By Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi
Abuja
Members of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTs) have begged the FCT minister, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike to give financial assistance to traders who lost their goods during the fire incident in Karmo market.
They also begged the FCT Administration to rebuild the market with block cement, as the market was before it’s demolition in 2006 by the FCTA.
The chairman of the market association, Dr Edozie Ugwu addressed some journalists within the week.
Karmo market, being one of the markets in the FCT that has as a result of heavy conflagration, has died and resurrected several times is located in Karmo, a community in Abuja Municipal Area Councils (AMAC) in the FCT.
Appealing to the minister to assist the traders, by rebuilding the market with solid block, which the market, according to him was originally built with by the military and demolished by the civilians, as well as give the affected traders financial assistance to enable them continue their businesses, Edozie Prince Ugwu told the mister that the the last was the fourth of it’s kind in the market.
Explaining things in details, Ugwu said apart from minor fire outbreaks, the market has majorly been gutted by inferno on 1st day of December, 2017; 7th day of July, 2021; 31st day of March, 2022 and the present one that happened on Wednesday, the 17th of January, 2024. He added that at each conflagration, the traders loose goods and shops with billions of Naira, making them to start life at fresh.
Still crying to the minister to do something for the affected traders and the the market in general, he said that the minister performed wonderfully well as a governor, which according to him have given him the name, Mr Project. He however informed with concern that some of the traders sourced the goods they have been selling through loan either from bank or individuals while other through credit. These he wondered what would be the position and fate of the traders, and how would day pay back the money.
However, Ugwu who almost cried his eyes out while showing pity to the traders, he advised them to take heart, seek the face of God and leave everything to him,. He said that with trust and faith in God, they will overcome the loss.
