By Daniel Tyokua
Worried by the endless grilock around Karu market in Abuja, officials of FCT Administration has begun moves to battle the unabated logjam.
The FCT Administration yesterday cleared shanties and roadside trading activities at the market and its environs.
Officials of the FCTA, accompanied by security operatives, in a joint clean up operation stormed the area with two bulldozers, and ransacked makeshift structures built with woods and roofing sheets within and around the perimeter fencing of the market.
They also removed several umbrellas and attachments to the shops inside the market, and set ablaze rubbles from the dismantled shanties.
Recall that the officials of FCT Administration had carried out markings of illegal structures around the market, located in Karu, a major satellite town sitting on major road corridors, connecting the city centre to Old Karu, Orozo and up to Karshi satellite towns of the Territory.
It was however, observed that some affected traders had carried out partial dismantling and removal of their wares to avoid loss.
Explaining the rationale behind the exercise, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to FCT Minister, Ikharo Attah, who led the team, said it was to remove shanties and roadside trading within and around the market, so as to free vehicular and human traffic in the area.
Attah, described the situation as very worrisome and disturbing, given the nightmarish experience motorists face daily, to pass through the Karu Market stretch of the Nyanya-Karu-Karshi road.
He adds: “It is very turbulent as people took half of the dual carriage road, to sell fresh fish, vegetables and others. That’s what took us there, and we have done it absolutely very well.
“For about five years, this illegality started developing strongly , it has not tasted our machines, so today it tasted the wil of the FCT Minister to actually rid Abuja of illegality especially things that impede on traffic free flow that is why today we are happy that people are excited that the road is free now.”
