Oshodi Demolition: LASG, traders argue over new market

By Ahmed Boulor

The Lagos State Government and traders, whose shops were demolished at the Owonifari market in Oshodi, have continued to trade words over the action of government and its decision to relocate them to another market.

The traders, through the Public Relations Officer of the Market association, Obinna Nwosu, had accused the state government of not notifying them of the demolision exercise officially, insisting that they only got oral messages to that effect.

However, the state government, through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, insisted that the traders were sufficiently informed of the planned demolition and relocation to the newly built ultra-modern Isopakodowo Market in Bolade-Oshodi”. This, according to the government, was done in the overall interest of public good, safety and security.

Contrary to another claim by the traders that the new market cannot accomodate all the displaced traders from Owonifari market, Ayorinde said the alternative market constructed by the government can conveniently accommodate over 600 shops and hundreds of kee Clamps, and comes with the subsidized payment of N5, 000 monthly.

According to the commissioner, discussions with market leaders on the demolition had been on for at least 10 years, but that the traders had refused to move to the alternative market completed three years ago.

He said Governor Ambode met with traders on the 16th of December reiterating his plans for Oshodi, adding that the governor also visited the market on 21st of December after which a formal notice to quit was issued.

Ayorinde Also refuted allegations that the goods of traders were destroyed during the demolition exercise because a number of the traders, if not all were aware they needed to move, adding that recent intelligence reports had indicated that the market was a den for criminal activities as arms and other weapons were discovered during the demolition.

“A recent intelligence report revealed a number of criminal activities going on in the market and that the place was harbouring criminals and we discovered concrete bunker and arms underneath the shops during the demolition exercise.” He said.

Meanwhile, the traders are citing structural instability and several spiritual activities associated with the new market as some of the reasons for rejecting plans to relocate them.

Reports say the refurbished Isopakowodowo Market, where the affected traders were asked to move to is still under lock and key as none of the market stalls had been opened for business since it was commissioned.

Speaking on why traders have rejected the new market provided by the state government, Mr. Rasaq Adeyemi, one of the affected traders, said the government did not allocate Isopakodowo market to anyone.

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“No one is interested in the market because of the incident that happened two years ago when a part of the market sunk.

‘’Up till now, we have not heard anything from the state government. Do they want displaced traders of Owonifari to also suffer what happened two years ago. I doubt if the foundation is strong because if it is, that incident shouldn’t have occurred.” He said.

For Mrs. Halimah Dosu, who had been trading in the demolished market for over 20 years, going to the new market is not an option for her, just as she reechoed Adeyemi’s words on the new market.

“People lost their lives. They had families just like we do. If such thing occur when we move in, what will be the fate of our families? Can the place accommodate us? This week has been bad for every one of us. Most of the traders here are landlords, few are tenants. Everyone is at a loss. We want another place not that market.”

The leadership of the market association, speaking through their PRO, Nwosu, however said they can only decide on the relocation after meeting with the state governmemt.

“It is after our meeting that we can decide if we will accept it or not.”

Nwosu however lamented that there was no notice, no official letter except oral messages that they were coming to demolish the market.

According to him, “There is a court injunction that the government shouldn’t disturb traders in our market because since its renovation in 1999 after the market got burnt, traders voluntarily re-built the market with N750 million and every shop was decked. Does a seal order look like a quit notice. They assured us everything was going to be settled that was the reason most of us returned our goods.“

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