Traders plead for re-opening of Yaba market

RESIDENTS and traders in Yaba area of Lagos have called on the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, to re-open the closed Yaba International Market, to reduce tension and incessant cases of robberies and other crimes involving the youths.Some of the traders in the closed market, lamented that things were very dull for them since the closure."This is a terribble situation. Some of the people have joined bad gangs due to the closure. Some ladies are now into prostitution. There are over 1000 youths doing one thing or the other in the market to survive, but now that the place is under lock and key, they are just roaming about doing nothing and some devilish ones among them have taken to crimes", a trader, Alhaji Bayo Ayinla, told Community News.Alaji Ayinla appealed to Governor Fashola to re-open the market to reduce the sufferings of the people, as the continued closure of the market was telling on the condition of living of the people.A Hausa man who operates bureau de change in the market, told Community News that things were not rosy for the traders and other people due to the prolonged closure of the market. He lamented that people had deserted the market, hence his low patronage."We are in a big mess. Customers are no longer coming to change currencies and it is giving us problems. Some of our men have relocated to other markets in the state. We are calling on the state governor to have mercy on us and re-open the market."A food seller in the area, Mrs Aliratu Adio,lamented that the continued closure of the market was impacting negatively on the income of the people in the community. "We are traders in this area. Though, we are not operating within the market, one way or the other, we are connected with the market because, the buck of our costomers come from the market and since its closure, we have been experiencing difficulties. Like in my case, I support my husband with the little money I make from my business, and since the closure, things have not been easy with the family. We are calling on government to open the market."
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