…as traders protest

By Henry Umoru

ABUJA—THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) yesterday shut the largest market in Abuja, known as “Monday market” over what the administration described as failure to pay a debt of N49 million for sanitation and maintenance services.

Following the forced closure, the traders took to the streets with placards protesting the illegal closure of the market.

Speaking at the site, the Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Dr. Abubakar Yabo who noted that it became imperative for the management to close the market because of poor sanitation situation of the market, said there was the need to avert possible outbreak of epidemic in the nation’s capital city.

Yabo who was represented by AEPB Deputy Director, Mrs. Aishat Adebayo and escorted by heavily armed Anti-riot Police Squad who admitted that the traders were not given notice before shutting down the market, said the market management was aware of the action taken by the FCT administration in sanitizing the market.