Lagos Government Demolishes Popular Market

Many traders at the popular Sandgrous Market in Lagos State could not hold back their tears on Friday as officials of the state government led a demolition squad to the market.

The team ensured that the market was demolished in accordance to the order granted it by the government.

 

Amid the tears, however, the traders confirmed that they were actually given notices by the state government to quit the market, but that many of them stayed back believing the action would still take long to be implemented.

 

The government plans to transform the market from its shabbiness into an ultra-modern market to add to the beauty of the environment and in line with the planned mega-status of the state.

 

Some days ago, the leadership of the market and the approved developer, DHB Construction Limited, met to sign the agreement for the project to commence.

 

It was learnt that notices were therefore given to the traders.

 

At the signing of the agreement, the Principal Private Secretary to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, had said: "today is somewhat symbolic in the history of the state and it also goes to show some of the concerns of government especially in ensuring that things are done with the consent of all stakeholders.

 

"The information that we have on hand, on the part of stakeholders is that Sandgrouse Market men and women  in agreement with the Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area as well as DHB Construction Limited would want the place redeveloped to really meet the modern needs of the market.

 

"We are thinking for the future that is better than the present that is why we want the place to be redeveloped."

 

The woman market leader, also known as Iyaloja, Alhaja Abibatu Kenku, confirmed at the brief ceremony that there had been consultations and that this had been concluded after the agreement to rebuild the market was reached during a meeting with the Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.

 

"The Local Government (in the area) was also involved and that is why we were able to reach the stage of signing the agreement," she confirmed.

 

But some of the traders who lamented the demolition held that the move was sudden, saying the government did not give them enough time to move out.

 

"Some of us were not in the market when the officials of government arrived and started bringing down the market. It is very sudden and this does not speak well," Sunday Dubem, a trader in the market, said.