The leadership of the Farm Centre mobile phone market in Kano City has announced a ban on women visiting or staying in the market after 7 PM.
The market chairman, Ambassador Jamilu Bala, revealed this decision during an interview on Thursday in Kano.
He stated, “No women will be allowed to visit this market or remain in any of our shops after 7 PM. This market is for mobile phone sales and repairs, not for inappropriate activities.”
The decision reportedly stems from concerns about alleged immoral activities involving women in some of the shops.
“Most markets in Kano close by 6 PM, and Farm Centre will now follow the same practice. Any trader found with a woman in their shop after 7 PM will face strict consequences,” Bala warned. “This rule is intended to maintain discipline and ensure our trade is blessed. It’s not meant to embarrass anyone, but to serve as a deterrent.”
The restriction, effective immediately, has sparked mixed reactions among traders. While some support the decision, they criticized how it was implemented.
“We agree with the directive because we want the market to thrive,” said Ahmed Isa, a trader. “However, we are unhappy about how the announcement was handled. Videos of our shops and faces were recorded and shared on social media platforms like TikTok, portraying us as immoral. This hurts our reputation.”
Another trader, Umar Dantaro, echoed these concerns. “It was unfair for people to record and share videos of us during the announcement. The market leadership should have informed us privately, visiting shops individually,” he said.
It remains unclear how the ban will impact women conducting legitimate businesses, such as food vendors, in the market.
