By Ben Adoga

There is palpable tension and confusion in one of the major markets in the FCT over threats to demolish illegal structures within the market as well as shanties, umbrella4s and othermakeshiftt structures.

Karu Main Market is one of the oldest markets in the FCT as it was established by the then Benue Plateau State government. The market was later owned by the old Plateau State government before the creation of Nasarawa State which transferred ownership to the then Karu Local Government Area.

Today Karu Main Market is located in Abuja Municipal Area Council,  AMAC.

Despite the prime location of the market, the market cannot be said to befit the status of AMAC and the FCT.

ThisNigeria visit to the market midday Sunday practically observed confusion and tension as some traders were seen removing their articles for fear of forceful removal of their items by the FCT authorities.

Those who have no legal shops to move into were seen gathering their items and wondering what they would do to avoid their destruction or possible looting by hoodlums.

One of the traders spoken with, Madam Victoria said the removal of umbrellas was long overdue as the portion was designated car park and that it had made the market become a slum in the FCT.

She said she was in the market to move her articles into the shop, but advised the market developers who are yet to conclude to open up pathways in the market to facilitate trade. She said some of them joined that selling outside because of the barricade that prevented people from accessing their shops.

Another, Kingsley Okafor said he knew that one day they would be sent parking from the illegal shops, but that the timing was not favorable as Abuja residents, including traders are going through untold hardship arising from fuel scarcity, no electricity, terrible traffic hold-ups on roads, and low business.

He appealed to the FCT authorities to give them a little time for things to ease off, like the availability of petroleum products, then things will normalize and they would on their move out of the illegal spaces. Mohammed Tanko has been selling in the umbrella for years and paying AMAC agents for using that space, he has no shop and cannot relocate his goods anywhere. He can only pray for Allah to take control.

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Karu Main Market has a design that caters to all categories of traders, including the petty traders in the informal sector.

Traders since abandoned the plan and created slums. They even trade on the major road causing motorists untold hardship going to and from work daily.