By Tunde Johnson, Abuja
Commercial activities were paralysed on Monday at Utako market, Abuja as traders in the market embarked on a protest against planned demolition of the market for redevelopment by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). k7 bike buy viagra nz
Nelson Onwuemeodo, Chairman of Utako Shops Owners and Traders Market Association, said that the market AMAC wanted to demolish was not built by the council noting that the Area Council lacks the power to remodel the market.
He explained that AMAC only allocated the empty land for to the traders while they (traders) built the market based on the council’s design and strict supervision.
Onwuemeodo said that the traders were shocked when they saw police men and containers brought into the market by the council without prior notice.
“If the government desires to build a new market, let them go and build. But if they are bent on destroying the market, let them bring a valuer and pay us the worth of the shops,” he said
According to him, the council did not invite the traders for negotiation before moving in with police and engineers for demolition of the market.
He added that the traders had not been enjoying the dividends of democracy and they were not being covered by the government, yet paid their taxes.
Zainab Salisu, Women leader of the in the market urged AMAC chairman not to reneged on his promise of delivering the dividends of democracy to the residents.
She said a situation where the chairman would make promises and back out would not augur well for the traders.
Traders had closed their shops and were seen protesting within and outside the market, while security operatives, fully armed were seen barricading the entrance to the market.
In reaction Abdulahi Adamu Candido, Chairman of AMAC assured shop owners at the Utako market that no trader would be shortchanged after remodeling of the market.
He said under his watched, no traders would be shortchanged and no new person would be allocated unless all the allottees were given shops
“We do not want crisis, we do not want a single soul to be loss, the presence of the police is to protect lives and properties,” he said.
He further said that the marketers had no cause for alarm as nobody would be displaced because of the remodelling.
According to him, the remodeling will start with the space that is not occupied, we don’t want to affect anybody’s source of livelihood, that is why we are avoiding to relocate the market
He said that the market was an eyesore in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressing that he was poised to re-position the market and protect the lives and properties of the traders.
