The Abuja Association of Scrap Dealers is appealing for a new location, one week after the demolition of the Apo-Dutse pantaker market.
The Chairman of the association, Sagiru Garba made the appeal on Wednesday when he led other officials on a courtesy visit to the FCT Ministerial Taskforce on City Sanitation at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) secretariat.
He pleaded with the FCT minister, Muhammad Bello to aid the scrap dealers in getting a genuine market where they can operate within the supervision of the law and contribute to the economic development of Abuja.
Mr. Garba also pledged the association's commitment to cooperating with the administration to check scavengers popularly known as 'babanbolas', who were the reason for the demolition of the largest scrap market in the territory.
He explained that the 'babanbolas', suspected of stealing manholes and vandalising public utilities within the territory, are not scrap dealers.
"Despite the loss we experienced during the demolition, we still remain law-abiding citizens of the country and submissive to the authority of the FCT.
"We have no business with scavengers (baban-bola), neither are we part of them.
“We are legitimate owners of scrap trading businesses, dealers in old cars and spare parts," he said.
In his response, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah appreciated the association for its understanding during and after the sanitation of the market.
He also assured them that the administration will consider their appeal for an alternative location and advised the scrap dealers not to accommodate scavengers and refuse collectors if their request is granted.
"I thank you all for the support that you have shown to us before, during, and after the demolition exercise, this is the first time that the victims will be coming to thank us for demolishing their property.
"The request you people have presented about a genuine scrap market will be taken to the minister.
“You people have requested for a permanent site for your business, It is a general belief that anywhere scraps dealers are you will see banbabola, so anywhere you are doing business don't allow them to come close.
“You are dealing in scrap and second-hand items, don't ever allow refuse collectors to come near you, they wreak havoc on the city, and the city is coming after them," he said.
The Apo-Dutse pantaker market was demolished last week Thursday with over 1,800 shanties removed following a series of quit notices spanning over four months.
