Respite as FCTA reopens Garki Int’l market

By Stanley Onyekwere

Traders in the Garki International Market were in a jubilation mood yesterday as officials of the FCT Administration reopened the market which was hitherto shut six day ago over alleged poor sanitation.
The officials led by the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah arrived the market for reopening around 3.30pm, and after a painstaking inspection of its sanitary condition certified it okay for reopening.
Speaking to newsmen during the exercise, Attah expressed satisfaction with the management and traders of the market for swinging into action to ensure the restoration of the sanity of the market.
Attah however, warned the traders that the administration will not hesitate to seal up the market again if the management and traders fail to maintain the standard of environmental cleanliness they demonstrated today.
Prior to the reopening, traders remained barred from accessing their shops and trading spaces within the Garki market for allegedly failing to heed to prevailing sanitation guidelines,
Recall that the FCTA through the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) had last week announced the closure of the Garki market over alleged poor sanitation and failure of the traders to take necessary measures to keep to the desired standard set by the Administration.
And when Attah and Director AEPB Osilama Braimah on Tuesday visited the market, to reassess the cleanliness of the environment, the officials observed that there were still refuse in different locations within the market.
Attah noted that the AEPB has acted in line with the Ministerial directives, any part of Abuja either market, school or office must be kept clean.
He added that the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello wants a clean and safe Abuja, therefore necessary steps must be put in place to uphold the standard.
Similarly, the AEPB Director, Osilama Braimah, said the board was keen on reopening the market but was not satisfied with the level of hygiene.
A trader at the market , Daniel Kalu said: “We have even started the clean up of the market,all the refuse dumps have been reduced to a little as a result of our clean up exercise.
“Why we stop was because of Court issue as some of our people went to Court because they consider the service charge placed on us to be too much, so they want Abuja Market Management Limited to reduce charges, but can confirm that they have gone to the Court to withdraw the case.
“We are pleading with the AMML to come to our aid by reopen the market for us, on our part we are ready to ensure that the clean up of the market is completed”.