COVID-19: Abuja markets now free to operate daily ― Minister

TRACKING____Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has approved the extension of Abuja markets operational days from three each week to seven.

The minister gave the approval when he chaired a virtual meeting between members of the FCT COVID-19 Response Team, senior members of the Administration and members of the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries led by its Chairman Mr Raphael Okorie.

Chief Press Secretary, CPS, to the minister, Anthony Ogunleye in a statement confirmed that the meeting deliberated on the request by the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries for the operational days of FCT markets to be extended to all 7 days of the week as against the 3 days weekly that is currently in effect.

“Consequent upon this meeting, the following resolutions were reached: As part of measures to decongest the markets in the FCT and further check the spread of COVID-19, market operations have been extended from three days a week to all 7 days in the week from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm effective from Thursday, 30th July 2020.

“The Abuja Market Management Limited and various market associations will continue to carry out sensitization activities to enlighten market users on COVID-19 and the necessity of obeying all extant health and safety protocols.

“Access to the markets and operations within the markets will only be permitted with the wearing of facial coverings and adherence to all extant health and safety guidelines inclusive of handwashing and maintenance of physical distancing”, the statement added.

However, failure by the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries to fully implement these guidelines, the FCTA said it would be compelled to withdraw the extension.