FCTA Restricts POS Operators to Commercial Areas Over Insecurity

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), on Wednesday in Abuja directed Point of Sales (POS) operators to restrict their operations to only commercial areas in the nation’s capital.

The Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, issued the directive at a news briefing.

He said the administration would not allow POS operators to illegally take over sensitive areas that were not designated for commercial purposes.

Umar said the indiscriminate activities of the operators were becoming a threat to security, and would no longer be tolerated.

Shuaibu said that Abuja Master Plan was systemically structured to have the neighbourhood concept that will bring all services closer to the people.

”We have neighborhood centres and city centres, all of these centres have commercial areas, so whatever someone needs within the neighbourhood provided is available,” he said.

Umar added that there was no need to take over the streets, adding,”that was how the master plan was designed.

“Financial services are brought closer to the people because of the CBN cashless policy that is why we have PoS operators, let there be sanity.

“However, there are challenges, the point of sales operators do not operate in the areas that they were supposed to operate, according to the provision of the master plan.

“We have commercial centres, plazas, markets, super markets and filling stations, these are areas for commercial activities.

“So, the PoS operators have to liaise with owners of these property for their services, this is in line with international best practices.

“Henceforth, all PoS operators must relocate to commercial areas and liaise with the premises’ owners, where their services are needed.This will help check mate insecurity,”he added.