Vendors demand restoration of all newspaper stands in FCT

The Abuja Newspapers Distributors Association (ANDA) has urged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Musa Bello, to urgently direct the restoration of all newspaper stands closed down by the administration in 2020.

ANDA President, Benji Obute, who made this demand yesterday in Abuja after his swearing in, also demanded the allocation of a permanent site to enable the association erect a befitting building for its members, saying the body has been operating from a dilapidated building.

He stated that his leadership would approach the FCT minister to restore all newspaper stands in the metropolis.

“The FCT minister should as a matter of urgency approve a permanent site for us because we are currently operating from a dilapidated structure without toilet facility and proper fencing.

“The department of outdoor and signage last year clamped down on newspapers stands across the metropolis thereby reducing vendors stand and this development is affecting us financially,” Obute said.

He noted that the association was lacking money to execute many of its projects due to the development, adding that the advent of social media has also hampered the sale of hard copy, thereby making vendors to suffer financially as an association and individuals.

“Even the government that usually patronise us has reduced the quantity of purchase drastically. Ministries that were collecting about 300 copies per day have reduced their purchasing power to about 20 because they now have other sources of news,” he added.

The chairman disclosed that the association would leverage on the political season to approach politicians and industrialists for financial support towards putting up a good structure for its members while it continues to mount pressure on the FCT administration to secure a permanent site.