Ambode orders reopening of Mile 12 market

Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has ordered the reopening of Mile 12 market following its closure on the 3^rd of March as a result of ethnic clashes between Hausas and Yorubas over a heated argument which left three people dead and several cars set ablaze.

According to the commissioner for information, Steve Ayorinde, the governor ordered reopening of the market on Thursday after a meeting with “relevant stakeholders”.

“Governor Akinwunmi Ambode this morning has ordered the reopening of Mile 12 market…after stakeholders assured him of peace and order,” he said in a statement.

Quoting the Lagos State Governor Ayorinde said that the market had outgrown its present location and would be relocated ultimately.

Read also: Lagos market shut as Hausa/Yoruba clash leaves 3 dead

“Realizing the strong need to move the popular Mile 12 Market from its present location, community leaders and traders in the area have agreed with the plan of the state government to relocate the market to another suitable and more convenient location within the state,” the statement read.

Continuing, the statement read thus:  “The leaders and traders also consented to the ban on use of commercial motorcycle popularly called Okada as a means of commercial transportation in the area.

“The community leaders said the decision became imperative owing to the fact that the Mile 12 Market, which had been in existence for decades, has outgrown its present location and available infrastructure, hence the need to reason with government.”

In his comments after the meeting, the financial secretary of Mile 12 market, Shehu Usman said the market leaders “agreed with government on four measures to be adopted going forward which included ban on Okada operations in the area, relocation of Mile 12 Market”.

Trouble started after a Hausa commercial motorbike rider knocked down a woman and was told by executives of motorbike association to take the woman to hospital but the motorbike rider and his other colleagues of Hausa origin refused.

Instead, the motorbike rider alongside his other colleagues insisted that the motorbike association, which collects tolls from them, should take care of the woman.

The stance of the motorbike rider and his other colleagues led to a heated argument on Tuesday which led to clashes which claimed lives and valuable property.

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