Makata, the former Chairman showing the burnt area of the market to the media
By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
Chief Silvanus Makata, the former Chairman, Karmo Market Traders Association, has appealed to Barr Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom to come to the rescue of traders whose shops were gutted by fire on Sunday.
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In an interview, on Tuesday, Makata stated that the market has been plagued by recurrent fires, with the latest incident destroying several shops.
He expressed frustration and desperation, saying that traders have been suffering since the market was demolished in 2006.
“This is not the first time fire has ravaged this market. It has happened several times, and we have lost countless shops and goods. We are appealing to the Minister to please help us rebuild our market,” Makata pleaded.
Makata recalled that the market was demolished by the FCT Administration in 2006, and despite a court judgment ordering the government to compensate traders and rebuild the market, nothing has been done.
“We have been going from one government to another, but nobody has helped us. We are tired of suffering. We are appealing to Barrister Nyesom Wike to please come to our rescue,” he begged.
Makata expressed suspicion that the frequent fires might be a deliberate attempt to destroy the market, but he did not accuse anyone specifically.
He urged the Minister to investigate the matter and bring perpetrators to justice.
The traders are seeking the Minister’s intervention to rebuild the market and provide them with a safe and secure environment to conduct their businesses.
Makata emphasized that the market is the only one in the FCT with its current structure, and that it has been able to survive due to a court order.
“We are tired of these frequent fires. We need the Minister to help us. We know he is capable of doing it. He is Mr. Project, and we are appealing to him as our brother,” Makata said.
Makata also recalled that in 2008, the Senate Committee on FCT had investigated the demolition of the market and recommended that traders be compensated and relocated. However, the recommendation was never implemented.
The traders are now pinning their hopes on Minister Wike to rescue them from their predicament.
As the embers of the latest fire incident continue to smolder, the plight of Karmo Market traders remains a pressing concern. For Mrs. Ayinde Felicia, the destruction of her three shops and entire stock of tissues, soaps, and serviettes has dealt a devastating blow. “I am an old woman, and I can’t be strong enough to start over,” she lamented, her voice shaking with despair.
Her plea underscores the human cost of the recurrent fires that have ravaged the market. As traders struggle to rebuild their lives, the need for government intervention has become increasingly urgent. The call to action is clear: it’s time for authorities to step in and provide relief to these vulnerable traders, many of whom are elderly and struggling to make ends meet.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Barrister Nyesom Wike, has been urged to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves, and bring much-needed succor to the affected traders. As one trader put it, “We are tired of suffering. We need help now.”
