Ladipo market traders still groin over demolition

Emeka Ibemere

At the demolished site of the Ladipo Market in Mushin, Local Council Development Area, LCDA, Lagos State, he  sat agonizingly on the debris of the remain of his shop market, Monday July 6, as tears roll down from his eyes like River without Basin.

Obinna Duru, 25 was just settled earlier this year, and after six years of apprenticeship as a spare parts dealer, there seems to be a clog in his dream- demolition of his shop. Obinna’s shop was one of the numerous shops destroyed by the agents of the Lagos State government.

 Obinna said he is looking for funds to rent another shop after paying for two years’ rent and other taxes which were earlier collected by the Mushin Council Authorities.

Last week Tuesday, some security agents including Mushin Local Government tout and a team of policemen stormed the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market and demolished shops in the market. During the demolition exercise, the traders were barred from entering the market in Mushin, Lagos State, to remove their goods from the shops.

As the demolition was going on, the armed men were battle ready to prevent any opposition from the traders.

Traders were also not allowed to get near the entrance into the market as tipper Lorries were seen taking sand and gravel into the market to commence work after the demolition.

President of the Central Market Union, Comrade Kingsley Ogunor said they were not alerted before security agents commenced the demolition, which threw the entire market into confusion. It was gathered that a developer, Total Value Integrated Services Limited in conjunction with Mushin Local Government were behind the demolition.  

A banner placed by those suspected to be behind the demolition with the inscription: Proposed Commercial Development of Mushin, Lagos was hoisted at the entrance gate of the market.

According to the government officials, the government would soon commence building a modern plaza market in place of the present stalls being demolished. The duration for the completion of the project is 18 months.

However, some of the traders are still expressing their surprise over the development and said they were not given any notice; neither was there any court judgment asking them to vacate the stalls. Traders are still protesting over the demolition which they termed as illegal demolition. Traders are still locked outside the market.

Meanwhile, the Association of Japanese Spare Parts Dealers in Ladipo Market in Mushin Local Government Area decried the demolition of their shops by the council describing it as an act of intimidation and lack of respect for their fundamental human rights.

President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Lagos State chapter, Mr. Fabian Onwuhalu, speaking during the inspection, said the recent demolition of shops at Ladipo Market was clear of intimidation by the state government and its agents against the traders because the government wants to use such opportunity to extort money from the traders.

He also explained that the demolition of those shops are uncalled for because the people are doing businesses which he said boost the automobile industry and transport sector, thereby contributing immensely to economic growth. The Ohanaeze chieftain said destroying the market amounts to denying the traders of their sources of income.

“This exercise by the state government is a complete denial of the fundamental human rights of the traders. Let me say here that every Nigerian irrespective of tribe has the right to do business in any part of the country; therefore I see no reason why this demolition exercise should be embarked upon just to endanger other people’s businesses and source of livelihood”, he added.

“This action exemplifies that we are not practicing constitutional democracy in this country and we lack love and respect for one another. I want to say here that this is a reflection of corruption at the highest order.”

Onwuhalu expressed the desire of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo as a concerned Igbo group to support their brothers whose shops were demolished and property worth millions were damaged, promising that the group would ensure that justice is achieved in their situation. He also commended them for not taken the laws into their hands during the unfortunate demolition.

 “We are going to follow due process of the law in seeking for justice and compensation for the damages suffered by our brothers. Presently, the case is in court and we are hopeful that justice will be taken. We can only embark on peaceful demonstration, because we do not allow violence protest. We believe that at the right time, the perpetrators of this inhuman act would be sanctioned and arraigned before our disciplinary committee and they would be tried. At the moment the issue is an allegation.” 

Meanwhile, Lagos State government has assured traders in Ladipo Market that it has no plan to demolish the market.

Executive Secretary of the Council, Mr. Jide Bello, at a media briefing in his Mushin office, said, “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has no plan to demolish the market, the local council developer only moved in to take ownership of the market, but we have no plan to demolish the market.”

According to Bello, the council’s plan as contained in an agreement earlier reached with the traders, was to redevelop the market in phases which construction is to last a period of three to five months.

“Therefore, to commence the redevelopment plan, bulldozer of the developer moved in on Tuesday, business activities had continued in the Ladipo market unhindered and the traders are presently at their stalls carrying out their business transactions.”

Bello explained that the Local Government decided to redevelop the market, which had become an eyesore due to the unwholesome activities of some of the traders and the degradation of the surrounding which did not fit into the megacity plans of the state.

He said the Mushin Local Government intended to undertake the development of the market in phases and because of that, had not collected any form of rent from the traders in the market since the beginning of 2015.

He assured traders that current owners of stalls would be given priority as long as they can provide valid ownership papers once the construction is completed.