FCTA Raids Neighbourhood Roadside Market In Area One

By Remi Johnson

Area1 Neighbourhood roadside market in Abuja, has become a safe haven for some criminal elements to carry out their shady deals.

To this end, portions of the market suspected to have provided cover to hoodlums have been dislodged by the FCTA City Sanitation taskforce comprising joint security agencies, Development Control officers, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board.

Director, Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima who led the taskforce, said the operation also included dismantling illegal car dealers who have taken over pedestrian walkways within the Area 1 residential area.

Galadima who vowed that the roadside market would never be allowed to resurface again, said all vehicles

impounded by the enforcement team were under the custody of the Directorate of Road Traffic Service, DRTS.

Galadima also disclosed that the administration was working towards providing a permanent solution to open grazing of cattle within the city center to ensure that environmental health and safety was not compromised.

He further disclosed that plans were underway to provide a well planned alternative informal market for genuine petty traders who were affected by the cleaning exercise.

“This exercise is a continuation of the ongoing city sanitation of the Federal Capital City. We are going to consider the petty traders and review some of those policies to see how they can fit in best, because they are also contributing to the economy of the city.

” The issue of cattle is discussed at a higher level, where a permanent grazing reserve will be provided by the FCT Administration, in such a way that they will never run across the city, I know I have seen in several instances AEPB have arrested some of these cattle and their rearers, it’s something that it is been looked at, at the higher level”.Galadima said.

Edited By Grace Namiji