Lagos task force arrest 27 traders

Daily Champion 17/12/08

Lagos task force arrest 27 traders

TUNBOSUN OGUNDARE

NO fewer than 27 traders from the shut Ladipo auto spare parts market, Mushin, Lagos, were yesterday arrested by operatives of a task force of the state Ministry of the Environment.

The traders, who were mostly members of the Aguiyi Ironsi International Plaza, a unit in the market, were accused of flouting government’s order.

It would be recalled that Mushin local government last weekend ordered closure of the market following alleged violation of sanitation law by traders.

A senior officer of the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) told Daily Champion that the traders were arrested at different points and times and have been taken to the agency’s headquarters at the state secretariat Alausa, Ikeja, where they will be arraigned by the agency’s court.

Their offences, said the source, who preferred anonymity, include unlawful engagement in business activities and non-participation in cleaning exercise.

According to him, those arrested would be made scape goats because they deliberately disobeyed government order.

"And it’s necessary that government do that, because those we had earlier arrested on Monday, were all released since we believed that by that time, they might not have been fully aware that government sealed up the market," said KAI official.

"But for the ones we arrested today, they have to face the consequences."

As at 4.45 p.m yesterday when this reporter visited the market, traders were seen in groups, lamenting and counting their losses as a result of the impromptu closure of their market.

Chief Obi Chuks, chairman, Progressive Traders Association, told Daily Champion that they had already cleaned-up their environment and now waiting for government to re-open the market by tomorrow (today).

"We have lost so much within the two days the market was closed. On daily average, about 10 to 12 lorry load of goods are off loaded by traders and you know what that means. Also, about 17 bank branches are in the neighbourhood of the market, and they are located here because of us the traders. And now, they must have known what they too would have lost because of the closure.

"So our plea to government is to re-open the market by tomorrow (today) so that we will be able to get — money to take care of ourselves and relations moreso that Christmas celebration is around the corner.

However, Daily Champion gathered that government and the leadership of the market are already dialoguing over some agreed terms before the market could be re-opened.

One of these is for the market leadership to guarantee that the cleaning-up exercise would be sustained and there wouldn’t be re-surfacing of business activities on the roads.

Daily Champion recalled that Sunday’s night, Mushin local government council, closed the market against business activities.

The closure was because of the environmental nuisance the market portend to the neighbourhood and importantly, roadside trading which has become a phenomenon of the market.