By Abdullahi Muhammad, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) said it has introduced farm produce display market for rural farmers in the territory.
The Minister of state for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Aliyu disclosed this during the celebration of UN International Rural Women’s Day organised by Global Women Development Network (GWDN) Nigeria, on Saturday in Abuja.
She said the market which would be quarterly, is initiated to encourage rural women farmers across the six Area Councils, to bring their best farm produce to an open place where all and sundry will be encouraged to come and buy off from them.
Aliyu explained that the idea will also help the women have value for their money than farming and allowing the produce to get rotten without supply.
“With the seriousness I have seen in the rural women farmers in the FCT, we will start quarterly farm produce display market, where all and sundry will be encouraged to buy off from the farmers. This will make them have value for money. Where is the essence of farming , when the produce get rotten without supply?
“Rural Women deserve all commendations because of their unending efforts to farm; they are gradually taking the centre stage.
“We are also going to look at ways that they can be transporting the food items easily to the market.This is also part of the FCT Administration’s commitment to empowering women to succeed in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda for women”
The Minister also promised to ensure that the women are given the opportunity to have access to fertilizer at subsidize rates, and others who are interested in farming.
Aliyu, however directed the Director, FCT Reform Coordination and Service Improvement, Dr Jummai Ahmadu to work with the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat for smooth take-off of the market.
Speaking, the head, Global Women Development Network (GWDN) Nigeria, Dr Jummai Ahmadu said the rural women especially farmers deserve support to excel in their farming.
She explained that the group under her watch will continue to provide the enabling environment for the women to gain more from farming.
The women who celebrated the UN International Women’s Day, came in their cluster farm groups from all the six Area Councils with different food items for sale at the venue, FCT Sports Complex, Area 10.
Deidei market: FCTA enforces 6pm closing time
……committed to ensure free flow of traffic
Abuja
In order to address continuef traffic gridlock and insecurity in Dutse-Alhaji axis in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, said it has concluded arrangements to start the enforcement of Deidei market 6pm closing time.
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Mr Ikharo Attah, stated this at a consultative and strategy meeting at the weekend with heads of Security agencies and paramilitary organisations, especially those in charge Dutse-Alhaji axis in his office in Abuja.
He lamented the continued floutingo of traffic regulations by motorists in the area especially during the peak period which he identified as the major cause of gridlock in the area and therefore said the administration is committed in ensuring free flow of traffic in the area.
Accordingly to the SSA, “FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, traffic management team met as par of Dutse-Alhaji axis, the FCT Minister asked us to clear traffic in Nyanya and Dutse-Alhaji. Why we are meeting is because we have already seen retrogression on the job we did in September, we collaborated with other security agencies like Road Safety, VIO, Police, AEPB, all of us are working in that axis to address environmental, traffic issues .
“We want to ensure we have free traffic in that axis and ensure everything is working well in that axis. Already the Mandate Secretary on Transportation, Adamu Candido, is already doing so much on the issue of restrictions on okada and others”.
“We will also look at the Dutse market, where people don’t have closing time, when they close, people just come to the main road and clog the road.
“We also look at Sokale roundabout in Dutse and some of the challenges there are there will be engineering solution”
He stressed that the administration”we will clean the Dutse market and remove all the illegalities there and ensure they have closing time. The market doesn’t have closing time; it affects traffic, security and other things. People close their shop as late as 10pm in the night or it is when the people get tired they leave the market and it is not good for the city at all.
“Once the market closes by 6pm, everyone go home, everyone will know they are done for the day”.
He said it will not be acceptable anymore for people to finish in the shop and come and spread their goods on the road and causing traffic.
“The Minister will not accept it and it has to stop”, he said.
He noted that the Minister is committed in ensuring free flow of traffic in Dutse-Alhaji and also restore sanity in the market.
The SSA who also lamented about those people driving against traffic during peak period, which he said has to stop immediately. He said that it is very sad that most of the time you see people driving against traffic are uniform personnel and henceforth will not be acceptable.
The Assistant Director of Enforcement, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, AEPB) Kaka Bello, while contributing at the meeting, he lamented the full return of scavangers in the market and said there is need to remove them.
He said it is imperative to ensure that the market closes by 6pm and as people are coming out nobody should be allowed to go in again.
He said if they remove the illegal shops in that market some people will run and go to another market.
He said for the enforcement to be effective and strong every relevant agencies must work in synergy at all times to ensure that the marketers do not block the road again.
Secretary of FCTA Command and Control Unit, Peter Olumuji, said there is urgent need for the government to work on the potholes in order to ensure free flow of traffic. And he added that there is need to restore speed breakers in Dutse-Alhaji.