AMMC clears roadside traders along Airport road corridors

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has commenced clearing of make-shift structures used by petty traders to sell fruits, grains and tubers along Airport Road, Abuja. AMMC officials led a joint security personnel team to dismantle the structures, while  overgrown vegetation in the area was also trimmed. Our correspondent learnt that the areas cleared were […]

The Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) has commenced clearing of make-shift structures used by petty traders to sell fruits, grains and tubers along Airport Road, Abuja.

AMMC officials led a joint security personnel team to dismantle the structures, while  overgrown vegetation in the area was also trimmed.

Our correspondent learnt that the areas cleared were from Sabo Iddo down to Giri junction.

One of the traders, Rakiya Suleiman, who sold beans and other foodstuff, said they were not told to leave the place, but only to shift their shelters away from the road corridor.

She added that although they were not given adequate notice before the exercise, the AMMC officials allowed them to remove their wares and other belongings from the area.

Speaking with newsmen while monitoring the exercise, AMMC Coordinator Umar Shuaibu said the exercise was sequel to the FCT minister’s directive  on ensuring that the council sanitised  the Airport Road.

Shuaibu explained that trading activities were allowed 30 metres from the shoulder of the road, which was what the council wanted to enforce.

He reiterated that the exercise was a continuous one and that the officials would patrol the road to ensure that the gains of the cleanup exercise were sustained.

“This is a high speed vehicular road. In order to prevent mishaps, people must be seen off the road.

“We don’t prevent people from getting their daily bread, but let them do so in an organized manner. Nobody will be allowed to display whatever they want  close to the road. There must be a buffer of at least 30 metres from the shoulder of the road.

“We are going to sanitise the median and shoulders of the road by ensuring also that overgrown vegetation is trimmed, including removing all illegal structures defacing the area,” the AMMC coordinator said.