FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello has approved the extension of business hours for Markets in Abuja to operate from 8a.m. to 3p.m on Wednesdays and Saturdays against the earlier approved time of 10a.m. to 2p.m.
The minister directed the decongestion of the existing markets through the establishment of Neighbourhood Selling Points in the various Districts within the Federal Capital City by Abuja Markets Management Ltd.
Bello while explaining that the concept of Neighbourhood Selling Points was aimed at taking pressure off the existing markets in the FCT through the provision of an initial 40 units -adopting either public schools or green areas where they exist- across the various districts in the city urged FCT residents to support the intent of the lockdown by patronising markets in their neighbourhoods.
He also encouraged Abuja Markets Management L.t.d to liaise with the FCT Area Councils to ensure full implementation of all COVID-19 Pandemic protocols with regards to the markets across all the nooks and crannies of Abuja as law enforcement Agencies will be out to clamp down on residents who hide under the window of market days to flout Government directives.
With the directive set to take effect from Saturday, April 25, the FCT minister prompted markets managers to continue to sensitise market users on other hand and respiratory hygiene and insist they use their face masks while observing social distancing.
