Property  owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, have been warned to desist from illigal convertion of lands from their original purpose.

The FCT department of development control which gave the warning in Abuja last week, also threatned to deal with such violators.

A statement signed by the Head, Public Relations unit of the department, Mrs. Josie Mudasiru, informed that banks and other financial institutions were the most common defaulters.

According to the statement, "property owners who allow their premises to be converted to uses not originally designated for such plots run the risk of them being closed down". It also added that the department would not entertain contravention charges on new or recent illegal conversions, as affected structures may be closed down indefinitely until the use is reversed.

The statement stressed that the department noticed with concern, the flagrant abuse of land use by property owners in the FCT.

In addition, the department reiterated the need for operators of petrol stations to comply with its criteria for operations, saying it would close down stations that failed to meet up.

The department had, in 2006, insisted that operators of petrol stations should equip their stations with car wash, super mart, service bay and vulcanises.

In order to ensure that petrol stations comply with these criteria, the department would commence the monitoring of the service stations.

The release further stated that the monitoring became necessary since some operators of petrol stations have refused to comply with some of the guidelines as provided by the department.