Traders at the Rauf Aregbesola Market, Iyana Ipaja, Lagos, have appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene in the deadlock between them and Alimosho Local Government Council.
The local government on Friday threatened to eject the traders to pave way for the demolition of the structures to upgrade the market.
The traders told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday that this was the second attempt by the local government authorities to forcefully eject them from the market.
According to the traders, in 2012 when the market was under Egbeda/Akowonjo Local Development Authority, the council asked them to submit their allocation papers for an upgrade of the market.
They said that the upgrade was suspended when their lawyer challenged the council after an advice from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The traders queried the rationale of the local government for planning to take over the shops that were sold to them on owner-occupier terms at the first instance.
“We bought these shops in 2004 at the price range of N300,000 for those located inside and N400, 000 for those facing the road.
“We pay our yearly permit of N4, 100 as responsible citizens, abide by every rule governing the state and expect due consideration from government.
“However, it is unfortunate that a government that we chose to represent us and oversee our welfare is working secretly to destroy our source of livelihood,’’ a trader said.
However, many traders testified that they were unhappy with the decision and believe it is just a way to deceive them.
Mr Lateef Abiodun, the Market Master for Alimosho Local Government, said that the planned upgrade of the market was in line with the megacity plan of the State Government.
Abiodun also serves as the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Alimosho Branch.
He said: “There’s going to be an upgrade, but we will not displace them, all the previous tenants will be put back in their rightful places.
“We have had meetings with the committee members set up by the market on this issue. We do not intend to create untold hardship on them, but rather to protect them.
“If they are resisting, what happened in Oshodi market may happen there, we are not saying we are the ones to do it.
“Because, those people (Oshodi) have been on it for quite a long time and the state government just took action, we do not want that to happen here.’’
