On Monday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) raised grave concerns about safety hazards and inadequate sanitation at Utako Market, warning of a potential shutdown to prevent an epidemic outbreak.
Nigerian Tribune reports that Utako Market said to be one of the largest markets located in Utako district, within the Federal Capital City (FCC) is being directly managed by the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Mukhtar Galadima, the Director of the Department of Development Control and leader of the FCTA taskforce on city sanitation, expressed profound distress over the deteriorating sanitation conditions observed at Utako Market, referring to it as a looming disaster.
Describing the urgent need for a comprehensive cleanup to avert disasters and epidemics, Galadima emphasized the necessity of immediate action to restore human and environmental safety within the market premises.
Expressing dismay over the market’s decline into a potential hazard zone, he stressed the urgency of convening a meeting with all stakeholders to address the situation.
Galadima emphasized the need for proactive measures to rectify the deteriorating conditions.
Highlighting additional concerns, he pointed out the unauthorized expansion of the market into major streets surrounding the Utako residential areas, exacerbating safety and environmental risks.
Galadima stated, “I think obviously we are reaching to that point, definitely we have call the owners of the market and the city managers to sit down, if need be, we will close down the market, if need be, we will move in and sanitise the market, it was done before during El-Rufai where we closed Wuse market and we can equally do same, the place, as it is overpopulated and is like a time bomb if we don’t anything immediately, definitely I don’t pray for it but disasters will happen.”
Peter Olumuji, the Secretary of FCTA’s Command and Control, echoed these concerns, citing not only nuisances but also security threats reported by residents neighboring the market area.
He revealed that the market has become a hub for idle youths and suspected hard drug addicts, prompting a briefing to the National Drug Laws Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to intensify surveillance and curb illicit drug peddling within the market vicinity.
