Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the lack of parking spaces in public markets across Abuja.
A visit to Wuse Modern Market, one of the most congested markets in the territory, showed heavy vehicular traffic at the entrance as motorists trooped in for business.
Before gaining entrance, motorists were required to pay for tickets. A ticket attendant told the Nigerian Tribune that the fee is N300 for cash payments and N400 for Point of Sale (POS) transactions.
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Inside the market, motorists engaged in shouting matches with one another and with private security officers controlling traffic in the market and in the car park.
A trader who identified himself only as Ugochukwu said traders occupy most of the parking spaces before 9 am daily.
“Before 8:30 to 9 am, we the traders alone fill up almost all the spaces in the parking lot, talk less of customers, and we don’t leave here till evening.
“The management of the market can go down and create another parking space. There is space down there.” He said.
A security officer, who declined to be named, said the situation was a daily challenge.
“This is what we go through on a daily basis in this market. This place cannot contain the number of cars that come into this market. We need another car park in this market,” he said.
A motorist who had finished shopping, who asked not to be named, said he was delayed because another vehicle blocked his car.
“I’m calling on the FCT Administration to do something about this car park issue in this market. To think that we pay N300 to get inside. What is government doing with the money that they make here almost every minute during hours of the day?” He stressed.
Efforts to get comments from the management of Wuse Modern Market were unsuccessful as staff declined to speak with the media.
Outside the market, a shopper who parked on the road corridor pavement said he avoided the hassle inside.
He said: “I don’t want to waste time looking for a place to park after paying money. On the other hand, if you are unlucky and park on the pavement, law enforcement officers will remove your number plate or tow your vehicle to their offices.”
At Garki Model Market, traders said parts of what should be parking space have been converted to a construction site for shops. They said the inadequate parking often drives customers to other markets.
Salisu Sokoto, a trader, said: “Most of our customers are civil servants. When they come they don’t want to waste time, but because of inadequate parking space here, it wastes their time and they sometimes go to another market. We are calling on Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), to look into the matter.”
In Nyanya Market, owned by Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), residents also lamented inadequate parking.
Dede Agana said the little space available was not enough, especially on Wednesdays, the main market day.
“People come from neighboring states to sell or buy here. They take over that little space. In fact, they converge here, blocking the roads and causing traffic gridlock.
“When most of the markets in Abuja were opened, they didn’t know that the population of the territory would expand to this level. Let AMAC and FCTA open more markets for us. Experiences like the one in Nyanya Market are so tiring,” she said.
At Karu Market, also owned by AMAC, residents said they face the same problem.
Ushator Adamu, a resident, said: “You can see for yourself, the crowd at the gate and on the road is because there is inadequate parking space inside the market, so people park and shop on the road. We need more well-planned markets in Abuja.”
Efforts to get a response from AMAC were unsuccessful.
However, the Director of Operations of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML), Innocent Amaechina, said the FCTA was aware of the problem and was taking steps to address it.
“We are not unaware of the situation, and as you can see in Wuse Market, for example, there is a multi-layer car park under construction. There are a lot more in other markets,” he said.