Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) has arrested 47 Point of Sale ( POS) Operators for hanging around on the streets and other unapproved places within the city.
The administration had earlier warned that indiscriminate activities of POS operators, especially on the streets and noncommercial areas will no longer be tolerated .
Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah who addressed the violators at the premises of Abuja Environmental Protection Board ( AEPB) Area 3, said the Minister has no plan to stop POS business, but concerned about security issues surrounding it.
According to Comrade Attah, the development was triggered by a tip off on intelligence reports and complaints from residents that strange people were roaming around neighbourhoods, pretending to be POS operators.
Attah explained that 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 indiscriminately outside commercial zones was an offence.
Also Speaking, the Assistant Director, Enforcement at AEPB, Kaka Bello noted that environmental laws forbid business activities at residential areas and on the streets.
Bello assured that AEPB Enforcement team would carry out the enforcement to the latter.
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.
By Remi Johnson,Edited by Grace Namiji