By Daniel Tyokua
The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) said it has started clampdown on Point of Sales (PoS) operators in unauthorised areas because the environmental laws forbid business activities at residential areas and on the streets.
The administration had arrested 47 Point of Sale ( PoS) agents for milling around on the streets and other non commercial places within the city.
About a week ago, the administration through Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) had
warned that indiscriminate activities of POS operators, especially on the streets and non-commercial areas will no longer be condoned.
The council also explained that there were intelligence reports and complaints from residents that strange people were roaming about some neighbourhoods, pretending to be POS agents.
Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of FCT on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah who addressed the 47 violators at the premises of Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB) Area 3, said the Minister has no plan to stop POS business, but was concerned about security issues surrounding it.
Attah said the arrested violators may face a Mobile Court as they have violated some environmental laws, for operating their businesses in an unapproved places.
He explained to them that POS business was not illegal, but operating outside commercial zones and indiscriminately on the streets was an offence.
“reports on the arrested violators would go to the Minister, to determine and see if the operators comply with the rules of the city which would not give criminals the Shield to disguise as POS operators “
On the part of Abuja Environmental Protection Board, the Assistant Director, Enforcement at the board, Kaka Bello noted that environmental laws forbid business activities at residential areas and on the streets.
He said that AEPB Enforcement team was prepared to give effect to the restrictions on the POS operations.
Bello further explained that those who operate at commercial places will have no issue with the team, but violators of the restrictions will be made to face the wrath of the law.
One of the arrested violators, Solomon Wari and a civil servant, said he was arrested while he was in the front of his business centre within a residential area in Wuse zone 6.
