Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded plans to demolish illegal shops and other structures around the popular Area 1 Shopping Complex from Monday to give it a new look and improve traffic flow within the area.
The plan was concluded after a meeting with authorities of the FCT Administration comprising the Departments of Development Control, security service, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), as well as the Abuja Investments Company Ltd, and traders at the market.
The director of FCTA Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, while speaking with the traders at the weekend, explained that the FCTA decided to meet with managers of the market to reach an understanding before carrying out the cleaning exercise.
He said the congested nature of the market, and its unhygienic and untidy conditions were not good for any emergency and the health of the traders and customers.
Galadima insisted that all the Suya sellers would be located under one roof, parking spaces inside the market would be removed, and that there would be one source of energy, instead of littering the market with generating sets, causing noise pollution.
“If there is any fire outbreak in this market, God forbid, it will be disastrous, and rescue operations impossible. As a government, we do not have to wait for that to happen before we take action.
“Remember we were here last year to do some cleanup, but this time, it is different. We are going to remove all the attachments and create space inside the market for parking.
“We are not happy with the traffic situation caused by activities of this market, so we will sanitize it in line with the vision of the Nyesom Wike-led FCT Administration in sanitizing the Federal Capital Territory,” he said.
He called for the support of all stakeholders of the market, saying that the administration would make necessary arrangements to provide alternative shops for those who would be affected by the cleanup.
On behalf of the traders, Usman Utaru, thanked the FCT administration for thinking it wise to meet and inform them of the plans to remove illegal structures in the market. They pledged to assist the authorities in sanitising the market.
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