By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka
The leadership of Section C of the Abuja International Building Materials Market, Dei Dei, has appealed to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to intervene in what it described as the illegal demolition of the market’s public toilet and the conversion of the site into shops.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday, the Chairman of the section, Chief Kenneth Okoye, alleged that a trader demolished the toilet facility and has begun constructing six shops on the land, leaving the market without any sanitary facility.
Okoye described the action as a blatant violation of market regulations and a disregard for public infrastructure. He said the market leadership was neither informed nor consulted before the demolition was carried out.
He stressed that markets are vital economic centres and should be provided with essential amenities, noting that the FCT Administration’s drive to improve infrastructure and restore order should also extend to major markets such as Dei Dei.
According to him, the absence of toilet facilities could encourage open defecation and increase the risk of waterborne diseases, thereby undermining the government’s public health efforts.
While commending Wike for the ongoing infrastructural development across the FCT, Okoye appealed to the Minister to direct the appropriate agencies to restore the demolished toilet and enforce market regulations to prevent similar incidents.
He also urged the Minister to sustain the current pace of development, adding that restoring order and providing basic facilities in markets would further enhance Abuja’s image as a modern capital city.
“We assure you of our total support. Your performance is visible across Abuja. We are only asking that you extend that same commitment to us here in Dei Dei,” Okoye said.
