The Gwagwalada Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has denied reports of the closure of Zuba International Market, also known as Red Bricks Market, as erroneously reported in a national daily.

Alhaji Muhammed Saba, the council's Secretary and member of the parks' committee, clarified that the market is operational, saying the allegations are unfounded.

He said the council engaged Lion Property Consult Enterprise Limited to upgrade and manage the market due to resource constraints, explaining that the marketers are aware of the development.

Alhaji Saba said the council was committed to protecting the marketers' interests and those of the developer.

He said, "The council has refuted the claims of forceful renovation and shutdown, assuring the public that the market remains open for business."

Mazi Agu Okechukwe Samuel, Chief Executive Officer of Lion Property Consult Enterprise Limited, also denied that the market has been closed, stating that no individual or group can shut down the market, which belongs to the Gwagwalada Area Council.

He said the market had been upgraded and encouraged FCT residents to visit the modernized Zuba International Market for their business needs.

In a publication in one of the national dailies, (not Daily Trust), traders at the market, under the auspices Zuba International Main Market Traders Association, said the market had been shut down due to forceful renovation of their shops by a developer, Lion Property Consult Enterprise Limited, in collaboration with Gwagwalada Area Council officials.

Some of the traders had earlier staged a protest challenging the action of the area council to hand over the market to the developer, the decision, they said, would displace many of the traders from their shops.