The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has warned ram sellers trying to take advantage of the Eid al-Adha season to make brisk business against occupying areas not designated for livestock sale.
The Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, issued the warning last week while inspecting designated livestock selling points in the territory.
Attah further warned that anyone caught selling rams in unapproved areas would be taken to court and risk having their properties confiscated.
He advised ram sellers to contact the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for proper guidance on how to go about their business without violating the law.
"The position of the FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello has remained the same in the last three years,and even tougher this year.
"The minister said there is nothing wrong in bringing rams for sales in Abuja during this globally widely recognised festivity.
"But what the minister found inappropriate, is and kept telling each and every one of us, is that we should not allow selling of rams in non-designated areas, particularly in the city centre.
" Except at spots that are already earmarked for such purposes like the abattoirs, the ram market at Dei-Dei, Kugbo Ram Market, and some other few ram markets.
"But outside the designated areas it will not be allowed by the authorities," Mr. Attah said.
He disclosed that the AEPB, headed by Osi Braimah, had set up a committee to check the sale of rams and warned persons not to sell rams in non-designated places.