Traders protest planned merger of market with school

The Traders
| credits: Emeka Obi

Traders at the Ogba Retail Market on Monday closed their shops for business in order to protest against the planned demolition of the market by the Ojodu Local Council Development Area.

They also claimed that the local council authorities had concluded plans to relocate them to Ojodu Primary School pending the reconstruction of the market.

This, according to them, is unacceptable as a market and a school should not exist in the same premises.

The protesters were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions such as, “Ojodu LCDA Chairman, stop creating poverty in our community; Retirees, widows, graduates, self employed to be displaced by Ojodu LCDA, why? We say no to false report to the Lagos State House of Assembly,” among others

PUNCH Metro had on June 6, reported that the traders had expressed concern over the planned demolition and relocation of traders and that the State House of Assembly Committee on Transport, Commerce and Industry had invited the market association and the council authorities in a bid to resolve the issues amicably.

But the Chairman of the Market Association, Mr. Teju Ayewole, told PUNCH Metro on Monday that the traders embarked on the protest to appeal to the state government to come to their aid.

He said, “This is our own way of saying no to the planned demolition of the market. They had claimed that the reason for their action is for development. What do they mean by development? This market is very neat and organised. We have received awards as the cleanest market in the state.

“The Assembly committee they set up to resolve the issue claimed that we have agreed to the demolition and reconstruction of the market. How can we agree to pay N5m per shop after reconstruction? How many of us can afford it?”

A shop owner in the market, who identified herself simply as Alhaja Olorundare, wondered why the council chairman would want to implement a policy that would increase poverty.

A youth representative, Adewunmi Olalekan, argued that the council could give the market a facelift without necessarily demolishing it. He said relocation was not feasible because of the thousands of traders involved and because the proposed site was not suitable.

He said, “How can a school and a market exist in the same premises?”

An apprentice, who is learning tailoring in the market, identified simply as Esther, appealed to the government to intervene on the matter as many families earn their livelihood from the market.

The Information Officer of the council directed our correspondent to the council chairman, saying he was in a position to respond appropriately.

But attempts to speak with the chairman were unsuccessful as calls made to his phone line was received by his personal assistant who said he was in a meeting and would get back to us.

The chairman, as at the time of filing this report, had yet to make contact.