CLOSING JIMETA ULTRA MODERN MARKET FOR TWO (2) DAYS IN ADAMAWA STATE: AN INSENSITIVE AND UNJUST DECISION
By Comrade Suleiman A. Abubakar
CLOSING JIMETA ULTRA MODERN MARKET FOR TWO (2) DAYS IN ADAMAWA STATE: AN INSENSITIVE AND UNJUST DECISION
The recent public announcement made by the Adamawa State Urban and Regional Planning Board, which is currently circulating on various social media platforms, notifying the general public that the Jimeta Ultra Modern Market will be closed down for two (2) days Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th of September, 2025 in the name of restoring the market master plan, is one that demands urgent public attention, scrutiny, and condemnation.
While restoring the market master plan is undoubtedly a laudable and necessary step for urban renewal and proper planning, the manner in which this initiative is being carried out is both insensitive and inconsiderate. For many traders in the Jimeta Ultra Modern Market, daily economic activity is not simply a business venture — it is their only source of survival. Most of these traders live from hand to mouth, meaning that it is only when they open their shops daily that they are able to put food on the table and provide for their families.
Therefore, the decision to close the market for two days is not only harsh but also inflicts unnecessary hardship on thousands of men, women, and young people who depend on daily trade for sustenance.
The announcement to close Jimeta Ultra Modern Market for two days does not only fail the test of empathy and good governance but also contravenes several provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999, as amended). Section 14(2)(b) provides that “the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government.” By closing the market, the welfare of the traders who rely on daily earnings is directly undermined. Section 16(1)(b) obliges the state to “control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen.” Shutting down the market, even temporarily, without alternatives contradicts this constitutional responsibility. Section 34(1)(a) guarantees that “every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his person.” Forcing traders into hunger and uncertainty by shutting down their only livelihood offends this constitutional right. Section 41(1) guarantees the right to freedom of movement, which includes the right of individuals to access their means of livelihood. Closing down the market for two days amounts to an infringement on this right.
Additionally, under the Adamawa State Urban Planning and Development Laws, particularly provisions guiding urban development, any enforcement of planning regulations is expected to be carried out lawfully, fairly, and with consideration for public interest. Arbitrary closure of markets without alternatives violates the spirit of these laws, which are designed to balance development with the socio economic realities of citizens.
Unlike large-scale business owners, small traders in Jimeta Ultra Modern Market survive on daily sales. Denying them access to their shops for two days means denying their families food and basic needs for those days. Closure of such a major market for two days will disrupt supply chains, affect food distribution in Yola North and beyond, and cause inflationary pressures. Decisions like this erode public trust in government institutions, as they are perceived to prioritize abstract “plans” over human welfare. This measure is punitive in effect. A master plan can be restored without subjecting people to avoidable hardship.
In light of the above, we call on His Excellency, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, as the Chief Executive of Adamawa State, to immediately review and reverse the decision to close Jimeta Ultra Modern Market for two days. We urge him to direct the Adamawa State Urban and Regional Planning Board to adopt humane, professional, and lawful methods of restoring the market master plan without shutting down traders’ means of livelihood. We also call on him to ensure that enforcement officials act with professionalism, dignity, and respect for constitutional provisions protecting human rights and safety. He should further provide alternative spaces or arrangements for attachment traders and other vulnerable groups so that the restoration of the market master plan does not amount to displacement or economic strangulation.
The master plan can be restored without closing the market by adopting a phased implementation approach, where restoration work is done section by section while keeping other parts of the market open. Another viable method is to carry out operations at night when business activity is minimal. Most importantly, there is need for re-engagement with traders’ unions, associations, and community leaders so that a more suitable and acceptable method is designed together. A proper and suitable space should also be provided for attachment traders to continue their businesses without being displaced.
We further call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to join us in solidarity with the traders of Jimeta Ultra Modern Market. This is not only about market closure; it is about protecting the dignity of work, economic rights, and public welfare in Adamawa State and Nigeria at large.
We also urge the media, human rights activists, and civil society organizations to rise in solidarity with the traders of Jimeta Ultra Modern Market. The voices of the people must be heard, and governance must be carried out with empathy and accountability.
Urban planning is essential for the growth of Adamawa State, but it must not come at the cost of human suffering and economic strangulation. Restoring the master plan of Jimeta Ultra Modern Market is good, but doing so by closing the market for two days is insensitive, unconstitutional, and unnecessary. Development must always go hand in hand with human welfare. Governor Fintiri must act now to reverse this unjust directive, and ensure that governance in Adamawa State continues to be rooted in empathy, justice, and respect for the people.
Comrade Suleiman is a human rights activist and State Coordinator Traders Rights and Welfare Association (TRIWA)
