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Tag: wuse market

  • AICL commissions fire truck, 1MW solar mini-grid for Wuse Market

    AICL commissions fire truck, 1MW solar mini-grid for Wuse Market

    In a decisive effort to address recurring fire outbreaks that have caused significant economic losses and emotional distress in Wuse Market, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Abuja Investments Company Limited (AICL), Amb. Maureen Tamuno has commissioned a new fire truck for the market.

    Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday, where she officially handed over the truck to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service, Amb. Tamuno said the intervention demonstrates AICL’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives, property, and businesses in one of Abuja’s busiest commercial hubs.

    She explained that the newly acquired fire truck represents a proactive investment in emergency preparedness designed to ensure faster response times and reduce the likelihood of devastating incidents that traders have experienced over the years.

    According to her, enhancing safety infrastructure is essential not only for protecting livelihoods but also for restoring traders’ confidence and strengthening the resilience of the market.

    Amb. Tamuno reaffirmed that AICL will continue to work closely with the FCT Administration, market leadership, and relevant stakeholders to implement long-term solutions that support economic stability and sustainable growth.

    Read Also: Nigeria, Egypt friendly in doubt as NFF shift camp to Morocco

    She lauded the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, for his consistent support toward improving critical infrastructure across the FCT, noting that his leadership has created an enabling environment for initiatives that promote safety, business continuity, and economic development.

    The event also featured the commissioning of the Wuse Market 1MW PV Solar Interconnected Minigrid, an initiative designed to provide reliable, clean, and affordable electricity to traders, and reduce dependency on generators.

    Director of the FCT Fire Service, Engr. Adebayo Amiola, praised AICL for the timely intervention. He described the fire truck as a crucial asset that will boost emergency response capacity within the market and surrounding communities.

    In separate goodwill messages, Chairman of the Wuse Market Traders Association, Raphael Okorie; MD/CEO of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), Engr. Chijioke Okwokenje; and MD/CEO of GVE Projects Limited, Ifeanyi Orajaka, expressed gratitude to AICL and the FCT Administration. They described the interventions as a major relief and a transformative step toward improving market safety and operational efficiency.

  • Normalcy returns to Wuse Market after hoodlums’ rampage

    Normalcy returns to Wuse Market after hoodlums’ rampage

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Wuse Market returned to its normal beehive status yesterday after witnessing yet another crisis following attack on the market management staff by louts  in the market.

     Trouble had started Monday morning when hoodlums swooped on market compliant officers, otherwise called Taskforce  who had resumed duty after their transfer from other markets by the Abuja Markets management Limited (AMML).

    Read Also: FIRS establishes anti-corruption unit to combat corruption

    At the end, three of the Market management Staff were left in critical condition while others suffered various injuries.

    The Market office was not also spared as the miscreants descended on it, damaging valuables on sight.

    The HOD (Operations) Abuja Markets Management, Innocent Amaechina, said the hoodlums attacked the staff of AMML who had just been redeployed to Wuse Market because the compliance officers effectively checkmate the louts in the market.

  • Normalcy returns to Wuse market after hoodlums’ rampage

    Normalcy returns to Wuse market after hoodlums’ rampage

    The Federal capital Territory (FCT) Wuse Market returned to its normal beehive status on Tuesday after witnessing yet another crisis following attack on the market management staff by touts operating within the market.

    Trouble started on Monday morning when hoodlums swooped on market compliant officers, otherwise called Taskforce who had just resumed duty after their transfer from other markets by the Abuja Markets management Limited (AMML), the body in charge of several markets in the FCT.

    At the end, three of the Market management Staff were left in critical condition while others suffered various degrees of injuries. 

    The market office was not also spared as the miscreants descended on it, damaging valuables on sight.

    Speaking to reporters on the development, the HOD(Operations) Abuja markets Management, Innocent Amaechina said that the hoodlums who have been operating as touts in the market attacked the staff of AMML who had just been redeployed to Wuse Market obviously because the compliance officers effectively checkmate the menacing activities of the touts in the market.

    On sighting the particular staff, the touts who by their actions knew of this transfer, swooped on the staff leaving three of them severely injured.

    Amaechina noted that no staff was sacked, contrary to a report that the hoodlums were protesting the return of a sacked staff.

    Read Also:Traders demand compensation, security as Wuse market re-opens

    He wondered how touts and hoodlums who had no stake in the market would be in a position to choose let alone protest who should or should not form part of the market management team.

    While thanking the FCT Police Commissioner, Benneth Igweh for his prompt intervention on restoring normalcy to the market, the Market Managers, assured the traders and other market users of their safety in the market, going forward.

    “We are glad to report that the FCT Police are on top of this and we are providing all necessary support alongside the Wuse Market Traders to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.

    “We are not unmindful of the trauma that our staff, the traders and other market users  have gone through, as well as  the overall  poor perception these occurrences can attract to the market and the FCT at large. 

    “We can assure all our stakeholders and the market users that we wont let this slide. For this reason we are putting far-reaching measures in place that will engender sustainable sanity in the market,” Amaechina stated. 

  • APC takes campaign to Wuse market

    Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari has taken the Next Level campaign to the market place in Abuja, beginning with Wuse market.

    Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the APC Women and Youth Campaign Council, Brig. General Mohammed Buba Marwa said they were delighted with the trust and love shown by them for the President and appeal to them to go back to their communities to encourage them to vote for Buhari.

    He said Buhari was a candidate that is easy to sell because of his qualities and achievement in office, pointing out that those who collected the trader moni has demonstrated that it was for political reasons.

    Former Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba said President Buhari was interested in rebuilding the country and therefore need the support of all Nigerians to complete the work he has started, appealing to the traders to give Buhari their votes.

    Another speaker, Prince Odinaka said this was the first time in the history of Nigeria that women and youths are given the opportunity to decide on who will lead Nigeria, adding that Nigerians should not allow those who loot the treasury to return to power.

    Leader of the Wuse Market Association, Mrs Oluwatoyin Badmus, said President Buhari is for the masses and not the elite, stressing that they were endorsing him for caring about them.

    She said most of the people gathered are beneficiaries of the trader moni and not propaganda, adding that while being given the money, they were never asked for their PVC as against the propaganda being peddled by the opposition.

  • Why I attempted to steal my sister’s car – ex convict

    A suspect nabbed by the FCT Police Command, Chika Anozie said he went into stealing to treat himself of an undisclosed ailment.

    Anozie who is an ex-convict, was arrested while he was attempting to steal his sisters car parked at Wuse market in Abuja.

    Giving details of how his arrest was made, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bala Ciroma said: “When you park your car at Wuse market, Anozie is one of the syndicate that  specialises in vandalizing vehicles.

    Read Also:Ex-convict faces another break-in charge

    “On 14th August, 2018 at about 1345hrs, Police operatives from Wuse Division on routine patrol in Wuse market arrested Chika Anozie while trying to steal a Maroon Colour Nissan Almera car with reg. no. EF 60 KRD from where it was parked.

    “The car belongs to his sister and we recovered from him; one master key, car battery and stereo were recovered from the suspects the suspect who is an ex-convict.”

    On his part, Anozie said: “I am the one that usually takes care of the car for my sister. I did not steal a car, it is just battery of the car and stereo I stole.

    “It is hunger that led me to attempt to steal her car.

    “I told her that I was not feeling too well and instead of giving me money for treatment, she told me that she didn’t have money.

    “Instead of dying from the sickness, I spoke with a colleague of mine and we decided to steal the battery, stereo  and engine of her car where she parked it.

    “We succeeded in taking the battery and stereo where she parked it at Wuse market because I got a master key from a friend.”

    He added: “I have returned the battery to my sister and she has asked them (Police) to forgive me.

    “I am sorry, I will not do it again, I promise.”

    The CP said he would be arraigned in court upon conclusion of investigation.

  • NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    NFVCB seizes pirated films worth N200m

    The National Film and Video Censors Board ( NFVCB ) said it seized uncensored, unclassified and pirated films worth about N200 million and arrested 12 suspected pirates between March and December, 2017.

    Mr Adedayo Thomas, the Executive Director of NFVCB made the disclosure in an interview in Lagos on Wednesday.

    Thomas said that pirated items were confiscated at Alaba International Market, Lagos, Kubwa, Banex Plaza and Wuse Market in Abuja, as well as Benin City in Edo and Kaduna.

    He explained that the seized items include; DVD’s, CD’s, Production equipment and copies of several pirated films.

    “The board has scaled up its enforcement activities for the New Year and are intensifying efforts to make this evil business of pirates becomes unbearable for those that have seen it as a means of making quick money.

    “The board will ensure total sanity and get rid of pirates in the industry, while the right owners of works enjoy the fruit of their hard labour,” he said.

    According to him, the 12 suspects arrested in Lagos and Abuja would soon be charged to court for prosecution.

    Thomas said that such action would serve as deterrent to others thinking of going into such business and prevent such illegal products from selling in the market at the expense of genuine ones.

    The Executive Director added that the action was part of the board’s enforcement operations in sanitising the Nigerian market of illegal films.

    He explained that the board had lined up nationwide raid against uncensored, unclassified and pirated films to ensure that such products were completely removed from the movie market.

    The NFVCB boss noted that the motion picture industry was not all about entertainment, but a big business that must be encouraged and protected to grow and bring profit to its investors.

    Thomas said that the creative industry was acclaimed to have contributed 1.4 per cent to Nigeria’s GDP and can do more.

    He commended the Bank of Industry ( BoI ) and Tonye Princewill, the executive producer of film “79 for supporting the board to discharge its mandate effectively.

    Also Read: NFVCB confiscates pirated materials worth N150m at Alaba Market

    “Bank of industry (BoI) support the Censors Board with the sum of N500,000 and three powerful motorcycles, while Tonye Princewill gives the board N500,000 to repair its abandoned operational vehicle used for raiding of pirates on the street.

    “BoI and Tonye Prince will have been supporting any drive that would enhance the commercial viability of the films and creative industry.

    “Recently, BoI gives two powerful motorcycles to the board as part of machinery needed to carry out its work smoothly.

    “I am indeed grateful and happy towards their gesture, and I appeal to other stakeholders, individuals and philanthropists to support and partner with the board to be effective and efficient in discharging its mandate, ” he said.

    Thomas said that BoI was a major financier of the creative sector, having invested heavily in the development of infrastructure and movie production in the country.

    NAN

  • Wuse Market Mayhem: No life lost, says Police

    Wuse Market Mayhem: No life lost, says Police

    A commercial driver was allegedly shot by members of the FCT Joint Task Force Wednesday in Abuja.

    The situation, which resulted to a riot by drivers around the market caused panic and unrest.

    The FCT Police Command has however said no one was killed in the riot adding that no one was injured in the incident.

    The police in a statement by the Command Spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah also said normalcy has been restored to the area adding that hoodlums who were trying to take advantage of the situation have been arrested.

    The statement reads: “The FCT Police Command wishes to assure members of the Public that normalcy has been restored at Wuse and its environs following a misunderstanding that broke out between operatives of the Directorate of Road Transport Services (VIO) Taskforce and cab operators close to Wuse market.

    “While the Command reiterates its commitment to protect lives and property in the Federal Capital Territory, members of the public are advised to always follow the right channel in expressing their grievances instead of resorting to self-help and causing damage to property.”

    On the killing, Manzah explained: “Contrary to speculations making the rounds, members of the public should note that no life was lost nor was anybody injured from the fracas and the situation has been brought under control.

    “It is also pertinent to state that some hoodlums who were trying to take advantage of the false rumour to cause problem in FCT have been arrested and investigation is in progress.”

    The Command assured residents to go about their lawful businesses as adequate security measures has been deployed to protect lives and property in the territory.

  • Wuse market to get two 500KVA generators 

    As part of efforts to address the numerous challenges facing traders in Wuse market, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has assured traders that the administration will provide two 500KVA central working generating sets in Wuse market to address the epileptic power supply in the market.

    Specifically, the administration said the move is aimed at enhancing the shopping environments of the FCT markets and to contain air pollution in and around the market    This assurance was given by the Managing Director of Abuja Market Management Limited (AMML) Abubakar Faruk during a stakeholders meeting of Wuse traders and other relevant agencies in the city management of the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

    The Managing Director who was represented by the Head of Corporate Services, Ibrahim Uzaibat revealed that the stakeholders meeting was designed as a new and complimentary approach to municipal management with peculiar interest and attention on the retail markets within the FCT.

    He said, “Further to our mandate of ensuring that the FCT markets are safe, clean, aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly in line with the vision of the FCT Administration, we are currently retooling our market management strategy as they relate to enforcement and compliance within these markets.

    “It is our belief that this approach, when sustained, will add in no small measure to the attainment of government’s objectives for the FCT markets, thereby relegating enforcement and prosecution to a last alternative”.

    The M.D tasked the traders to tackle the menace of hawking, touting, fire hazards, proliferation of generators, general insecurity to attain a world class shopping environment for residents and visitors to the Federal Capital Territory.

    Confirming the development to our correspondent, the Ag. Coordinator of Abuja Metropolitan Management Council, AMMC, Hajia Safiya Umar said that the FCT Administration has given approval for the procurement of two 500KVA generators to be installed in Wuse market, stressing that Abuja Investment Company Limited, AICL has been directed to perfect the project.   The chairman of Wuse Traders Association, Mr. Okorie Raphael, commended the FCT Administration for the initiative, noting that the move will in no small measure enhanced trading activities in the market.

  • Photo: Accident scene in Abuja

    Photo: Accident scene in Abuja