Abuja — In a bid to ensure continued beautification of the Federal Capital Territory, its Minister, Dr Aliyu Modibbo Umar, has directed that property owners should redecorate and repaint their houses.

FCT Development Control Department is to enforce the redecoration order, especially on property owners whose houses are in a state of disrepair.

Modibbo also directed that public buildings should be properly lit, to ensure full illumination at night and reduce crime.

The minister issued the directive, to sustain the beautification/aesthetic tempo in the territory and bequeath a lasting legacy to future generation.

He said, "we must continue to serve redecoration order to buildings with evident state of disrepair, as well as the need to light up such premises to assist law enforcement agents fight crime, especially at night."

The Territory, he said, would continue to do its part in maintaining the high level of beautification, which is in accordance with international standards, but residents must also play their part.

Modibbo wondered why some people will decide to leave their houses in a dilapidated state, insisting that Abuja has no room for ugly and dilapidated structures, because it is the window through which the world sees Nigeria.