Officials of the Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State have commenced a demolition exercise at the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market at Mushin, reported Vanguard.
Traders were reportedly restricted from gaining entrance into the market to remove their goods from the shops during the demolition exercise.
They lamented that they met “hoodlums” accompanied by policemen and SARS operatives vandalising the market with bulldozers .
According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the market, Kanayo Okonkwo, there was no notice to prepare the traders ahead of the demolition.
He said, “As it stands, we are in raining season. If it rains, it will spoil all our goods. That would take us back to square one.
“They didn’t tell us anything. I don’t know where they want us to go. We don’t have other shops. Assuming they gave us some kind of notice, we would know what to do, we came today to sell but found a lock on the gate.”
“We want to know why they vandalised a section of the market .
“If they have any issue within themselves, let them sort it out. We came here to look for daily bread, not to disturb anybody. If they really planned to develop the market, they should have at least informed us. The governor of Lagos State should come to our aid. If they want us to leave, we will do that. But they should do what is right.”
More so, a banner was visible in front of the market gate which reads: “Proposed Commercial Development of Mushin, Lagos.
It was also written on the banner that Mushin Local Government in conjunction with a developer known as Total Value Integrated Services Limited is to commence building of a modern plaza market in place of the present stalls being demolished.
Reacting to the reports, the Executive Secretary of the local government, Jide Bello, said business went on as usual at the market on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, adding that the council had already concluded plans to develop the market which has become an eyesore.
Bello went on to avail that the LG authorities had convened several meetings with the market leaders in order to ensure the commencement of a phase-by-phase development of the market, but the body language of the market leaders showed that they were buying time in order to frustrate plans to redevelop the market.
