The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) recently conducted an operation to demolish a notorious roadside market located in Area 1, Abuja.
This move was part of efforts to restore order and safety to the city’s central district.
The operation was carried out by a collaborative team comprising various security agencies, the development control team, and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
Their goal was to dismantle the illegal market, suspected of providing cover for criminal activities, and to remove unauthorized car dealers who had encroached on pedestrian walkways in the Area 1 residential district.
The director of the Department of Development Control, Muktar Galadima, who led the task force, explained that the operation aimed to ensure the notorious roadside market would not resurface.
Vehicles seized during the operation were taken into custody by the Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS) enforcement squad.
While the FCTA seeks to integrate informal economic activities, especially those of small traders and microentrepreneurs, it remains committed to maintaining environmental health and safety.
Plans are also underway to address the issue of open cattle grazing within the city centre by providing a well-planned alternative market for affected petty traders.
Galadima said, “This exercise is part of the ongoing city sanitation efforts to enhance the cleanliness of the Federal Capital City (FCC). We will carefully consider the needs of petty traders and review policies to ensure they can continue contributing to the city’s economy.”
Moreover, the FCT Administration is actively exploring the creation of a permanent grazing reserve to prevent cattle from roaming across the city.
This measure is aimed at resolving the ongoing challenges related to open cattle grazing in the nation’s capital.
Source: Leadership Newspaper