Traders Groan As Wike Demolishes Popular Market In Abuja

Traders in the popular Kilishi market in Area 1, Abuja have lamented over the demolition ordered by the Nyesom Wike-led Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) on Monday, September 18.

Kilishi is a dried beef similar to jerky made from cow, sheep or goat meat in Nigeria.

The demolition occurred following a notice issued on Sunday by Muktar Galadima, the FCTA Director of Development Control, during a meeting with traders and owners of shops at the Area 1 shopping complex.

The meeting was to reach an understanding with the traders and owners of shops in the area before the demolition was carried out.

Galadima stated that attachment shops, other illegal constructions, and parking lots have made the roads around the complex impassable.

A kilishi trader at the Area 1 shopping centre, Aminu Maradun told the whistler that the officials only told the traders that they needed to clean up the area and not demolish it. He added that he was surprised to see that the market was being demolished when he arrived there on Monday morning.

“I am surprised, I don’t know what is happening. They are demolishing the Kilishi market. They only came here yesterday and told us to shift our things because they wanted to do some work there, but they didn’t tell us they wanted to demolish the market. Only for them to come very early to demolish the place.

“Honestly, we never knew it was going to be demolition. I was called by my people who told me what was happening, by the time I got here around 8:30 a.m. they had already gone far.”

“The whole thing has disorganized us, especially me,” he added.