The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Saturday pulled down Abuja’s biggest graphics design and printing hub, the UTC Shopping Complex, over 30 years after it came into existence.

According to Administration officials, the sprawling complex had to be demolished to give way for reconstruction to fit into a model required to grow SMEs to address global business needs and challenges.

A Deputy Director, of Monitoring and Inspection, Department of Development Control, Hassan Ogbole said the structures were defective and there was a need to upgrade them to the standard that will meet global business standards.

Ogbole noted that provisions had been made for the traders and other occupants of the complex to enable reconstruction of the place.

He also stated that adequate notices were served on the occupants of the place to enable them to move out and allow the construction to start, but many of them deliberately refused to move out.

He said; “The place is in a state of disrepair. It is no longer habitable for occupation and business activities. The place has to give way for a new development.

“The company handling the development has informed Development Control and we are here to enforce compliance. We have given them enough notice for them to remove their goods, to enable us to start the work”.

Also Speaking, the Secretary, Command and Control, FCTA Department of Security, Peter Olumiji said demolishing the Complex was also needed to contain the security challenges in the area.

Olumiji noted that apart from restructuring the place to meet global standards, there was a need to nip criminal activities prevalent in the place.

According to him, it had become imperative to remodel the place to rid it of elements that engage in faking official documents.

One of the traders in the complex, Samuel Onuchukwu, said the traders and other occupants were worried because the temporary site provided by the developers, was not secured for business.

Onuchukwu disclosed that many of the traders were yet to remove their goods and property from the shops and offices.

According to him, they woke up early in the morning on Saturday to learn that the whole UTC area had been barricaded, and demolition was ongoing, while their wares were still trapped.

Nigerians have been advised to embrace cycling as alternative means of transportation in the midst of fuel subsidy removal in the country.

Mr Joshua Adekanye, Oyo State Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), gave the advice on Saturday in Ibadan at the celebration of the 2023 World Bicycle Day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the United Nations (UN) had in 2018 declared June 3 of every year as World Bicycle Day.

It is an international observance recognised as a result of the uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries.

The day is set aside to raise awareness about the importance of bicycles as a sustainable mode of transportation.

According to him, it is advisable for the general public to make use of bicycles now that the fuel subsidy has been removed because bicycles do not use fuel.

He said that carbon emissions to the atmosphere by vehicles would also be drastically reduced when Nigerians rely more on bicycles.

This, Adekanye said, would create an enabling environment for Nigerians to live in.

“Use of bicycle is economically cheap because the cost of a bicycle is not as expensive as using a car or motorcycle,” he said.

On the health benefits, Adekanye said that cycling, not only improves physical strength but also helps reduce body fat “and keep the heart healthy”.

“Cycling may help prevent and manage medical conditions; helps in improving mental health and reduces stress, among other benefits, ” the sector commander said.

He, however, commended the contributions of all the agencies and stakeholders toward advancing the course of encouraging cycling in society.

Adekanye urged relevant stakeholders to keep on sensitising the general public on the need to embrace cycling.

NAN also reports that five cyclist organisations and young cyclists from the Air Force Primary School, Ibadan, participated in the event.

Among the organisations were Lifeline Cyclists, Rising Star Cycling Academy and Pedal Power Cycling Club.

The cycling event took off at the State Command of the FRSC, Eleyele, en route Jericho – Dugbe – Mokola – Sabo and ended at Lekan Salami stadium Adamasingba