Traders and shop owners at the Wuse Market in Abuja are expressing outrage over the controversial sale of prime shops and stalls in the market.
This follows an eviction notice issued to occupants of the stores by the Abuja Investment and Property Development Company (AIPDC).
The affected traders have now submitted a petition to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, urging urgent intervention to halt the sale.
According to the traders, the prices for the shops were arbitrarily increased to N60 million per shop, an amount they claim is unaffordable.
Investigations by the Global Information Team (GIT) intelligence desk revealed that the move was initiated by the immediate past Group Managing Director of AIPDC without involving the Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML).
Typically, the AMML is the sole subsidiary tasked with the management of markets in the FCT.
Anabel Crown, head of the GIT intelligence desk, highlighted that the actions of the AIPDC leadership almost tarnished the reputation of the AMML.
She implored Minister Wike, who recently resolved a crisis in the AMML, to take control of the matter and empower the AMML to manage the Wuse Market going forward.
The traders stated that the eviction notice and sale came as a sudden ambush when the market was experiencing relative stability.
They fear that once the new owners take over, they might drastically increase the shop rates.
The traders have forwarded their petitions to the FCT Minister, FCT administration, National Human Rights Commission, and the EFCC. They remain hopeful that the authorities will intervene and ensure fairness prevails.