By Favour Nnabugwu

Worried by the menace of street trading  and its associated security challenge, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, has warned street traders in and around Abuja metropolis to stay off the roads.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed, disclosed  the stand of the administration against street hawking, emphasizing that the ban on  it  still stands.

Speaking through his Senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Sen. Jibril Wowo, in a chat with reporters in his office, Mohammed  commended the traders  sense of economic activity but condemned the dangerous style they choose to do business, thereby  risking their lives in traffic.

He said that his administration would not take the  repeated return to the streets by the hawkers.
The minister pointed out that the risk associated with the trade is enormous.

According to him: “No matter how attractive street hawking may appear to our people who choose to sell in the traffic, the exposure to risk and associated danger of their trade is of serious concern to the administration.

“God forbid,  a  single loss of life due to mechanical faults or other accidents cannot be compared to the entire profit made by all the traders put together. It is important that they weigh the option of safer trade to this dangerous trade they engage in.

“It is difficult to comprehend the wisdom behind a child, man or woman running after a moving car to sell wares for as  low as N50. What is the economy of that style of trade given the risk associated with the business pattern, the hawker could fall if he or she loses  his balance in traffic.”

The minister called on the street hawkers to take advantage of some of the administration’s programmes aimed at empowering the economically challenged residents of the territory like the Bwari Vocational and Rehabilitation Center  for the Physically Challenged Persons, and Child-Hawkers and Street Kids.

Mohammed insisted that the overall development of the children is a fundamental right owed them  and should be pursued by their parents and government.

This, he noted, informed the administration’s  decision to revamp the Bwari  Centre where over 57 persons were equipped with skills and basic work tool  in various areas of skill empowerment to enable them start-off on their business after six months of training.

The Abuja Enterprise Agency, AEA, is another institutional-platform of the administration for people who have business ideas to be further groomed through industry-linked-mentorship for them to improve on their business and they enjoy the administration’s support through business growth.

Mohammed,  who noted that government alone cannot provide the entire population of the destitute in the FCT with the skills, equipment and funds to develop their personal and family economy, maintained that strong partnership with the private sector could offer  panacea  to the problem.

The  minister  maintained that government will continue to provide the enabling environment for the private sector to thrive and boost the economy of the territory.

He pointed out that as the world observed the International Widows Day, the challenge of the many widows amongst the women should be supported by all and sundry to reduce their role in the social menace occasioned by poverty and poor judgment of imminent danger of their trade.

“We can make a whole lot of difference if well meaning individuals, corporate and non-governmental organizations pursue and increase activities in assisting this class of Nigerians who have shown industry running the streets selling. I am convinced that appropriate information support could make them significant contributors to our society. They are part of us, they need our support,” Mohammed concluded.

Hawkers around Banex also get quit notice
Illegal traders around Banex  Plaza, Abuja have been enjoined to withdraw  from the area  to make way for  access and smooth business operations  else they would be forced to so.

Consequently, the management of Banex Plaza  has inaugurated its re-constituted Environment and Security Task Force, ESTF, to checkmate the activities of illegal traders and those engaged in  anti social activities in and around the plaza.

Chief Executive Officer of  Banex Plaza, Rev. Victor Mbanisi, said the move was to reduce the security risk in the area through regular cleaning of the business environment and preventing persons whose  trades create cover for people with ill-motives.