The Area 10 UTC Shopping Complex in the Abuja metropolis has re-open for business Abuja Markets Management Ltd has said.

Mr Innocent Amaechina, the Corporate Affairs Manager, Abuja Markets Management Ltd. (AMML), made this known in an interactive session with newsmen in Abuja.

The Tide source recalls that the complex was shut on Oct. 31, following series of notices from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).

The board had accused the traders of poor sanitation and accumulation of industrial waste at the complex.

The manager said AEPB in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Department of Development Control carried out sanitation exercise at the whole complex.

“The environmental agencies are comfortable with the progress of work so far done in the market in terms of sanitation and has re-open the UTC Shopping Complex for business, ’’ he said.

Amaechina took newsmen round the shopping complex to see the level of sanitation work carried out during the period of the closure of the market.

He said the cleaning involved the removal of junks and obsolete machines, dismantling of irregular and unauthorised electrical wiring, evacuation of heaps of refuse, opening of drains and fumigation of the complex.

Amaechina said some areas that were cleaned earlier had been opened for business but the whole complex have been fully re-opened for business.

“Just about a week ago, the agencies were satisfied with the cleaning that was done at the UTC block that was why the place was open for business, ” Amaechina said.

He argued that though the level of sanitation that was achieved was satisfactory, maintenance and sustainability would be a challenge.

Amaechina charged the environmental agencies to work as a team for the sustenance of the sanity achieved in the recent clean up of the place.

In order to achieve a healthy environment, Amaechina said mobile courts would be established by the AEPB, while AMML would ensure that traders pay their service charges to maintain a healthy environment.

“AEPB mobile courts will be there to try offenders and those who aid and abate indiscriminate dumping of refuse; such people will be docked before the court.

“Abuja Markets Management on its own will beef its monitoring and security efforts and also ensure that service charges are paid by the traders and promptly too,” he said.

Amaechina advised the traders to pay their bills promptly to ensure a hitch free and undisturbed business activities.