By Ben Adoga, Abuja
The much-awaited demolition of illegal structures in popular Karu Market, Abuja took place Tuesday amidst heavy security presence.

The demolition was to rid the market of illegal activities like criminal hideouts, blocking access into shops in the market, and most importantly, the very heavy traffic gridlocks caused by the illegal trading activities on the road.

All illegal structures around and within the market were removed. When several bulldozers stormed the market around 11:00 am hideouts Tuesday morning, the market that had been secured under lock and key by the FCT Authorities witnessed the removal of woods, planks corrugated iron shits, and several other items used in constructing what they call extensions and the umbrella section of the marked which was originally designated car park was completely bulldozed and set on fire after that.

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 center to Old Karu, Orozco, and up to Karshi satellite towns of the Territory.

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, 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 very well.

“For about five years, this illegality started developing strongly, it has not tested our machines, so today it tasted the will of the FCT Minister to rid Abuja of illegality especially things that impede on the traffic-free flow that is why today we are happy that people are excited that the road is free now.”

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On how to sustain the cleanup, Attah said: ” We are hopeful that we keep coming and checking the situation here, trusting that the area council that owns the market, which has been very supportive of this clean up will do well in keeping it under control, and with the support of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) they will do all they can to ensure that traders go into the market and other designated areas like the informer section, and keep the place clean and away from the road.”

Also speaking, Nbede Micheal, the Divisional Head, Planning, Land, and Survey in AMAC, noted: “One of the major issues here is trading activities, totally blocking the major express road daily. Thank God for the work done by the FCTA, as it works well done.

“But, we are going to put all measures in place to sustain the new outlook of the market. We are going to station AMAC Marshalls to checkmate whosoever that is going to put anything on the ground in the undesignated places within and around the market.