The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) says that it has started a public awareness campaign on farming in unlawful places in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mr Muktar Ibrahim, the Head, Information and Outreach Unit of the board, said this while speaking with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
‘‘The prohibited areas are Murtala Muhammed Expressway, Umaru Yar’Adua Expressway, AYA-Keffi-Nyanya road and also other roads within Phases 1 and 2 of Abuja.
“The board is not stopping the farmers from farming but the board is telling them not to farm around the city centre,’’ he said.
Ibrahim said that the aim of the sensitisation campaign was to educate the residents on the dangers of crop growing in prohibited areas like Garki, Wuse, Maitama, Asokoro, among others.
He said that the seven-week campaign would cover the entire FCT.
“The board is enlightening all the residents of Abuja that as 2017 raining season begins, all forms of farming activities are prohibited within 50 metres along arterial road corridors,’’ he said.
Ibrahim said that the prohibition was in line with the AEPB Act of 1997, particularly the provision in Part 1, Section 19, Sub-section 1 of the Act.
He warned that any farmer who violated the law would face prosecution, in accordance with Section 2 of Act.
He, however, advised the residents to cooperate with the board in all its efforts to keep Abuja clean and tidy. (NAN)