FCTA extends one week notice to Apo- Dutse market traders

By Hudu Yakubu Abuja

The Ministerial Task Force Team on City Sanitation in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory has extended the planned demolition of the largest illegal market in Apo-Dutse on Abuja suburb.

The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Ikharo Attah disclosed this when he visited the market to remind them on the need to adhere to the directive.

Attah who was accompanied by security operatives and other senior officials of the administration, said the team had extended the demolition deadline because of the appeal from the traders in the spirit of Ramadan.

He said series of notices have been issued to the traders to vacate the place yet they failed to comply.

The SSA who also revealed that most of the criminals hide in the market, said there are also few good individuals in the area.

According to him,“The market is the largest place for scrap and is illegal, it has been harbouring high degree of criminals, though there are still good ones.”

“We had received series of complains and the minister of FCT has directed that the market should be removed because is illegal.We gave them one week, we have given them another five days notice and it has elapsed about 15 days, for them to quit.”

“They have appealed that, they are humans so they should be allowed to finish the Holy month of Ramadan and Sallah before pulling down the place, but they have already started removing their things.”

“We told them that is not in our powers to decide until the minister is properly briefed on the development, if he agrees then they will have two weeks to leave”

The Vice Chairman of the market, Aminu Mohammed said they would not opposes the position of the government.

“We would not oppose government directives, already we have started removing our things, but as humans we appeal for more time because of the Holy month of Ramadan, at least after the Sallah celebration we will leave finally” He said.