“The Government is giving the traders at the Abuja market seven days ultimatum, with effect from Monday, 1st, September, 2014, to evecuate from the shops, if the fail to do so, then the government has no option, but to mobilise to bringdawn the structures and whatever content is in it.

The General Manager further stated that, the shops government intend to demolish belongs to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), saying they are not owned by any individual.

The Plateau State Government has given traders at the popular Abuja market in the Central business area of Jos the State Capital seven days ultimatum to evacuate their goods from the market or it would be demolished together with the shops.

The General Manager of Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), retired Brigadier General, Musa Gambo, gave the directive on Friday in Jos, while briefing journalists on the State Government’s order that the shops at the Abuja market be demolished.

“Some shops were locked up by Government because of security reasons and the effect of the May, 20th, 2014, bomb blast has gone a long way to affect the structures and some of the structures in question are at the Abuja market, they are now defective and are not habitable for human beings to occupy.

He maintained that, if traders continue to occupy the shops, there is the tendency for them to collapse, which will lead to the destruction of lives and property.

“The Government is giving the traders at the Abuja market seven days ultimatum, with effect from Monday, 1st, September, 2014, to evecuate from the shops, if the fail to do so, then the government has no option, but to mobilise to bringdawn the structures and whatever content is in it.

The General Manager further stated that, the shops government intend to demolish belongs to the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), saying they are not owned by any individual.

“And because we intend to demolish the structures, JMDB decided not to collected any rent from the traders. As I speak to you, the traders at the Abuja market have not paid any rent for this year and I have challenge them to come with an evidence of payment if anybody claims to have paid. I’m yet to see anybody.

“Even though some of the property were under leasing agreement, but the agreement expired since last year.

Gambo stressed that, the government was working on demolishing the shops at the Abuja market, because the were poorly built, but with the bomb blast that rocked the central business district it has even compounded the problem, hence the urgent need to demolish it.

“I have met with the traders and have given them reasons why the shops would be demolished, that is why we have given them enough time to evecuate their goods before this ultimatum.

On the other alternative markets the traders can move to, the JMDB boss said, “40% of the shops at new market which is also in the central business district are vacant, there also shops at Rikkos market, which is also owned by JMDB, there are also vacant shops at Katako market, which is more than 30% vacant and also vacant shops at kabong market. These are alternatives these traders can move to”.

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PLSG Orders Demolition of Popular Abuja Market in Jos, Gives Traders 7 Days Ultimatum