- Traders kick against exploitation, seek statutory seal from government
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu, Lagos
The President-General of the Alaba Amalgamated Council of Sectional Heads, Hon Geoffrey Udochukwu Mbonu, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to probe the demolition exercise carried out by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), at Alaba International Market in Ojo Local Government Area of the state, where over 30 structures were demolished and properties running into several billion have been destroyed.
Mbonu disclosed this, while addressing newsmen in view of the recent demolition of properties at the market, explaining the encroachment by the agency during the exercise.
He lamented that the demolition of some buildings in the market was done in a manner that was inhumane and has caused huge capital losses running into billions
“Categorically we state that this exercise was conducted maliciously with hatred for the Igbo dominant tribe in the market he said.
Mbonu said some buildings that were not initially marked and with no sign of defects were demolished during the exercise.
“To the utter dismay and shock, many buildings that were not initially marked for demolition and with no foreseeable defects whatsoever were included in the demolition.
“We the leaders of Alaba International Amalgamated Association want to show our displeasure in the way and manner this exercise was carried out.
“The leaders of the market were never carried along neither were the property owners given enough time to evacuate their goods and this led to the unmitigated loss of wares and properties. The demolition has brought hardship and loss of livelihood.
“We call on the executive governor of Lagos state, his excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come and inspect what is going on in the Alaba international market.”
He added that they were shocked and surprised by the way the exercise was done without considering the fact that the market generate huge revenue for the local Government and the state at large.
“Prior to the demolition, there was no notice by the agency, they came on Friday and Sunday the demolition took place, we were not given time to even evacuate our goods.
Although, it is no longer news that there are certain distressed buildings that LASBCA had marked for demolition, around the canal but they have shifted that particular canal away from the building because that place has been sold to a certain developer, who has the local government logo and approval to build a shopping mall.
He expressed their displeasure over the damage caused by the act and how pained as Nigerians they are.
“We are under a local government, where huge revenue is generated, we pay tax and what the government did was to demolish our buildings alongside the victims’ wares within the space of two days.
He narrated how their ordeal started, Mbonu said that it was on Friday, June 16, 2023, that officials of the LSSBCA and armed policemen were seen in the market and on Sunday, traders’ properties were brought down.
He stated that some of the claims made by the government were false, some structures were erected on waterways, thereby obstructing drainages and causing flooding, especially during the rainy seasons, Lagos has been a swampy area and Igbo traders have always contributed to the development in the State.
Explaining their plight, he stated: “We are not against the government carrying out demolition exercises but the manner in which they have invaded us, without issuing a warning notice and tackling the issue with a sense of humanity to achieve it.
“We are shocked by the lies told by the agency that we have been violent each time they come. Igbo traders have been peaceful.
Mbonu said that each time the officials came they asked for authorisation papers and never issued a notice of demolition. The buildings marked close to the canal which have been certified dilapidated and distressed had been marked for years but, they asked for papers each time they came. What about the new buildings that are not close to the canal, that LASBCA has equally destroyed, our secretariat and other new structures?
“This act is threatening our existence as a people. Igbos are not the only people doing business in Alaba, we are only the pre-dominant tribe there. We have had a cordial relationship with the LG, while we do business and have always contributed to the development of the area and state.
He emphasised that they said it’s a distressed building and those blocking the free flow of water through the provided waterways”.What about other buildings that are newly built and it’s brought down? Government need to review the exercise carried out by LASBCA.
He lamented that the demolition of some buildings in the market was done in a manner that was inhumane. Categorically we state that this exercise was conducted maliciously with hatred for the Igbo dominant tribe in the market he said.
“We the leaders of Alaba International Amalgamated Association want to show our displeasure in the way and manner this exercise was carried out.
“The leaders of the market were never carried along neither were the property owners given enough time to evacuate their goods and this led to the unmitigated loss of wares and properties. The demolition has brought hardship and loss of livelihood.
“We call on the executive governor of Lagos state, his excellency Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come and inspect what is going on in the Alaba international market.”
The President of Alaba International Market Association, electronics section, Chief Camillus Amajuoyi said the demolition took place suddenly and the extent of damage is enormous.
Amajuoyi said they have written several petitions to the Lagos State government, on the issue of area boys’ exploitation of our members and customers, but the state government have not given attention to our need.
He said they have bad roads and other plight of the traders despite the fact that they pay all levies, including taxes to the government. “We don’t enjoy any form of social services or amenities, yet our properties have been destroyed.
“Apart from the demolition of the properties our land is ceded to another developer, with Lagos Logo on it. Ndigbo voted for Sanwo-Olu, while are they treating Igbos this way? If they want us to leave, the state, they should inform us than meting inhumane and unjust treatment of us.”
Amajuoyi recalled how the Speaker of the House of Assembly stated that they are going to pass a law that would regulate properties owner in Lagos. This is a case of personal Vedanta
“It’s annoying that government will come and destroy all we have gathered for years. To be honest with you, we are seeing a handbill that shows a company in partnership with the Local Government, you can see it here, Ojo Local Government. This explains that the man is not telling the truth.
“Meanwhile as the exercise was going on, we called the Ojo Local Government Chairman and informed them about their presence.
“There are some people in the market that wants to destroy, our property he told me that they want to destroy the distressed building, the dilapidated building, those that have gone down. I said okay we are interested because if it is to save lives, why not.
“To our ultimate surprise, these people came on Sunday and started destroying our building. Both those that are distressed and those that are good.
“Chairman they have gone beyond what you have told us he emphasised. They have gone to the extent of destroying the plazas that are on the road. The truth about it is not because the building is distressed or collapsing. It is because of an interest in playing, he noted. They have connived with some people and have sold individual property to a company or developer.
“The local government cannot say they are not aware when they have their logo indicating their support inscribed on their bills. This is a calculative attempt.
“I am now believing that they want to create an access point. Why would we be treated like this, are we, not the same Nigerians? Is Nigeria divided into different parts? We are still a country.
“We have written a series of letters and petitions to the governor of Lagos State explaining our plight. We have equally gone for a series of meetings concerning the threat of Area boys on this axis, to date nothing has been done to curb the menace of Area boys, motor park touts.
“I am telling you that all the effort that we have made and the consultations for the government to curb area boys’ activities have been in futility.
“When the executive governor of Lagos State came to do his campaign for his second term bid, we told him our experiences with the area boys.
“We explained that before a forty feet container from Volkswagen alone gets to Alaba, we spend over a hundred thousand naira. And after offloading the goods, you would pay close to N5000, none of these issues raised by the traders have not been looked into.
“Government should give us statutory seal, after paying close to N200,000, we are still harassed by the area boys. They break windscreens and destroy goods among other notorious acts they deploy to frustrate our efforts as business people.”
Amajuoyi said the environment is “not conducive yet the ones we have laboured for have been destroyed. This is causing so much pain, we kick against this suffering meted on us.
“I read in the news that the present speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mudashiru Obasa, is set to enact a law that is going to punish non-indigenes, In barely three weeks, our properties have been destroyed. If they don’t want us here in Lagos, they should tell us, so we can go back to our homeland,” he noted.