The Lagos State government has said it did not force traders at Owonifari market in Oshodi to relocate to the ultra-modern Isopakodowo, and that the decision was based on mutual agreement reached between it and the leadership of the market.
The government also disclosed that it found and recovered arms in a bunker located inside the market during the demolition.
While addressing newsmen at Alausa on the issue, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said plans to relocate the traders at the market had been on for the past 10 years, leading to series of talks between the government and the leadership of the market in the last three years.
He said the relocation of the traders would have taken place long before now as the leadership of the market refused all entreaties, he, however, said final agreement was reached on December 21 between the two parties during the visit of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to the market.
“Along the line, we got intelligence report that during the holidays, there were a number of criminal activities going on in the market and that the place was harbouring criminals and a number of untoward activities which of course necessitated the need to move immediately to safeguard lives, to safeguard property and to ensure that there was no breach of peace which was what led to the demolition,” Ayorinde said.
Speaking on the bunker, Folami wondered what a bunker with stockpile of arms was doing at the market, adding that there were a lot of criminal acts that took place there.
“There was a bunker, we don’t know what that was doing there, we all know what bunker is,” he said.
