Finally, FCTA Lifts Ban On Market Days

• Minister okays 7 days weekly operations

BY EDMOND ODOK, ABUJA – Following improved compliance with COVID-19 protocols, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has extended the operational days for markets within Nigeria’s capital city to all seven days of the week.

This new development is a sharp departure from the current restriction to three days weekly operations.

According to the Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, the directive takes effect from today (Saturday), July 30, 2020 and the time of operations would run from 7:00am to 6:00pm daily.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Anthony Ogunleye explained that the decision was part of the resolutions reached at a virtual meeting between the Minister and members of the FCT COVID-19 Response Team.

Others in attendance at the meeting chaired by the Minister were senior Management staff of FCTA; as well as members of the Coalition of FCT Market Chairmen and Secretaries led by its chairman Raphael Okorie.

Ogunleye further said in the statement 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 seven days of the week as against the three days weekly currently in effect.”

Before this present order lifting the restrictions, markets within the territory were only permitted to officially open thrice a week, on Mondays; Wednesdays and Saturdays with the time running from 8am to 3pm daily

However, non-adherence to some of these directives saw the FCTA clamping down on erring traders and residents with the mobile courts busy handling cases of gross violations of the COVID-19 regulations and protocols.