The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) mobile court has ordered the reopening of Wuse, UTC markets and Murg Shopping Plaza which was shut down on Monday in Abuja for violating COVID-19 safety protocol.
We heard reports that the court had slammed the fine of N50, 000 each on the three facilities, for over flagrant disregard to COVID-19 Health Protection Regulations Act 2021, which must be paid before the reopening.
However, Mr Ikharo Attah, Head, Media and Enlightenment of FCT Ministerial Taskforce on Enforcement COVID-19 Protocols, who confirmed the court order, said the facilities were unsealed following the court order on Wednesday.
Attah warned that any further violation would lead to complete shutdown of the markets.
”Almost two day after the closure of the Wuse, UTC markets and Murg Shopping Plaza, the presiding judge, Magistrate Idayat Akani, having observed what was reported back by the team that inspected the two affected markets.
” And also the undertaken written by the leadership of the three business centres assuring that they will comply with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 guidelines on COVID-19, the judge in her wisdom ordered the unsealed of the markets and fine each of them N50,0000 which they hurriedly paid.” NAN quoted him as saying.
He further explained that from what the taskforce saw during inspections of the affected markets, they were largely prepared to comply with COVID-19 protocols.
“If the markets fail to abide by the COVID-19 protocols again, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello and the Commissioner of Police directed that the business facilities should be completely shutdown,” he added.
