As part of efforts to eliminate
noise pollution and other health hazards emanating from generators, the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) says it is set to provide central generators in markets in the FCT.
The Head Corporate Affairs of the agency, Mr Innocent Amaechina, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
Amaechina said that the installation of the central generating system would also provide a customer friendly shopping environment ý for FCT residents.
“As a leading facility management company in Abuja, the AMML has been at the driving seat in the effort at eliminating sound pollution and other health hazards that arise from the use of these generators, with a view to ushering in a better customer-friendly shopping environment. ‘’
He, however, said that some markets and complexes run by the AMML ,had a central generator but that had not stopped the proliferation of individual generators in all the markets.
“ I am aware that we have central generating sets in Nyanya Neighbourhood Centre, Maitama Farmers Market, Area 7 (UTC) Shopping Complex, in Kado Fish Market and in cold room (Section C) Wuse Market.
“ But has this stopped the proliferation of individual generators in all the markets? No!’’
Amaechina, however, gave an assurance that all AMM- managed facilities would soon have a central generating set, starting with the Wuse Market.
According to him, we are about concluding discussion with stakeholders and other partners to install a central generator in all other sections in Wuse Market.
“When that is achieved, which will not be long, it is expected that the use of individual generators will be phased out and from Wuse Market.
“The campaign will be taken to the rest of AMML-managed shopping facilities; that may not have a central generator at the moment.’’
It was observed that individual generators were still being used, resulting in noise pollution and the emission of dangerous fumes in the market.
Mrs Rose Zamni, the Market Accountant (AMML) at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 7, told reporters that the central generator in the complex was run and operated by the traders themselves.
Zamni said that the AMML responsibility was to service the generator.
A manager of one of the printing outfits in UTC, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that his office still had its own private generator in spite of the central generator provided in the complex.
He said although it was not permitted, it became necessary for him to install a generator because the number of hours the generator operational was inadequate for him to meet his deadline.
He, however, said that recently the central generator had been left to run for six to seven hours daily, which was a great improvement.