FOUR days to the nation’s 51st Independence anniversary, security has been tightened in and around Abuja and its environs.
This is even as owners of illegal structures in the capital city were yesterday given a 48-hour ultimatum to remove them. The security beef-up is, apparently, aimed at guarding against a repeat of the ugly situation last year in Abuja, when the country marked its 50th Independence anniversary.

A twin bomb blasts rocked the precincts of the Eagle Square, Abuja, venue of the celebration, on October 1, last year, killing no fewer than 10 persons and injuring scores of others.

Security around strategic places and virtually all government establishments in the nation’s seat of power has now been fortified in the last few days in addition to the security plans hitherto put in place at the height of the various bombings and attacks by members of the violent Islamic sect, Boko Haram.

Workers and other residents of Abuja had a hectic time getting to their offices and destinations yesterday, following the various security checkpoints mounted within the city by policemen and other security agents.

Security around key places, such as the National Assembly Complex, Police Force Headquarters, Supreme Court, International Conference Centre,Radio House (housing the Federal Ministry of Information, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, headquarters, Voice of Nigeria and the Government Press, among others), the Federal Secretariat (where many of the Federal ministries are located), National Defence College (formerly National War College), Transcorp Hilton and other major hotels in the city centre has further been fortified.

All vehicles entering into all the key places were thoroughly frisked with every driver asked to open the trunk (boot) of his or her car for thorough and proper checking.

The development led to heavy traffic congestion in Abuja yesterday with many drivers looking for alternative routes.

Security around the Ministry of Defence as well as the Defence headquarters (where the Army, Navy and Air Force headquarters) are located, had hitherto been beefed up following the bombing of the United Nations (UN) building in Abuja on August 26, this year, by members of the Boko Haram sect.

The blast left 23 persons dead with about 160 others injured.

Majority of those injured in the blast have been flown abroad for further medical treatment.

Virtually all the major hotels in the nation’s capital now have bomb detectors at their entrances with every vehicle properly checked before being allowed in.

Sources within the security circle, however, assured Nigerians that no stone would be left unturned to ensure that the nation is not embarrassed again by the Boko Haram sect or any other group, particularly now that the independence celebration is around the corner.

According to one of the sources, “We cannot afford to be caught napping again after all these embarrassments we have suffered. You remember what happened at the Eagle Square on October 1st, last year, when Nigeria was marking its 50th Independence anniversary. I can assure you that we won’t be beaten this time around.”

Meanwhile, worried by the problem of traffic congestion within various districts of Abuja, the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday marked several structures at Gimbiya Street in Area 11 District of the city for demolition.

This, it was learnt, is to ease the traffic congestion in the area.

The Director of the department, Yahaya Yusuff, who led his workers to mark the structures, issued a 48-hour notice to the owners to remove them or have them demolished.

While explaining the motive behind the exercise, he stressed that there was an urgent need to decongest the area in order to pave way for free flow of traffic caused by the presence of many financial institutions, schools and hotels there.

Yusuff said the perennial physical planning problems on the streets of Abuja are caused by the many illegal structures in the city with some of them reducing the width of the roads, thereby causing traffic congestion.

He added: “Buildings guilty of the hazards in the area have been marked and a notice of 48 hours has been given to the owners to remove the attachments or have them demolished.”

He, however, told journalists that his department has asked the owners of the affected structures to, within 48 hours, submit their building approval to defend themselves, if they have any serious case.

Yusuff reiterated that the FCTA, as part of its efforts at realising the Federal Government’s reform agenda, enumerated the traffic situation in the city as an issue that should be handled as early as possible.

The director said areas built for parking lots have been taken over by people who built tents and other unapproved structures, thereby making the environment unhealthy.

This, he noted, the decision to mark the affected buildings, saying “we have decided to embark on city audit to do what is right and avoid what is wrong according to the FCT Master Plan. And, I do not expect those affected to refuse to comply with the instruction as this is not the first time they were served notices on the affected structures”.