The Garki International Market has stated that dirty surroundings, littered trash, as well as broken sewer pipes were the reason for the shutdown of Garki Market in the FCT.
The Leadership reported that the market was shut down yesterday according to a court ruling.
The director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, Engr. Osilamah Braimah said over 5000 traders were unable to enter their stores as a result.
According to Braimah, “Environmental health officers from the board spotted the market’s dirty surroundings, littered with trash, and bleeding sewer pipes while doing standard monitoring tasks there 10 days ago. We presented them with an abatement notice in accordance with our regular procedure, providing them with the time allotted by law to clean up.
“They disregarded the warning and refused to clean up; instead, the garbage pile got bigger. Fruits and vegetables being sold close to broken sewer lines and piles of trash is truly a dreadful sight to behold. We only requested the order to close the market in court. We implemented that this morning.
According to Braimah, an epidemic was just waiting to happen. “Placing the financial interests of traders above the greater public health of the general populace is indeed an expensive mistake that we cannot afford to make.”
The director said that when managers of the market undertake to clean up, they would be allowed to resume trading.
Braimah also noted that although the board was not satisfied with the closing, it would be abdicating its duty if it permitted the market to continue operating in its current miserable state.
Environmental health officers from the board spotted the market’s dirty surroundings, cluttered with trash, and bleeding sewer pipes while doing routine monitoring tasks there ten days prior, according to Braimah.
Speaking in his office, Braimah said that although the board was not satisfied with closing, it would be abdicating its duty if it permitted the market to continue operating in its current terrible state.
