The Garki International Market in Nigeria has reopened after being closed last week due to inadequate sanitation and hygiene.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration announced this in a press release on Wednesday.
The market was reopened following a hygienic inspection by Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring Inspection and Enforcement, Mr. Ikharo Attah.
Attah expressed his satisfaction with the market’s management and traders for acting quickly, but he cautioned that if the management and traders fell behind on their sanitation plan, the government would not hesitate to re-seal the market.
“The gallant team of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board that obtained a court verdict to the market has sealed the Garki international market for five days.”
“The excessive and offensive nature of the dirt in it forced the decision to close the market.
“When we arrived on Tuesday, we found that the work completed was not particularly impressive. The Director of AEPB then returned with his team and attended a highly-charged discussion with Market Management Limited.”
He added that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, supported the market’s reopening because of what they witnessed, which was quite positive.
According to AEPB Director Braimah Osilama, “the market is currently in a proper shape.
“We will continue to keep an eye on the market, as we do with all other markets, plazas, and schools in the FCT, to ensure that customers are secure,” he said.
Recall that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board reportedly closed down the Garki International Market last week.
The AEPB warned about a potential pandemic outbreak caused by the buildup of improperly dumped waste and cited environmental and hygiene concerns as reason for the closure.
