Following the fire explosion at the Kubwa Village market six days ago, the Federal Capital Administration (FCTA) has demolished about 100 shops in the vicinity.

The authorities say the structures are illegal and there was a need to correct the contraventions which pose an environmental hazard to the market.

Ikharo Attah, the chairman of the FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation, led the exercise, on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Attah said both the FCT Minister, Muhammad Bello, and Minister of State, Ramatu Aliyu, were not happy with the continued contraventions in the market and have directed the taskforce to rid the area of illegal shops to prevent further life and safety-threatening incidents.

According to him, the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, has reiterated commitment to providing security backup for every operation targeted at tackling illegalities and criminalities within the nation’s capital.

Mr Attah expressed dismay over continued violation of FCT developmental blueprint by residents and traders which often led to deaths of innocent people.

The taskforce chairman said that illegal shops were built directly under electricity high tension installations, while many were used to block access roads, making it difficult for rescue operations, in an event of emergency.

“Occupiers of these illegal shops have been put on notice for a very long time now, as many of their kiosks and illegal extension structures were removed.

“We have always been on this road axis for the past three years, trying to clean it up and we have always had intense problems. We have cleared the road to the market which was blocked for about six years.

“But in the aftermath of the fire incident wherein about 10 persons lost their lives, we had no option than to do what we believe is the right thing.

“Even the very shop where the explosion happened, we had removed that tank. We will remove all the illegal shops because the community has been blocked,” he said. 

(NAN)