Barely a week after a surprise visit by the Lagos state governor, Akinwumi Ambode, to the popular Ladipo auto spare market, the Lagos state government has given the traders in the market a two-week notice ahead of the demolition of the market.
The visit by the governor had earlier calmed the nerves of the traders who had been gripped with fear after the Lagos state government, in 2015, announced plans to demolish a number of markets, as well as rebuild some to make Lagos, the economic capital of Nigeria, organised and beautiful.
The popular Ladipo market is not only known in Nigeria, but also patronised by nationals from neighbouring West African states of Benin and Chad. It is by far one of the most popular auto markets. Nevertheless, as much as it is popular for its auto wares, it is as much popular among Lagosian for its terrible odour. The market was once closed in 2015 by the Lagos state government due to the poor hygiene of the traders, which had polluted the environment. The market was later reopened after well meaning Nigerians intervened to secure promises of improved hygiene from the traders upon reopening. However, it took just a couple of weeks for the traders to return to their old ways of dumping refuse on waterways.
The proposed demolition, which is not a move by the Lagos state government to punish the marketers for their poor hygiene, is not only welcome but had tarried for long. As a reason, the government said the demolition of a part of the market would create room for the construction of a car park which will further ease movement within the market. The construction of the car park, as well as the renovation of two major roads within the park, will decongest the ever-busy Mushin road. At the end of the reconstruction of the soon-to-be demolished part of the market, the Ladipo market will in every sense be international.
The proposed demolition of the market will be the second major market demolished in 2017 after the popular Oshodi cotton market was demolished earlier in the year as part of the development and urbanisation plan of the Lagos state government. This will also not be the first time the market will be facing demolition. About 70 shops were demolished by the Lagos state in 2013 after marketers reportedly contravened environmental laws. Also in 2015, about 100 shops were said to have been demolished on the order of the chairman of the Mushin Local council.
However, as much as the demolition will serve a good purpose on the long run, the two-week notice of eviction appears to be too short, especially for the traders that have little or no other option, in the absence of a makeshift structure by the Lagos state government. The government should at least give a month for traders to get themselves a play where they can continue fetching their means of, livelihood while the market is being rebuilt and retouched.
