By Abbanobi – Eku Onyekachi
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Chapter of National Association of Nigeria Traders (NANTs) have begged the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike to give financial assistance to traders who lost their goods to fire incident in Karmo market.
The Association also appealed to the minister to rebuild the market with block cement, as the market was before the demolition in 2006 by the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
Chairman of the market association, Dr Edozie Ugwu stated this in an interaction with some journalists, recently.
Karmo market, being one of the markets in the FCT that had as a result of heavy conflagration, has died and resurrected several times.
According to him, the market was originally built by the military and demolished by the civilians, as well as give the affected traders financial assistance to enable them continue their businesses.
Ugwu told the mister that the last was the fourth of it’s kind in the market.
He 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.
The chairman added that at each conflagration, the traders loose goods and shops with billions of naira, making them to start life are fresh.
He said 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 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.
