The Sun News On-line|Abuja Reports

Since the inception of Dr. Aliyu Moddibo administration of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it has been a herculean task keeping at bay the surging movement of motor dealers towards the city.

While the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency (AEPA), are up in arms against the spread, the dealers themselves are restlessly moving forward. So far, over 50 of dealers have been arrested and sentenced.

The Nasir el-Rufai administration successfully chased them away to Tungamaji, where an ultra-modern market is being developed for them. But the dealers are complaining that the government is slow in developing the area thus, leaving them with the temptation of coming to the city.

But the Secretary-General of FCT Motor Dealers Association, Prince Adedoyin Ajibola, has condemned the behaviours of some of his members that came back to the city saying that the act is illegal, more so when the government is talking with them on how best to relocate them.

Retreat to town
According to Ajibola, some of the people coming back to the city are not authorized. "We have been holding talks with the government. We are full of assurances that they will do something. That is why the association has not encouraged any of its members that came back to the city because the FCT minister, through the chief of staff made us to understand that they will definitely relocate us to Tungamaji. I think the last time we discussed with them (Federal Government team), we made known our grievances and they have promised to look into our grievances. I think, to the best of my knowledge, we are even much more assured and full of confidence that something good will come up very soon" he said.

Arrests
While blaming those arrested by the Abuja Environmental Protection Agency, he noted that the association has always intervened on their behalf.
"For those that have been arrested, we have always intervened to see how we can sort it out by giving them a soft-landing. And then we warned them not to go back because most of the areas they are operating are green areas and the government said that it does not want anybody there. That is why we said that they should move to where others are, so that it will even be easier to coordinate our members.
You see, those that have been arrested or their cars confiscated are those that refused to leave the city centre because we have been ordered to leave during Nasir el-Rufai’s time. That is why if you go through Kubwa Road, most of us are there temporarily pending when we will be relocated," he explained.
The secretary admitted that those dealers that are found on Kubwa Road are there temporarily.
"Kubwa is a temporary arrangement because when we were being forced out of town. everybody tried to make an alternative way just for us to survive so that we won’t go out of business. We were even moved because they were the ones that called us for a meeting. Never before did any regime call us for a meeting. What they usually do is to write us a letter and give us a deadline to move before we start looking for how to meet. But this regime was the one that called us for a meeting.
“They now asked us what and what was the problem. And they told us their own part and we both saw the benefit of all the car dealers coming together in a place.
“You know it is better we are in a place you can call your own. And honestly speaking, in the last meeting the government team said even the money we are going to pay will be flexible because before it was rigid.
“But with this present one, they say that they are going to make it flexible enough for us to be able to own our own place so that we will be able to do business with ease," he said.

But what has been the delay?
If there is any delay it is going to be because of bureaucracy. You know when one government takes over from the other, it may want to do some checks and balances and be sure before they continue.
To the best of my knowledge, I think the level of work as at that time must have appreciated a little bit but it might be because of bureaucratic changes. That is why it has not got to a good level yet. I think with time, they will do something about it.

Deviants
Advising the members on the dangers of flouting government orders, he said: "I will advise that since the government has made it emphatically clear that there is no way we can be in the city centre, we should respect its views. So, most of us are on Kubwa Road, it is not as if we don’t like to be in the city centre. But when the government has said this is the direction it is heading, we should respect its views."