals and miscreants, that is why we have to come and clear everything.
“BDC operators are expected to operate from designated and licenced areas, they are not supposed to operate under trees and in bushes, so that is why we have to clear the place. “The place is still under litigation but you see, security is paramount so also safety and cleanliness, we have to look at these parameters very well not forgetting that the site is under litigation but we have to provide safety and security for Abuja residents.”
