… Review Market Closing Time To 7pm
Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has engaged stakeholders on the Maitama Ultra Modern Market popularly known as Kubwa Village market to find a lasting solution to the lingering roadside trading and traffic gridlock.
The stakeholders which comprises of officials from the FCTA, Senior Special Assistant to FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement , Comrade Ikharo Attah, Sepcial Assistant to the Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko, the Head of Monitoring and Inspection of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Development Control, Har kimi of Kubwa Maitama, Chief Bulus Yerima, Katanpe Community Head, Chief Danjuma Awodo, the Developer H&I Construction ltd, Rabiu Said, representative of community youths, Dr. Jatau Joseph among many others sat for hours deliberating on the possible solutions.
The meeting was called at the instance of the SA to FCT Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko to brainstorm and pull forces together to put an end to road corridors trading and traffic gridlock in Maitama Kubwa.
The Sepcial Assistant to the Minister on Community Relations, Hon. Musa Diko said, the indigines should have a small place in the market has signed in the MoU that brought the market into place.
He added that, it cost government hundreds of thousands to real out bulldozers to demolish and other logistics, while urging the youths , while adding that, fatalities of the unfortunate fire incident that happened at the market last year wouldn’t have been much if only the traders abide by the extant rules.
Har kimi of Kubwa Maitama, Chief Bulus Yerima said the committee set up should help address the issue of those selling in the road side and forced them inside.
On the issue of expansion, he said they have written to the Minister and hoping that the Malam Muhammad Musa Bello will look into the matter .
Also, Katanpe Community Head, Chief Danjuma Awodo said if care is not taking , the indigines might completely go into extinction in Abuja and urges government to set up a committee to look into the issue of the road side trading.
He added that, expansion has not reached the community 38 year after, saying thay he was fortunate to be among those resettled but youths who where teanagers as at that time were not captured and this has been a lingering problem.
The representative of community youths, Dr. Jatau Joseph said some indigines were tempted to sell part of their land sue to hardship.
He lamented that this is the third time, they are demolishing the community, saying, after the one they went to Development Control for structural plans.
More so, the Developer H&I Construction ltd, Rabiu Said said they have fulfill almost all the terms in the signed MoU, we have completed the shops , Chief Palace and the multi purpose center is 98 per cent completed.
He admitted that, the only area they lagging behind is the Gwari market and they will start that as soon as possible to relocate the locals from the road side.
However, the Development Control representative , Tlp Solomon said they are commencing marking of the illegal structures in earnest.
Meanwhile, the he Head of Monitoring and Inspection of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Kaka Bello said the road meant for motorists and pedestrians have been converted to road side shops, this has made life difficult for motorists as a distance of to to three minutes will take hours .
He also stated that, conversation of residential buildings for commercial use is not proper, some will not even leave it at that they will still extend to the road.
Responding, the SSA to FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah said , “We are not going to leave any stone on turned as the FCT Minister has given directives that market should be moved from all roads corridors in the market.
“This is why we are synergising with relevant stakeholders to nip the menace on the bud. Unfortunately, indiginous traders were pushed to the road side shops allocated to non indigenes. We will not allow anybody to sell on the road.
According to him, “No doubt, the indigines need an identity, I have my own in my village and I believe that the youths should have their own. But if government give them a land in Maitama 2 now, surprisingly , people from other states will buy them off almost immediately and they will return to status quo. For instance , Apo Resettlement, all the layouts have been sold to non indigenes, we are not saying that indigines should not get what is due them.
” We will embark on a 3 day through cleanup around Maitama Kubwa market, NYSC junction and the committee set up will take it up from where we stopped”.
He advised committee members not to collect bribe from the rich road side traders as they are always in the business of doing that, this, according to him, will help them to assert their authority with compromise.
” Henseforth, the market should extend their closing hours to 7pm to dissuade road side traders from shading.
“The points of the community youths are well noted and the administration will swing into action to do the needful. The youth have raised concerned long before the fire incident happens”, he said.
