FCT AND PANTAKER MARKETS

  OLUSOLA ODUMOSU argues the need to regulate the markets in the Federal Capital Territory

In recent years, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) had experienced a troubling rise in vandalism and theft targeting critical government infrastructure. Sequel to these issues, the Pantaker Markets have become infamous for facilitating the sales of stolen and vandalized infrastructure, thus, highlighting the pressing need for their regulation.

It is widely acknowledged that Pantaker Markets, particularly in the FCT, are hotbeds for the sale of items acquired through theft and vandalism. Investigation into most vandalism cases at our disposal often referenced these markets which have earned a reputation as centers of criminal activities. I strongly advocate for the urgent regulation of these markets.

When discussing the Pantaker Market phenomenon, it is important to recognise its traditional role as a hub for informal trade, where second-hand goods, from household treasures to everyday commodities like scrap metals, are exchanged. Sadly, this vibrant marketplace has undergone a troubling transformation, evolving into a refuge for stolen items. 

Here, goods that are pilfered such as streetlights poles and lamps, solar panels and batteries, road dividers, bridge reinforcement iron rods, railway installations, manhole covers, flood duck covers, telecommunication masts, transformers, armoured cables and even household items like air conditioners, car batteries, gas cylinders, and others from residential homes find a new life, slipping through the cracks of illegality and ensnaring unwitting buyers in their web.

Having identified this market as a harbor for suspected criminal elements, I must emphasize that Pantaker Markets present numerous challenges to societal well-being, which is the reason I am calling for urgent regulation.

This illegal trade not only undermined public safety but also underscored the troubling issues necessitating urgent action to restore order and accountability.

The rampant sales of these items reflect deeper societal problems as criminals exploit the market’s unchecked environment. Efforts to curb this illicit trade needs to be accelerated, as it poses significant challenges to law enforcement and threatens community well-being, 

Permit me to categorically state that the existence of these markets has resulted in preventable deaths in the Federal Capital Territory. Only recently, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD) attributed the tragic building collapse which claimed seven lives in the Sabon Lugbe area on Airport Road in Abuja, on the activities of scavengers who were stripping a building located in Gidash Estate of iron rods and other valuable materials before the unfortunate incident. 

In 2024 alone, Nigeria experienced 12 national grid collapses, plunging numerous states and regions into ongoing blackouts. This troubling trend, which is drastically affecting lives, businesses and household installations is sadly attributed to criminals targeting power installations and other public infrastructure. 

The financial toll has been staggering, costing the federal government and several states billions of naira. While some vandals have reportedly met their fiery end while attempting to vandalise transformers, others had left countless families shattered, parents mourning lost children, children left without fathers, and women widowed by the actions of these vandals who attack, maim and in some cases stab their victims to death whenever they are challenged.

Compounding the issue, around 70 percent of these vandals are reportedly well-compensated by desperate contractors eager to restore supply connections, while others sell some of the stolen equipment back to the government and various entities. 

Today, essential infrastructure, including major bridges, armoured cables, manhole covers, railway cables, and streetlights are under siege, with these stolen items frequently turning up in the unregulated pantaker markets.

I make bold to add that this rampant trade of stolen goods not only undermine the rule of law but also poses severe threats to state’s infrastructure development initiatives, as critical projects aimed at enhancing the quality of life for citizens are routinely compromised when essential materials, such as electrical installations and construction equipment are stolen and sold in these markets. Instead of contributing to local economies, pantaker markets operate as a curse, negatively impacting community development and public services.

The consequences ripple throughout the community; businesses face interruptions, families experience unsafe living conditions, and government agencies find it increasingly difficult to execute development plans. The trust that citizens place in their government erodes when they witness the degradation of resources meant for public benefit due to criminal activities permeating these informal markets.