Lagos – Traders in Daleko Market in Mushin Local Government area of Lagos on Tuesday watched helplessly as the council officials accompanied by security personnel demolished the 25-year old market.
The affected traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were surprised the market was being demolished without knowing their fate after the demolition.
NAN learnt that the demolition was to pave way for the building of an ultra-modern market.
Some of the traders told NAN that they did not know what their fate would be when the market was rebuilt.
Mr Bayo Egunjobi, one of the market leaders, urged the state government to intervene in the matter by ensuring that the new shops would be allocated to traders already in the market.
Egunjobi said the traders protested to the Governor’s Office and the House of Assembly on Feb. 26 and were told to “return on Wednesday for government’s position”.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“We are surprised to see a lady, who called herself the developer, accompanied with the council and security officials and some thugs, destroying the shops.
“Majority of the traders have been in this market for over 25 years. This is where we get what we use to feed our families.
“It will be unfair if the market is demolished without the government either relocating the traders or tell the traders what would become of them when the market is rebuilt,” Ejunjobi said.
Mrs Owolabi Taibat, a hairdresser, said she had just paid a year rent to the council when her shop was pulled down.
Efforts to get the position of the developer were abortive.
Also, the Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government could not be reached to comment on the development. (NAN)
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