Reactions To Wike’s Ban On Corn Selling In Abuja

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has come under criticism for banning all forms of street trading in the federal capital.

Wike had announced the ban during a meeting with the management staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and Federal Capital Development Authority on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister was quoted to have said that street traders, including those selling corn, contribute to crime and instability in the city.

“Street trading is prohibited. People selling corn will drop their waste indiscriminately and these are the things that cause insecurity. Criminals come to buy and use the opportunity to spy and give information to criminals. It is imperative we clear street hawkers.

“Development control is a serious crisis area we have to stop. Why are there illegal structures and shanties everywhere? We will demolish any illegal structure. No matter how highly placed, the structure will come down,” he said.

Reacting, some Nigerians took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to criticise the minister for making such pronouncement at a time citizens were grappling with the economic hardship occasioned by the federal government’s recent remove of fuel subsidy.