Abuja Scrap Dealers Beg FCT Minister For Help
By Hudu Yakubu Abuja
The Association of Scrap Dealers in Abuja Nigeria’s capital has urged the Minister of the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello to provide more enabling environment for them to operate.
The Chairman of the Association, Sagiru Garba made the appeal when he led other officials on a courtesy visit to FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.
Garba pleaded with the minister to make a provision for the scrap dealers to have a genuine market where they will be carrying out their business activities.
This is at the instance of the recent demolition of Apo-Dutse panteka market by FCT Administration in continuation of its city sanitation exercise.
Garba explained that scavengers popularly called ‘babanbolas’ are not members of scrap dealers and should not be identified as scrap dealers.
He said members of the association will always adhere to the FCT Administration extant laws in maintaining sanity across the territory.
According to him, “Despite the loss we experienced during the demolition, we still remain law abiding citizens of the Country and submissive to the authority of the FCT.
“We have no business with scavengers (baban-bola) neither are we part of them. We are legitimate owners of scrap trading business, dealers in old cars and spare parts” he said.
Responding, the Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the minister of FCT, Ikharo Attah advised the scrap dealers not to allow refuse collectors to stay where they are.
Attah said, ” I thank you all for the support that you have show to us before, during and after the demolition exercise, this is the first time that the victims will be coming to thank us for demolishing their property.”
“The request you people have presented about a genuine scrap market we be taken to the minister, you people have requested for a permanent site for your business, It is a general believe that anywhere scrap dealers are you will see banbabola, so anywhere you are doing business don’t allowed them to come close. You are dealing in scrap and second hand items, don’t ever allow refuse collectors to come near you, they wreck havock on the city, and the city is coming after them” he said.
