Shop demolition: Ijegun traders count losses

Traders at the Ijegun Market in Lagos State are counting their losses following the demolition of their shops.More than 50 shops were demolished to pave way for the market's development recently.The contractor handling the project, Alhaji T. Bariola, of the Ashilabi and Company, began the demolition in May and had the last exercise on October 7. The contract was awarded by the Alimosho Local Government.Since the demolition began, no new shops had been erected and so, there has been no trading in the market.Some of the affected traders told newsmen that the demolition had inflicted suffering on their families.Mr Victor Agboola, who had two shops, alleged that the contractor did not issue notice to the traders before he embarked on the demolition.Agboola, who was selling beverages and telephone recharge cards, said that the market had become an abode for Indian hemp smokers.``We were told that they intended to build modern stores but the market is now an abode for hemp smokers and hooligans.''We were doing our normal businesses when they came and demolished our shops.``I had two shops that were demolished on the seventh of this month; they took our bricks and sold them after demolition; there was no compensation,'' he said.Another trader in the market, who simply gave her name as Mama Aloma, said that since the demolition, touts had been collecting N100 from her weekly for selling on the roadside.``From the little we make, they ( touts) ask us to pay N100 weekly for what I do not know; we, the masses keep making life unbearable for ourselves,'' she said.The contractor, however, said that rebuilding of the demolished market was part of the contract, adding that the shops would be rebuilt into modern ones.Bariola said that he was making efforts to secure a bank loan for the reconstruction.He explained that the market would be rebuilt on a build, operate and transfer basis.
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