"If we allow them to operate, it is a recipe for epidemic outbreak": AEPB shuts Garki International Market

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEP sealed up the Garki International Market in Abuja on Friday. The board said they acted in response to the accumulated refuse dumps that could cause an epidemic outbreak.


The Director of the AEPB, Mr Osi Braimah, recounted that the board had issued a warning to the business owners against the poor environmental hygiene practices. According to him, "solid wastes, cabbages all over the place, bleeding sewage lines and heaps of refuse dumps were all over the market."

"We served them an abatement notice. Unfortunately, nothing was done. So, we simply went to the court for an order to seal up the market, so that everything can stop, until it is cleaned up.

“We derive no joy in shutting down the market but we will be failing in our responsibilities if we allow them to continue," he said.