Jos: Traders worried over notice to quit 83-year-old Bukuru Market

hundreds of bags of grain are sold on a daily basis

Traders at old Bukuru market in Jos, Plateau State, have raised concerns over the quit notice given to them by the Jos South Local Government, saying the authorities have not shown sincerity in their plan to rebuild the place, which was established in 1938. Daily Trust Saturday reports.

After the 2001 first ethno-religious crisis in Jos, the Plateau State capital and many other crises that have occurred across the state, things are yet to return to normalcy.

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Although the ethno-religious crises have largely subsided in the state capital, especially in the past few years, Bukuru market, located in Gyel district of Jos South, has continued to bear the brunt of previous incidents as traders operated from the roadside.

As a result of this, gridlock is common on the road, which has also been littered with different things. This has continued for many years, and many traders have continued to read some kind of political undertone to their predicament, as well as manipulation from several quarters.

The market, which was established since 1938 (83 years ago), has served the people from many parts of the state, including Jos South, Jos North, Barkin Ladi, Riyom and other neighbouring local government areas for many years. People have made fortunes out of the market.

But despite the fact that inside the market was abandoned and traders occupied the street, businesses still went on in large proportion.

Our correspondent who went round the market observed that regardless of the poor state of some of the structures there, the traders went about their businesses happily.

In the market, hundreds of bags of grain are sold on a daily basis. The blacksmith section, abattoir, food section, tailoring line, provision stores, among other sections, attract a lot of traders and customers.

Some of the traders who took our correspondent round said they would be glad if those who vacated the market and went to the street could join hands in moving the market forward for the betterment of all.

The traders are, however, agitated by the recent quit notice given to them by the authorities of Jos South Local Government.

They were directed to quit the market so that it would be reconstructed and put into full use. This has been generating apprehension and disquiet among the people. The quit notice was from July 1 to July 10, 2021.

Even though the deadline for the quit notice has expired, the traders have continued to do their businesses as they keep looking for a means of reconciling the gray areas that needed to be resolved with the authorities.

This, they said, was paramount so that traders would not be indirectly victimised or suffer any unnecessary hardship.

While some of the traders believe there could be more to the quit notice, others say to leave them the market without providing an alternative place will only aggravate the hardship they generally experienced.

In addition to the reconstruction reason given by Jos South, they also said the market was being used as a hideout for criminals and youths engaged in illicit drugs and other substances.

This allegation has, however, been denied by many traders in the market, who felt it was a pure case of ‘giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it.’

Reacting to the quit notice, the traders and other service providers in the market called on the caretaker committee chairman of Jos South Local Government, Gideon Dandareng, to ensure that they don’t suffer loss as a result of the vacation order.

They insisted that the intension of government should be genuine, with the evidence of reconstruction plan on ground.

Meanwhile, Jos South Local Government said it had engaged a private company to rebuild the market, but did not say whether or not it is providing another temporary place for traders to continue their business pending the completion of the reconstruction.

Speaking with Daily Trust Saturday on the issue, the chairman of the traders’ association, Muhammad Sa’idu Jide, denied the allegation that the market served as a hideout for criminals.

“We have employed the services of vigilantes to ensure that no crime is committed in the market. Nobody has ever been killed or kidnapped in the market. We have been living in peace with everybody, irrespective of our ethno-religious differences.

“We are not against the reconstruction of the market. In fact, we are ready to cooperate with the government on that. Our fear is that there is no evidence of preparation to embark on the project.

“Thousands of people eke their living from the market and quitting them will cause a lot of hardship. If another temporary place is provided, that would be welcome,” Jide said.

When contacted, the chairman of Jos South, Dandareng, said his decision to ask the traders to leave the market followed a report by the host community about criminal activities going on there, especially raping of girls.

“Above all, that market no longer exists because government had already closed it since crisis broke out. And nobody is paying tax to the government. We have engaged a contractor to rebuild the market for the good of the community.

“However, we will convene another stakeholders’ meeting to hear from the traders again because our government listens to the people,” Dandareng added.

Alhaji Ado Maidoya, the Sarkin Fada of Bukuru, who also served as chairman of the traders’ association for the period of 9 years during the Solomon Lar administration in the early 1980s, said the market only needed a little facelift in phases so that business activities could continue without quitting the traders.

He explained that it was after the crisis in 2001 that traders vacated the main market to trade by the roadside, out of the fear of the unknown.

Maidoya said the structures in the market were still in good shape because since it was established, they have not recorded any form of fire incident. He added that it was the responsibility of the government to bring back all the traders into the market to continue their businesses.

According to him, by so doing, more revenue will be generated for the local government for the development of the state.

He further said the recent plan by the government to demolish the market was not necessary since the structure of the market is still intact, adding that with a little renovation, the market would come out as beautiful as it was and all and sundry would benefit.

He advised government to look into the matter carefully and take action in consideration for peace, unity and progress. He said market remained one good meeting point that does not care about people’s backgrounds or affiliations as different tribes, religions and political groups come together to do their legitimate businesses in the market, and as well, foster understanding and unity.

Babaji Badaru, a blacksmith and the assistant general secretary of the traders’ association said that since the market was established in 1938, business thrived until crisis erupted in the city a few years back. He added that after some traders left the market, others stayed to save it from total collapse.

Badaru also said the traders were not against government’s plan to reconstruct the market into a modern one, but they should be relocated to a good temporary place to carry on with their businesses as the market is their only source of income.

Philomena Ishaya, who patronised traders in the market frequently, said the present situation had been a source of concern to many people.

She said the market remained the most popular within the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, and called on all the stakeholders to come together to rebuild it, adding that it would go a long way in restoring peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.

She argued that since Bukuru has a sizable number of Christians and Muslims, as well as Berom and Hausa communities, any good peace initiative there would be to the benefit of the state.

Mubarak Yahaya, a tailor in the market, said that despite all the crises in the state, they have been going on with their normal activities.

He said rebuilding the market was a good initiative as it would not only generate revenue for government but enhance modern business techniques if done according to contemporary setting with all the required facilities put in place.

A food vendor, Safiyah Adulaziz, who has been in the market for about 15 years now, said that regardless of the challenges and all the real and imagined controversy surrounding the market, business activities have been going on.

She said government should not rebuild the market to bring different traders; instead, it should seek a way of building trust with the people to boost economic activities.

Daily Trust gathered that the facilities to be included in the proposed new market would include modern shops, police post, mobile court, social amenities like good and functional source of water, good roads, fences/gates, among others.

probable states, flood had in 2020 washed away thousands of hectares of farmlands. The state government is already making preparations to avert similar occurrence in eight local government areas.

The Public Relations Officer of the state’s Ministry for Environment, Sanusi Kofar Na’isa, said drainages have been cleared and refuse evacuated from several areas in the state.

“We have already cleared culverts at Fagge and Kwarin Gogau areas; we are done with these areas already, now we are approaching Na’ibawa,” he said, adding that the state had intensified awareness on possible ways of averting the looming danger.

When our reporter visited some of the flood prone areas in Kano metropolis, he observed heaps of refuse from people’s residences and commercial areas waiting for evacuation.

The state government had recently scrapped the agency saddled with the responsibility of managing refuse – Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB), and engaged a private company to take over.

Yobe already a victim

Though Yobe was not included among the highly flood probable states, a flood disaster in June had resulted in the loss of lives and displaced hundreds of families.

Report from the State Emergency Management Agency SEMA indicated that about 17 people died and 81 others were injured in this year’s flood disaster.

In Damaturu, the state capital, communities like Maisandari, Sumsumma, and Pompomari have begun to witness the seasonal flood.

A resident, Aisha Mohammed, said the flood has disconnected them from the main town. She said the water came all the way from southern Damaturu and blocked their access routes to the state capital.

Residents appealed to the government to construct road and drainage to allow for smooth flow of the water to mitigate flooding.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) disclosed that about 1,160 households affected by the flood this year were profiled for intervention.

The SEMA Executive Secretary, Dr Mohammed Goje, said the agency with support from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has so far delivered first line support to the victims.

There is, however, no preparation against flooding so far in Taraba State by either the state Emergency Management Agency or the National Emergency management Agency (NEMA), Daily Trust findings revealed.

Seven local government areas of the state have experienced flood disaster in the past because of their proximity to three major rivers – the Benue, Donga and Taraba rivers.

These local government areas include Lau, Karim-Lamido, Gassol, Ibbi, Ardo-Kola, Wukari and Bali.

The most devastating flood disasters recorded in the state were 2012 and 2019.

During the 2012 flood disaster, over 30 communities were displaced in about 12 local government areas and farm produce worth millions of naira destroyed.

Both the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have constantly warned riverine communities against building and farming close to the river side but such warnings have not been adhered to.

Daily Trust gathered that most floodings in Taraba State is caused by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in the Republic of Cameroon into River Benue which crosses the state from Adamawa and passes into Benue and Kogi states.

We’ll intervene when there is problem – Nasarawa Govt

Scores of residents in Nasarawa State who live around the river Benue area have expressed readiness to relocate from flood prone areas, saying they wouldn’t want to face any consequence of flood disaster in their areas.

Speaking to our correspondent, Mr John Michael said some people have started relocating to safer areas to avoid any eventuality.

Also corroborating this, Mr Ibrahim Adamu said that they have been directed by the state government to evacuate their belongings so as to avert any cases of flood disaster.

The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Barrister Zachary Allumaga said although it was not yet time for the government to intervene in their movement, government would do so when there is a problem.

Reps want urgent actions

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to make early preparations and take necessary measures to mitigate the impact of flood in communities along the Benue and Niger trough.

This followed the adoption of a motion on notice jointly sponsored by Saidu Mohammed Mustapha, Kwamoti Bitus Laori, Jafaru Ribadu, Shiddi Usman Danjuma, Mohammed Jafaru, Isah Abdulkareem Usman, Mzondu Benjamin Bem and Ari Abdulmumin Mohammed.

Moving the motion at plenary on Thursday, Saidu Mustapha Mohammed noted that flooding has become a recurrent phenomenon in Nigeria, particularly in communities along the Benue and Niger troughs in lower, middle, and upper regions which stretch across Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Niger and Nasarawa, among others.

He said the report of the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) and that of NIHSA had warned of impending flood and the need to make mitigating arrangements.

Mohammed recalled “the horrific experience of 2012 where 1.3 million people were displaced and forced to live in IDP camps across the country despite similar predictions and warnings.”

He said since the establishment of Lagdo Dam in the Cameroun Republic in 1982, communities along Benue-Niger trough have continued to suffer inestimable loss of lives and property.

The lawmaker expressed worries that the 2021 rainy season is approaching its peak and nothing has been put in place to prevent disaster and the attendant humanitarian crisis.

The House, therefore, urged the federal government to adequately prepare a plan for the imminent disaster by stockpiling relief materials to ameliorate the suffering of the victims in good time.

It equally urged the Ecological Fund Office to work out a lasting solution to the ecological problems in flood disaster-prone areas across the country and mandated the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources, and Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of disasters.

Victor Edozie (Port Harcourt), Usman A. Bello (Benin), Bassey Willie (Yenagoa), Linus Effiong (Umuahia), Iniabasi Umo (Uyo), Raphael Ogbonnaiye (Ado-Ekiti), Peter Moses (Abeokuta), Umar Muhammed (Lafia), Mohammed I. Yaba (Kaduna), Hope Abah Emmanuel (Makurdi), Mumini AbdulKareem (Ilorin), Hassan Ibrahim (Bauchi), Adama John (Lokoja), Ibrahim Baba Saleh (Damaturu), Sani Ibrahim Paki (Kano), Magaji lsa Hunkuyi (Jalingo), Taiwo Adeniyi, Itodo Daniel Sule & Maureen Onochie (Abuja)