Confusion trails markets demolitions in Lagos

Protests continue to trail the recent demolitions of  Sabo and Ojodu-Berger markets in Lagos state. The affected traders have been complaining of the state governor’s high handedness regarding the markets demolitions. One of them Mrs Kehinde claimed that she had lost all her goods to the demolition and as a widow will have to grapple […]

Protests continue to trail the recent demolitions of  Sabo and Ojodu-Berger markets in Lagos state.

The affected traders have been complaining of the state governor’s high handedness regarding the markets demolitions.

One of them Mrs Kehinde claimed that she had lost all her goods to the demolition and as a widow will have to grapple with the challenges of catering for her four children. 

“I pay my tax consistently, they did not inform me before  pulling down the structures,” she said as she weeps uncontrollably. 

Cries, wails and lamentations filled the air as bulldozers pulled down hundreds of shops in the local market in Ikorodu, one of the most populated settlements in Lagos State. All the traders interviewed claimed they were never informed before the demolition was carried out. They alleged that  their goods, which they bought with loans were looted and destroyed.

The demolition came barely three weeks after a similar exercise was carried out in Ojodu-Berger retail market which left many traders, especially women weeping and wailing. 

Following the demolition of the Ojodu-Berger market on Wednesday April 19, the state government came out to clarify that it was not responsible for the demolition. 

Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Wasiu Anifowose said, “As a state government, we like to categorically deny involvement in the demolition exercise as alleged in some national dailies.”

 While the reports in one breath claimed that the state government was responsible for the demolition, it was also said that it was in compliance with a court judgment.

“Our story is that some of the market women came to my office yesterday saying that their market was being demolished, and after finding out from relevant agencies because I have not given any directive on demolition and having confirmed that our agencies were not involved, I told the market people that the demolition never came from us," he said.

What was observed at the Ojodu Market by our correspondent was the order of the court written on the wall with the inscription, “Possession taken today by court order- ID 1090/2000”.

While the dust over the demolition of Ojodu- Berger retail outlet is yet to settle and traders continue to count their losses, a similar scenario played out in far away Ikorodu penultimate week when bulldozers in the dead of the night pulled down stalls and shops in Sabo Market on Itoikin road. Both demolition exercises however took similar form and shape and dimension. Amidst uncontrollable wails and lamentations by the affected traders, the government similarly issued a denial, saying it was not behind the demolition.

Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde while reacting to the demolition said its preliminary investigation revealed that the market was demolished by some private developers, in connivance with some local government officers and certain uniformed personnel who acted beyond their brief. 

Ayorinde however said in a statement that government would henceforth beam its searchlight on the excesses of developers, local government officials and their cohorts in order to protect the interest of hard working traders.

But market men and women whose shops are affected are not convinced with the government’s explanation as they point accusing fingers at the Ambode’s administration. They wonder how such activity would be carried out without the knowledge of Alausa. 

In fact, in the case of Ojodu Berger, the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affair, Mr. Muslim Folami during the pre-May 29 anniversary press briefing on Friday April confirmed the demolition of the market.

Folami said, “The state government in its bid to improve the infrastructural development of Ojodu-Berger area to ease the traffic congestion along the axis, a total number of 77 shops comprising of lock-up shops, Kee-Klamps and Kiosks in Ojodu Retail Market were demolished and compensation paid to shop owners.”

This confirmation however belies the claim by the government that it was not responsible for the demolition. Sources privy to the development said the demolition exercise was carried out to ease the Berger expansion project tagged, “A new Berger” aimed at decongesting the area and easing traffic gridlock. 

A leader of the Ojodu Berger market, 

Alhaja Habeebat Adegbola said the people’s means of livelihood have been destroyed with the demolition.               

“This is a government without humanity. This is very sad. Nigerians must rise up,” cried out another shop owner in the Ikorodu instance. 

Hit by the wave of attacks over the demolition especially the Ikorodu case, the government on Thursday last week insisted that it was not behind the demolition, saying it must have been done by “unscrupulous and desperate developers suspected to be acting in connivance with certain local government officials”, affirming that it would no longer tolerate “this brazen act of illegality.”

There was calm at Ikorodu market on Friday where the demolition was carried out a fortnight ago. Some petty traders who were affected mounted make-shift structures covered with umbrella to display their wares.

Among them were Hausa residents who sell onions and fruits. Just as government confirmed, it was learnt that some developers who had secured government’s approval to rebuild the shops carried out the demolition in order to start rebuilding shops to be reallocated to traders.

Already, it was noticed that a block of modern shops had been completed and allocated within the same market while the shops have virtually been occupied. “What we learnt was that the so- called developers which have secured approval from government wanted to rebuild the whole market which was why they demolished the Lock-Up shops,” said a market leader who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity in Ikorodu.

Opinions however point to the mega city project of the government as being responsible for the demolition spree with a view to clearing the state of illegal structures and beautifying the city. 

But observers are calling on government to tread softly with the mega city initiative as the market women and informal traders equally contribute to the urban development through their taxes and levies. 

Human right lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa, told Daily Trust that the claim by the government not to be aware of the demolition is not tenable to Nigerians. Adegboruwa said the economic recession makes it imperative for government to tarry a bit and apply human face to the implementation of the mega city project in order not to worsen the economic conditions of the people.

Also, the Executive Director, Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said government cannot deny knowledge of the demolition. She condemned  the  “illegal demolition”, adding that  the government should be held responsible. 

“No one can undertake such demolition without the power that be. The denial by Lagos State is suspect given that severally demolition has taken place in recent time, mostly targeting locations of poor people, women, and minorities. 

“All these were done with impunity. Demolition is used to forcefully evict people from their legal abode,” she said.