Kwari market: Construction on access road continues despite protest

Construction of new shops on the major access road in Kantin Kwari textile market has continued despite protest that greeted the move by the traders.  This is even as the traders at the ever-busy Kano foremost textile market insist the construction work is ill-conceived, illegal and a bad omen to business development in the market, […]

Construction of new shops on the major access road in Kantin Kwari textile market has continued despite protest that greeted the move by the traders. 

This is even as the traders at the ever-busy Kano foremost textile market insist the construction work is ill-conceived, illegal and a bad omen to business development in the market, calling on the government and other stakeholders to wade in. 

Investigation by Kano Chronicle revealed that the construction of the stalls is being carried out by different business individuals who have got approval from authorities in the state. 

It was also gathered that when the marketers tried to protest the construction on the access road, security operatives and thugs were mobilised to guard the workers and also to disperse the protesting marketers. 

A visit to the market revealed several stalls under construction in the middle of Umaru Ta’anbo road, one of the major access roads in the market and this, according to marketers, has made movement very difficult because the space that remains for movement is very narrow. 

Speaking to Kano Chronicle on the new development in the market, Chairman of Small and Medium Scale Traders Association in the market, Alhaji Balarabe Tatari, said the construction of stalls on Umaru Ta’anbo road had generated much concern among the market community as well as other business associates. 

He said the construction would deny access to business houses and shops along the affected parts of the market, adding that it would also make movement of vehicles and goods impossible around the area as well as block access to fire services in times of emergency. 

The chairman further stated that they consulted the Fire Service and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency and both of them advised against the construction of the stalls on the access road in the market for safety of lives and property. 

He explained that the association had also written to Kano State Emirate Council, the State House of Assembly, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Kwari Market among other relevant stakeholders on the issue but to no avail. 

Similarly, the publicity secretary of the Kantin Kwari Market Traders Association, Malam Aminu Garba, said marketers were opposing the construction on the access road not because they are against the state authorities but because they care for the safety of their lives and property. 

“We hope that the authorities will see the reason behind our opposition to stall construction on the access road. We are pleading with the government, not confronting it,” he said.