Timber dealers seek govt intervention over poor road

Traders in the timber and building materials sector in Lugbe, Abuja, have called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to improve infrastructure at their proposed relocation site. The traders, based near the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) Lugbe, or the Fruit Market, along Airport Road, claim that the poor road conditions in their planned location have hindered their ability to transport goods and attract customers, putting their businesses at risk.

Repeated demolitions at their present location have destroyed millions of naira worth of investments over the years.

The CityGate Timber Dwellers Association, led by Mmodebelu Onyebuchi Victor, has been advocating for the traders' cause. He explains that the traders have been moving around since 2016, seeking a permanent location, but their repeated demolitions have made it difficult for them to establish a stable business environment. Victor emphasizes that the current site, while organized, lacks basic amenities and proper access roads, making it challenging for traders to attract customers and for them to continue their operations.

Prince Francis Emmanuel, another trader, urges the authorities to consult the traders before relocating them and highlights the difficulties in transporting goods to the proposed site due to its poor road conditions. He notes that many traders and their customers already reside in Lugbe and neighboring communities, making the current market more convenient for business. Emmanuel also urges the government to provide better access roads and an environment that attracts customers if the traders are to relocate.

Joy, a trader, criticizes the proposed relocation site, stating that it is bushy and has no good access road, making it difficult for customers to find businesses. She shares her concerns over losses from previous demolition exercises and urges the government to either improve the access road or provide an alternative arrangement that allows the traders to remain in their current location without obstructing planned infrastructure development.

The general chairman of the Lugbe Building Materials Association, Chukwuemeka Ezeagba, also stresses the importance of good road access, noting that the AMAC is responsible for addressing the traders' concerns. He clarifies that the decision to relocate the traders would depend on concerns over congestion, obstruction, or potential accidents, and that the AMAC would assess the site and provide necessary infrastructure if requested.