Some traders affected by the ongoing demolition of Agboju Market in Festac Town, Lagos, have blamed market leaders for “insincerity” over the exercise.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that bulldozers moved in on Friday and began pulling down the structures in the market just as the traders started displaying their goods for sale.

Some of the affected traders told NAN that the issue of the demolition had been ongoing between the state government and the traders.

They, however, expressed shock over the exercise which occurred before the seven-day quit notice issued them expired.


Mr Uzo Thomas, trader, said they assumed the demolition would be done on Monday after the notice elapsed on Sunday.

“To our surprise, Friday morning, we were displaying our goods, we just started hearing, ‘pack, pack,’ we thought it was a joke.

“Before we knew it, bulldozers started bringing everything down,” he said.

Also, Mrs Anulika Chukwu, trader, said last Thursday, officials of Amuwo Odofin Local Government came to warn the traders not to sell on the walk ways, which they complied with.

“If we had known beforehand, I wouldn’t have spent the money I had yesterday buying goods for sale,” she lamented.

However, some other traders said that the land where the market was situated was a buffer zone, with pipelines running underneath and electric cables overhead.

Mr Olawale Ashakaba, trader, said: “This is a Federal Government property, there are pipelines running under here.

“I believe there’s something our leaders are not telling us,” he said.

Another trader, Mrs Blessing Ogomchi, said: “Nobody knows exactly what is going on or what is going to happen.

“The leaders haven’t even called a meeting to tell traders what is going on.

“If indeed there’s going to be a new market, how long will it take to be completed; how many months or years?”

The Iyaloja General of Amuwo Market, Mrs Osinatu Adebayo, refuted the allegations, saying there was no foul play.

“No. No, it’s not true.

“The problem is that the market is too rough and the state government called us to say they want to rebuild it to a modern market.

“They would have finished building it but we’ve been delaying and begging for more time, ‘please allow us to sell for Christmas’ or ‘please let us sell for Easter’.

According to her, buying and selling will continue as usual, once the site has been cleared.

Adebayo pledged her commitment to the traders, in ensuring that they all get shops when the new market is completed.

“My children are also traders here, so I can’t allow things get spoiled.

“Before outsiders get shops, all the traders will be considered first,” she said.

Another official, who spoke under anonymity, said he wasn’t sure how long it would take to complete the project.

He, however, urged the traders not to kick against modernisation of the market.

All efforts by NAN correspondent to reach Amuwo Odofin Local Government Chairman, Mr Valentine Buraimoh, proved abortive as his aide who picked his calls said he was attending a state function

https://www.nan.ng/news/traders-weep-over-demolition-of-festac-town-market/

They knew it a buffer zone already...

They have there shops under pipelines and power lines


If anything happens they will say the state government did not take adequate measures to prevent the occurrence from happening
Now the state government is been pro active


Sorry about your loss

They always recover.

Those laughing at them now doesn't understand business, these traders must relocate and then add the total of this loss to their goods and services,

Do you have any choice except buying it at exorbitant rates while fuming that traders are greedy?

The traders wins in the end.

They will turn it into shopping complex and sell to Tinubu's cronies

That is the strategy in Lagos for years

We are our own problem

Life first, money secondary

Life matters...

Ambode sef

Targetting a specific people doing their normal business

Anyway, when one way closes, another one would open sharp sharp

Very vindictive loser

'The Iyaloja General of Amuwo Market, Mrs Osinatu Adebayo, refuted the allegations, saying there was no foul play.'

- Useless Tinubu's aide

Allahu Akbar!

Government is wicked!

Is there an interim alternative?...do they have a timeline to complete the market?


Who and how do they plan to allocate the shops...or will okpolor eye claim half of the shops

People are suffering to feed themselves Government should not add more sorrow

This move alone will have a .5% increase in inflation.

Consumers will end up suffering for this

Next level confirm...

Na wa

gbese reh oo

Always crowded

Always making things difficult for the common Nigerian. No replacement on ground and they have sent the traders home.
I am praying that God gives our leaders Wisdom.

Lagos state

Aaahhh !
Despite the hardship on ground already

Under powerline.

Please they should be well compensated to avoid suicide. Too painful

Amuocha:
Ambode sef

Targetting a specific people doing their normal business

Anyway, when one way closes, another one would open sharp sharp

Very vindictive loser

'The Iyaloja General of Amuwo Market, Mrs Osinatu Adebayo, refuted the allegations, saying there was no foul play.'

- Useless Tinubu's aide

Its not Ambode but tinubu

I was told personally that they plan to drive Igbos from Lagos

The new shops that were built at Yaba, how many traders have been able to afford the rent?

Sorry oo

If no plan B, Na back to square one

That festac dirty gan

This shouldn't come as a shock to them as they have been informed more than 10 years ago.

May God provide another means of livelihood for all the families affected by this demolition.
Amen.

chiedu7:


Its not Ambode but tinubu

I was told personally that they plan to drive Igbos from Lagos

Iyaloja and Ambode are Tinubu's aides

chiedu7:


Its not Ambode but tinubu

I was told personally that they plan to drive Igbos from Lagos

Oh please shut up...just shut up!

chiedu7:


Its not Ambode but tinubu

I was told personally that they plan to drive Igbos from Lagos

Until Nigeria is divided, nobody is going anywhere....
Any group that don't want another in their domain should push for division and make a strict law not to allow outsiders to come into their country. Until that is done, nobody has the power to tell his country men that reside in another part of the country to leave..
It's an unrealistic fantasy.

chiedu7:


Its not Ambode but tinubu

I was told personally that they plan to drive Igbos from Lagos

Na so

i dont bekeive the state gov was fighting anyone.. all houses and buildings under power lines and pipelines are been demolished.. idimu, ayobo, ikotun are some of the places i have seen these houses demolished..

My aunt is one of the developers awarded the contract of rebuilding. Be like e don cast be that o. Pipeline kwa

oilPUSSY:


..

Oilpussy what do you have to say on this matter?