How ban on roadside trading is causing panic, agony in Jos

Since March 19, 2024 when the Executive Order 003 took effect, traders in Jos North and Jos South metropolises have been at a loggerhead with the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), responsible for implementing Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s order banning roadside trading, especially within the state capital and Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area. The […]

Since March 19, 2024 when the Executive Order 003 took effect, traders in Jos North and Jos South metropolises have been at a loggerhead with the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), responsible for implementing Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s order banning roadside trading, especially within the state capital and Bukuru in Jos South Local Government Area.

The general manager of Jos Metropolitan Development Board, Hart Bankat, announced the Executive Order on March 10, 2024, which, among other things, prohibits roadside trading in the state.

He said the signing of the law was to regulate indiscriminate trading and traffic holdups within the metropolises. The board ordered traders at Terminus, Ahmadu Bello Way, Murtala Muhammed Way, Kudiya, Bauchi Road, Bukuru, Gada Biyu and other areas transacting business beside the road to vacate. Additionally, the board directed other business areas, such as Kara Market, NTA Motor Park and Farin Gada Motor Park to be relocated. This announcement did not sit well with hundreds of traders in the state.

The state government had previously set April 22, 2024 as the deadline for roadside traders to vacate the areas.

However, the traders didn’t vacate until Thursday when the joint security operatives arrived.

The enforcement of the order has been causing panic and disaffection among the traders conducting business in the affected areas, with many of them who refused to vacate having their millions of naira worth of wares confiscated. They complained that the development had affected their lives.

At the Terminus Market, for example, traders lamented the situation, saying no place has been provided for them as an alternative.

“Just overnight, we were told to vacate. We are begging the government to look into it. The poor are really suffering. We always come out to hustle. We are not completely enjoying selling by the roadside, but there is nothing we can do because the market has not been rebuilt since it was burnt down more than 10 years ago. Where we are managing for the business is where we get food to eat, “ Peace Musa, a Point of Sale (POS) operator said.

Kelvin Onwutalu, another trader, lamented the situation, saying: “The way government organised the enforcement is not fair. As a trader, we were asked to get a form to be relocated into the market and I was able to purchase one. We have been asking when the market authority will give us another place to relocate, but we were told that we would be informed in due course. To my greatest surprise, when I came to the market, I saw everywhere demolished. We are pleading to the government to come to our rescue.”

Umar Isma’il, a shoe seller around Terminus said the situation came to him suddenly.  He said, “I am not happy with what is happening. This is where we get money to buy food for the family. But all of a sudden, we were just dispersed. The government did not provide any place for us. How do they want us to survive?”

At NTA Motor Park, located along the Yakubu Gowan Way in Jos South Local Government Area, it was the same story when the taskforce arrived and prevented vehicles from loading. Park officials, food vendors and other people trading in the area were left devastated.

They said the action of the government would adversely affect their livelihood as they had no alternative to continue their operations.

Shehu Shagari, an official of the NTA Motor Park said, “We have over 644 registered members at this park. This is aside 150 people trading within and outside the park. We pay dues to both local and state governments. No crime is being committed here, but government has insisted on preventing us from loading here; and no reason was given. We are pleading with the government to have a rethink over this decision.

Victoria David, a trader at the park, pleaded with the authorities for help, saying, “We have no other place to go. We know we can’t confront the government, but they should consider our plight so that we can get what we will feed our children with.”

Another trader, Ester Musa said:  “The government should please allow us to continue doing our business here. I don’t have anybody to help me. This is where I transact business and feed my family. We have been living peacefully in this area. We are pleading.’’

At Bukur, traders in Kugiya market are also counting their losses as the taskforce descended on the area at night. Hundreds of traders lost their properties worth millions of naira. Over 2, 000 traders in the market were said to have been affected.

The chairman of the Elders Forum in the area, Dallami Garba, said although they were not challenging government’s decision, they were, however, asking her to provide an alternative to the people who lost their properties during the exercise.

“The government should come to their aid with palliatives to cushion the effect of the destruction. If need be, some should be given assistance because many of them lost their properties and only the government can assist them,” he said.

Another trader in the market, Isha Aba, called on the government to look at the issue by finding a way to help them, adding,  “The demolition has put people into confusion. They don’t know where to go and do the business anymore.”

It was also learnt that the enforcement of the Executive Order on Monday led to the death of a trader identified as Nasir Abubakar, while two others were injured. Five vehicles were also burnt.

Residents of the area said the situation had created tension and only the timely intervention of security personnel and community leaders prevented it from turning into another religious standoff.

Sources told our correspondent that youths blocked roads and burned tyres to protest the killing.

The spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Alabo Alfred, confirmed the incident on Tuesday, adding that security personnel have restored law and other in the area.

But the police in the state and traders in the area disagreed over the circumstances surrounding the death of Abubakar. While the police confirmed that a bullet fired by a taskforce personnel killed the trader, they claimed that it was not intentional.

DSP Alabo said, “The incident occurred when all efforts to disperse some criminal elements failed and one of the personnel fired a warning shot into the air in an attempt to scare them away, but unfortunately, one Nasiru Abubakar, a trader from Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area, was hit and he died.”

But the traders said the killing was deliberate, and wondered why the taskforce descended on them and opened fire.

Muhammad Bello, a member of the community said: “They shot three of our younger brothers. One is killed while two others were injured. The injured ones are in critical conditions. It was a deliberate act because nobody confronted them.”