Trader faints over planned demolition of Lagos market

A trader fainted yesterday on sighting the Iyaloja of Lagos, Mrs Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, and other women who visited Daleko Market ahead of its planned demolition by Mushin Local Government.

Alhaji Baba Sheri, a rice and animal feeds’ seller, was revived at a nearby medical centre.

He and other traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were served a quit notice on February 13 that the market would be demolished on Monday.

Baba Sheri told NAN that he had thought the planned demolition was a rumour.

“The other traders have been talking about it but I did not believe it until I saw the Iyaloja of Lagos, in company with other government officials talking about the market demolition.

“I have been in this market in the last 25 years; where do they want me and other poor traders to make a living?” he asked.

NAN learnt that the planned demolition is to pave the way for the building of an ultra-modern market.

Some of the traders told NAN that they did not know what their fate would be when the market is rebuilt.

They urged the government to intervene in the matter by ensuring that the rebuilt shops were allocated to them.

Mrs Tinubu-Ojo told NAN on the scene that she had no comment.

Efforts to get the Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government also failed.

A trader, Mrs Okunade Adewunmi, said the planned demolition of the market was uncalled for, noting that it was gutted by fire last May 18.

Adewunmi, a groundnut oil seller, said the traders paid their rents regularly to Mushin Local Government and wondered why they were being treated unfairly.

“For now, most of the traders owe various creditors because of the loss they incurred during the fire. We (traders) also rebuilt the market after the fire and we are just recovering from the fire. We appeal to the government to leave the traders in the market for now,” she said.

Another trader, Mr Adebayo Egunjobi, told NAN that the traders were shocked to receive the message to leave the market within 14 days.

Egunjobi said demolishing the market would have “serious implication” for traders and buyers because of its popularity as a rice and palm oil market in Lagos.

“We are not illegal occupants; if that is the wish of the government, they should relocate the traders to another market.

“We are all aware of the current economic crunch the country is going through; they should not turn us to beggars,” he said.

A letter has been pasted on the market’s main gate, stating that its land belonged to the late Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu.

The Awoma and Awoma & Co gave the survey plan as FAN/LA/ 1558/020/ 84. It (survey) was dated 05/04/1984.

The letter also gave the traders seven days to leave the land.

A trader, who did not give his name, said they saw the letter when they got to the market yesterday, adding: “Why didn’t they paste it when people are in the market? After how many years, they are claiming what is not. I have made a name for myself in this market and someone wants to vacate over 1,000 people from this market.”

Another trader, Mallam Yusuf, said when he saw the letter, he thought it was a reminder about the market renovation, adding that he did not know it was something else.

“I don’t know what these people are talking about. I have been here for a while now. I pray it is resolved in court,” he said.