You cannot sell rams in undesignated spots – FCTA warns traders

As the Sallah fast approaches, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has issued a stern warning to traders selling rams indiscriminately.

The FCTA said there are designated locations where they can ply their trade in the Federal Capital Territory.

While inspecting the designated places on Thursday in Abuja, Comrade Ikharo Attah, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring, Inspection, and Enforcement, issued the warning.

According to Attah, it would amount to breaching the directives of the administration if people go about selling rams all around the city.

He threatened that anyone found selling rams in prohibited places will have them seized and face legal action.

Attah also noted that when such happens, the administration will go before the judge and ask for a forfeiture order, when that is granted, the ram will be taken to orphanages, less privileged homes, and prison.

According to him: “The position of the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has remained the same in the last three years and even tougher this year.

“The minister said there is nothing wrong in bringing rams for sales in Abuja during this globally recognised festivity.

“But what the minister found inappropriate is and kept telling each and every one of us is that we should not allow selling of rams in none designated areas, particularly in the city centre.

“Except at spots that are already earmarked for such purposes like the abattoirs, ram market at Dei-Dei, Kugbo ram market, and some other few ram markets.

“But outside the designated areas, it will not be allowed by the authorities.”

Attah hinted that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), headed by Mr. Osi Braimah, had set up a committee that has been up and doing.

He explained that the committee had been reinvigorated to check the sales of rams and warned persons not to sell rams in areas not designated.

He, however, advised ram sellers to contact AEPB for proper guidance on how to go about selling their rams without violating the law.

Recall that in the past, once the Sallah season beckons, ram sellers are seen in strategic locations in and around the city centres doing brisk business.