Abuja- 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.
Mr Innocent Amaechina, the Head Corporate Affairs of the agency, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday.
Amaechina said that the installation of the central generating system would also provide a customer friendly shopping environment 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.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who visited some of these markets observed that individual generators were still being used, resulting in noise pollution and the emission of dangerous fumes.
Mrs Rose Zamni the Market Accountant (AMML) at the UTC Shopping Complex, Area 7, told NAN 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.
“Since we, the occupants, changed our leadership, things have improved in the complex, the generator now runs for six to seven hours daily unlike in the past went it ran for two to three hours.
“However, we pay a fixed sum of a minimum of N14,000 to N40,000 monthly , depending on your type of business for the generator and electricity bill whether or not we use any of these services.’’
Another marketer in the comple , John Igwe, said that one of the challenges they faced with the central generator was the time spent going to buy diesel , adding that it delayed productivity.
“Yes I know it is our people, the marketers who operate the central generator; but why wait for the diesel to finish before going to buy; these are some of the issues we have to address among ourselves.
“Also, the market management does not service the generator as at when due; is it until the generator goes bad before you service it?’’
At the Wuse Market which has a central generator only for the cold room (Section C), a seller, Chinedu Okafor, said he had no choice but to get his own generator for the comfort of his customers.
“When people come to buy clothes from me, they need light to see what they are buying and to put them on.
“If my generator is not running at that time, that is bad for my business because the customer will be uncomfortable and may not want to even enter my shop.’’
When asked if he knew the health implications of running his generator which emitted dangerous fumes, his replied:‘’What can I do; I have to run my business and make my customers comfortable.’’
Another seller said if the market had a properly managed central generator, it would be better for their businesses because it would save the traders the cost of buying fuel. (NAN)
