The popular Ikosi-Ketu Fruit Market in Ketu area of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria was on Friday demolished to pave way for a modern market in the area.

The Ikosi-Isheri Local Council Development Area, LCDA, has awarded the reconstruction of the dilapidated market to Total Value Integrated Service Limited, which is committing about N2.8 billion for reconstruction.

Around 10.00am on Friday, two bulldozers, escorted by policemen, mostly from task force stormed the market to ensure that there was no resistance during the demolition.

There was initial resistance from touts in the market who hauled bottles at the police. The police responded by shooting sporadically in the air to scare away the touts and also shot several canisters of teargas to disperse traders unwilling to leave the market.

Some traders, who were in the market earlier were able to rescue some of their wares, but others were not so lucky as they were prevented from gaining access into the market to salvage their wares.

Some of the traders lamented that they were informed sometimes ago about the demolition, but said they were not informed a day prior to the pulling down of their shops.

One of the local Coordinators of the Oodua Peoples Congress, OPC, in the area, Adebowale Adetona said they were informed some weeks ago that they were coming to demolish the market, but that they did not notify them of the latest development.

But Chris Onyekachi, Managing Director, Total Value Integrated Service Limited, when contacted told newsmen that the traders were giving adequate notice to vacate the market for redevelopment, adding that series of meetings were held with the traders union, traditional rulers and council members on the proposed reconstruction of the market.

“We gave them notice three weeks ago which has expired and we gave them another seven days notice to move their wares to other areas of the market. They are aware,” he said.

“We held meetings with the Iya Olojas, Baba Olojas and we agreed on the mode of demolition. Some people kicked against it and because we want peace to reign, we met with the obas and we saw reasons why the market should be reconstructed. Some miscreants don’t want the redevelopment. We are not interested in chasing people away from the market. Those who owns shop earlier will be considered first in re-allocation at a discounted rate.

“We want to upgrade the market to meet the Lagos mega city standard and we are doing it in phases. We will not shut the whole market. The development will be in four phases and the market occupies 25 acres. We have 18 month duration to rebuild the market and we will invest about N2.8 billion in the reconstruction. The reconstruction of the first phase will begin in January,” he said.

source: https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/11/08/ikosi-ketu-fruit-market-demolished-for-proposed-n2-8bn-modern-market/

Chai....my fruit market! I jst buy loads of fruits there yesterday

I hope d traders wl be compensated, because d extent of destructions & wailing I dey see on TV is v.touching

The smelliest place in Lagos.

>: hope they will build a better one sha

Haaaaa gbese re ooooo

oooopps!

I just pray the traders are compensated

The government no try atal for these,they could have ordered the traders to move out their goods before demolition cos alot of traders lost so much today. The wailings and crying no be small atal.

WTF!

This should be the least of Lagos state government problem.

Our fruit market.

Switruth:
This should be the least of Lagos state government problem.

Sanwo-olu go worse pass Ambode.

ikorodureporta:
Chai....my fruit market! I jst buy loads of fruits there yesterday

I hope d traders wl be compensated, because d extent of destructions & wailing I dey see on TV is v.touching

I almost cried when i passed there on my way back from work this Evening.

Fruit market where they sell fruits at a higher price.

Well the advantage is that the place MIGHT become cleaner.
Ketu actually needs fresh air.

kcool360:
I just pray the traders are compensated

Compensation kee?

WASTING FOOD, WHEN SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT EVEN EATEN TODAY.

Watch out for Plenty guns+ plenty pregnant village girls in that market

Wickedness

Good job jare, that place can smell when the fruits are rotting away. sentiments aside such a market should not be located at that spot, the traders and trucks loading there block your way when driving to connect the Lag-Ibadan express way from Ketu.

AryaSand:


Sanwo-olu go worse pass Ambode.

Which Ambode worse ? Pls leave Ambode alone

If Nigerian government has not oppressed its citizens, it never feels happy.

All they enjoy doing is to demolish to build na wahala.

and the traders will not be able to afford the rent of the new market.


It is always like that all over the country.

[quote author=Larryfest post=83861873]The government no try atal for these,they could have ordered the traders to move out their goods before demolition cos alot of traders lost so much today. The wailings and crying no be small atal.[/quot

Do you read at all ?

Am very happy about this...I went there talking to them about keeping their fruits and vegetables properly not on the dirty floor they said I was speaking Spanish..the whole market is terribly dirty...will miss buying fruits from there but our health is more important...
Lagos government this is the way to go. Thumbs up.

Switruth:
This should be the least of Lagos state government problem.

You dont say...a dirty environment is the least of your governments problem. So whose problem then?

CyberEBOLA:
WASTING FOOD, WHEN SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT EVEN EATEN TODAY.

They'll bear the consequences of food wastage.

AryaSand:


Sanwo-olu go worse pass Ambode.

Maybe Fashola shld just come back and govern Lagos forever.

kcool360:
I just pray the traders are compensated

In Nigeria? Compensation you say?



Yea right!

Good idea! That area is an eyesore! Each time I go to the post office which is behind the market, the kinda dirty stinking blackish annoying swampy muds you have to deep your nice shoes into, could lead you into depression trust me!

The lagos state Government have probarbly sold the land Already to Developers. Very sad for the poor traders.