47 arrested illegal POS agents stand at the roadside in front of the Mobile Court in Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) over the weekend arrested 47 Point of Sale (POS) agents for doing business on streets and other unapproved places in the city.

A few days ago, the administration warned that random activities by POS operators, especially on the street and non-commercial areas, will no longer be tolerated.

It also revealed that there were intelligence reports and complaints from residents that strange people were roaming some neighborhoods posing as POS operators.

Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister for Oversight, Inspection and Enforcement Ikharo Attah, addressing the offenders at Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Area 3 premises, said the minister has no plan to halt POS activities, but is concerned about security issues surrounding it.

Attah stated that the arrested offenders could face a mobile court for violating certain environmental laws by operating their business in unapproved places.

He explained to them that POS trading was not illegal, but operating outside commercial zones and indiscriminately on the street was an offence.

He said; “Reports on the arrested offenders would go to the minister to determine and see if the operators are abiding by the city’s rules, depriving criminals of the shield to masquerade as POS operators.”

Also speaking, the deputy director, enforcement at AEPB, Kaka Bello noted that environmental laws prohibit business activity in residential areas and on the streets. He notes that the AEPB Enforcement Team is prepared to implement the restrictions on POS operations.

He further explained that those operating in commercial places will have no problem with the team, but violators of the restrictions will face the wrath of the law.

One of the arrested offenders, Solomon Wari, a civil servant, said he was arrested standing in front of his business center in a residential area in Wuse zone 6 while vowing not to operate on the streets again. He noted that he was in the business to support his family.