By Fortune Eloagu
The thin line between Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa State is such that several residents of the adjoining Nasarawa communities like Mararaba, Masaka, One Man Village, Ado, Auta, New Nyanya and New Karu even believe that they live in the nation’s capital. In fact, many of those who claim to be Abuja residents reside in this densely populated area of Nasarawa.
It is therefore not strange that a popular market located at the Mararaba axis called Orange Market is referred to by many as Abuja Orange Market. Nonetheless, don’t be deceived by its name, the market is neither dedicated for oranges nor fruits; but it is actually a place for all types of fruits, other agricultural produce, household items as well as second-hand clothes popularly called okirika.
Residents of the FCT and other neighbouring states patronise the market for all sorts of goods especially agricultural produce. Even dealers on foodstuff from the Eastern and Delta states like Enugu, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Edo bring food items to sell there.
Two other markets that enjoy similar popularity are in Gwosa, Kuje Area Council and Karmo in Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Why Orange Market is popular?
While the markets in Gwosa and Karmo have weekly peak on Fridays and Tuesdays respectively, the Orange Market is daily. For those who patronise it, what makes the market unique is that items are not only fairly cheap there but they are of high quality.
Traders in the market refer to themselves as dealers. Their general secretary, Mr. Adamu Musa, said it booms everyday because it is a multi-purpose market where everything a person needs is available:
“We are proud of this market because there is no other one that is of standard as the Orange Market in the whole of FCT. In Wuse, Garki markets and others, there are certain varieties that are not available, but here you can get all the items you want at cheaper prices. The wide range of varieties of goods makes the market different from others.”
How it was christened orange market
Musa told Daily Sun that they were originally at the Wuse Market in Abuja metropolis before they moved to the defunct Bakasi Market (New Wuse Market) around Halley Brothers, Zone 1, where the NNPC mega station is presently located:
“We were doing our business in Abuja metropolis during Babaginda-Abacha time. We are part of those who left Wuse Market to new market. We also relocated from new market. When the movement became tiring we moved to Nassarawa State.
“We started our business at Karu Market where the environmental and tax force followed us and ended up pursing us. We then moved to Mararaba, we stayed at the Shopping Centre, the place was narrow and small and we finally moved to the old Orange Market site. We decided to get our own land so we moved to where we are now; new Orange Market site.”
Musa explained that the first set of people to leave the Mararaba shopping centre were the orange sellers, so it was then called orange market people, shortened as Orange Market.
Challenges
The dealers in the market said there would have been nothing more to wish except that they record high losses due to the perishable nature of the agricultural goods. They blamed this on the absence of cooling facilities and the likes for preservation of whatever.
Musa said: “The major challenge we faced was the waste of perishable goods because they had no protection from rainfall and the heat from the sun but that has been reduced in the new site.
“In our old site, we sold under the sun. We had no shops with roofs but in this new site our shops are of standard. Dealers sell onions, garden eggs, okro and other fruits under roofed shops and it reduces the rate of wastages. Normally not every item would be sold, some get wasted at the end, that is a challenge.”
Government’s role
The traders are very grateful to the Nasarawa State Governor, Mr. Tanko Al-Makura, for the support and encouragement from the state government. Their spokesman disclosed that N20 million was donated to the traders by the state government to facilitate the completion of the “new orange market.”
“The bridge leading to the market was built by the government. They have also promised to build a road that will lead to Aso, this can improve the market, in terms of movement. The government has really assisted us and we are grateful”, Musa said.