The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) led by Nyesom Wike has demolished the popular Kilishi market in Area 1, Abuja, on Monday, leaving many traders disheveled.
According to the New Telegraph, Kilishi is a dried beef product comparable to jerky created in Nigeria from cow, sheep, or goat meat.
The demolition occurred as a result of a notification issued by Muktar Galadima, FCTA Director of Development Control, on Sunday during a meeting with traders and shop owners at the Area 1 shopping complex.
Before the demolition, the conference was held to achieve an agreement with the local merchants and store owners.
Attachment businesses, other illegal constructions, and parking lots, according to Galadima, have rendered the roads surrounding the complex inaccessible.
Aminu Maradun, a Kilishi shopkeeper in the Area 1 shopping centre, told the whistler that the officials simply advised the traders that they needed to clean up the area rather than demolish it. When he came on Monday morning, he was surprised to see that the market was being demolished.
“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.