Demolition imminent as FCT minister orders return of Nyanya market

Occupants of the designated lands for Nyanya market at the suburb of FCT may soon face evacuation owing to a fresh order issued by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello.

This however came as a result of the determination to restore sanity on the Nyanya – Karshi Road by the FCT Minister who has ordered the reversing of Nyanya market, illegally converted into residential accommodation, to its original purpose.

The FCT Minister gave the directive when the Ministerial Taskforce on Traffic Decongestion and Environmental Sanitation along the Nyanya – Karu – Karshi Road called to brief him on the progress the task team has made on their assignment.

Malam Bello commended the taskforce for what it has achieved so far especially the reduction of gridlock on the road, improvement on sanitation, drop in crime and almost zero record of death by accident on the road.

The Minister, however, frowned at the ugly development whereby structures in the Nyanya market initially meant for market stalls were converted into residential accommodation.

He stressed that this was mainly responsible for the spill-over of illegal squatter stalls on the Nyanya interchange, rendering the road almost impassable during peak hours.

The Minister expressed delight over report of the support and partnership of traders and stakeholders in the effort to restore sanity on the road, while calling on the traditional rulers, community leaders and traders’ union to sustain the positive partnership.

He further charged the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) to ensure that the road does not return to its dark days of gridlock and filth.

Bello, while extending the tenure of the Ministerial task team by another three months, charged the AMMC, STDD and AMAC to work together with the task team and other relevant security agencies in the FCT to enforce this directive.

In his briefing at the occasion, the taskforce chairman, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Nienge (rtd), recalled that the taskforce which was inaugurated on April 26, 2017, swung into action with a series of sensitisation efforts in the media and to community leaders.

“This was to enlighten the people as to their responsibilities and to solicit their cooperation,” he said.

He expressed delight with the level of support and cooperation the task team received from the traders and residents, who he noted, showed their satisfaction with the human face of the taskforce.