The Garki International Market, has been reopened by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
The market which was closed last week over poor hygiene and sanitation was reopened on Wednesday after the inspection of its sanitary condition by Mr. Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement.
Attah said he is satisfied with the management and traders of the market for swinging into action to restore sanity in the market.
He however, warned that the market would be closed again without hesitation if the management and traders’ relapse in its plan for sanitation.
“Garki international market has been sealed for five days by the gallant team of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB)that got a court verdict to the market.
“The decision to close the market was necessitated by the extreme and provocative nature of dirt in it.
“When we came in here on Tuesday, we discovered that the work done was not very impressive and the Director of AEPB went back with his team and held a high-powered meeting with Market Management Limited (MML).
“What we are seeing now is very encouraging, and that is the reason why the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, has approved the reopening of the market.”
“We will continue to monitor the market as we do in all markets in the FCT, all plazas, all schools, to make sure that they are safe for their patrons.
Recall that the market was sealed last by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), citing hygiene and environmental issues as causes for the closure.
At the time, Director AEPB, Mr. Osi Braimah, condemned the breakdown of law and order in the market, noting that AEPB’s environmental officers in carrying out their routine/monitoring activities by April 26, discovered that the market was in bad shape coupled with the nonchalant attitude the market administrators.
Consequently, AEPB to sought a court order to seal the market,:
Braimah said, “Solid wastes, cabbages all over the place, bleeding sewage lines and heaps of refuse dumps were all over the market.
“We served them an abatement notice unfortunately nothing was done.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
