The demolished Owonifari Market in Oshodi (1)
After a decade of back and forth with the leadership of the market, the Lagos State Government finally demolished Owonifari Market in Oshodi last week, citing breaches of public order and safety. Gboyega Akinsanmi writes
Just last week, the Lagos State Government rolled in bulldozers to Owonifari Market, Oshodi. And it brought down the market, whose occupants claimed, had been in existence for four decades. Obviously, the exercise inflicted much discomfort and pain on the traders who were directly and indirectly affected.
Also, precisely three days after the demolition, there was fire incident, which gutted the remaining part of the market. But the fire incident was, according to eyewitness account, caused by some scavengers, prowling for aluminum, copper and coils in the rubbles of the demolished market.
But the state government did not swing into action without due diligence. At least, the accounts of some affected traders, who spoke with journalists the morning after the demolition, attested that the state government had been engaging them for over one decade before it finally issued a notice of demolition.
In his account, Mr. Ola Ganiyu, who had traded in the market for 38 years, acknowledged that the state government issued a notice, directing all the occupants to quit the market. However, Ganiyu said the traders never believed the market would be brought down because it “has been a subject of litigation.”
Concerned about the fate of the affected traders, Ganiyu explained that the place “was actually approved for them by the federal government. Besides, the issue is still before a Federal High Court, Ikoyi. The state government claimed the market would be shut because it was dirty and filthy. As a result, we were issued quit notice, though our counsel warned that the market must not be demolished.”
Also, the market’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr. Obinna Nwosu confirmed that there were seals placed around the market, which he said, indicated indefinite closure of the market. Consequently, Nwosu said the traders hurriedly packed their goods and wares from the shops and stores in the market.
After series of meetings with the state government, however, the market’s spokesperson claimed that the traders decided to return their goods and wares to the market. He explained that the traders returned because the state government “assured us that everything was going to be settled.
“That was the reason most of the traders returned their goods. Aside, there is a court injunction that the state government should not disturb the traders in the market. Since its renovation in 1999, traders voluntarily re-built the market and every shop was decked. Does a seal order look like a quit notice?”
Another trader, Mrs. Halimah Dosu admitted that there was engagement between the state government and the leadership of the market. She said the engagement culminated in the provision of Isopakodowo Market for the affected traders. She added that the engagement led “to the issuance of seal order.”
But according to her, no trader is ready to relocate to the alternative market. Dosu cited the unaffordable cost of renting a shop in the new market among reasons the traders “have refused to relocate. Aside, since it was commissioned, no trader has used Isopakodowo Market due to an incident that claimed some lives.”
Dosu claimed that the traders “are scared to relocate there because of the incident that happened two years ago.People lost their lives. They had families just like we do. If such thing occurs when we move in, what will be the fate of our families? Can the place accommodate us? This week has been bad for every one of us.Everyone is at a loss. We want another place and not that market.”
However, the state government had defended its decision to demolish the market. At a session with journalists four days after the demolition, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde explained that its decision to demolish the market was borne out of intelligence reports that a lot of criminalities and untoward activities “were happening within and around the market.”
Beyond the intelligence report the state government acted upon, the commissioner disclosed that the team of Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) discovered a concrete bunker inside and recovered some firearms from the market after it was demolished.
Ayorinde explained that the state government “got intelligence report that a lot of criminal activities were going on inside and around the market. The place was habouring criminals and a number of untoward activities happening there necessitated that the state should move to safeguard life and properties.
However, the state government had defended its decision to demolish the market. At a session with journalists four days after the demolition, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde explained that its decision to demolish the market was borne out of intelligence reports that a lot of criminalities and untoward activities “were happening within and around the market.”
Beyond the intelligence report the state government acted upon, the commissioner disclosed that the team of Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement Unit) discovered a concrete bunker inside and recovered some firearms from the market after it was demolished.
Ayorinde explained that the state government “got intelligence report that a lot of criminal activities were going on inside and around the market. The place was habouring criminals and a number of untoward activities happening there necessitated that the state should move to safeguard life and properties.
“It was meant to ensure that there was no breach of public order and safety. That was what led to the demolition exercise that took place on Tuesday evening. Aside, we recovered arms and firearms after the demolition. We also discovered a concrete bunker right inside the market. Who knows what they were using the bunker for? Who knows what they were keeping inside the bunker?”
Aside, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Abiola Anifowose explained diverse means of dialogue by which the traders were engaged before the decision was finally taken to demolish the market. He pointed out that the discussion about the market “has been on for over 10 years.”
Anifowose added that the state government “has been engaging the leadership of the market. We have made it known that we could no longer continue with the manner in which the market was being used. There has been back-and-forth engagement between the state government and the market leadership.”
Anifowose added that the state government “has been engaging the leadership of the market. We have made it known that we could no longer continue with the manner in which the market was being used. There has been back-and-forth engagement between the state government and the market leadership.”
The commissioner confirmed that the engagement with the leadership of the market continued under the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Despite that the last administration provided an alternative market, Anifowose said the leadership of the market “has refused to relocate as proposed.
“The last administration built Isopakodowo Market close to Bolade Oshodi. It is not far from the main Oshodi. Isopakodowo Market has almost 600 shops without counting the K-clamps, which will bring the number of people the market will accommodate to over 1,000. Satisfied that we have provided a befitting alternative, we started another round of engagement with the leadership of the market.”
Anifowose explained how the governor appealed through the state Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Musiliu Folami “to invite the leadership of the market to the State Executive Council meeting. The leadership of the market met with the governor on December 16, 2015 at the State Council meeting. The governor again pleaded with them and restated his plan for Oshodi.”
At the meeting, he said the governor asked them “to relocate to Isopakodowo Market, which has been ready by that time. A few of them expressed certain misgivings. But largely, if their interests are accommodated at the Isopakodowo Market, they would relocate as proposed. We all agreed that discussion should continue, particularly on how much they pay for each shop at Isopakodowo Market.”
Subsequently, Anifowose explained that the governor followed up the discussion with a tour of the market area alongside some members of the State Executive Council. During the tour, the commissioner said the market leadership raised issues on the cost of renting a shop at the alternative market.
Subsequently, Anifowose explained that the governor followed up the discussion with a tour of the market area alongside some members of the State Executive Council. During the tour, the commissioner said the market leadership raised issues on the cost of renting a shop at the alternative market.
He noted that the leadership of the market initially demanded the rent be reduced to N15, 000 per month when the governor met them at the State Council meeting. But suddenly, Anifowose said, the leadership came up with a proposal to pay N5, 000 when the governor toured the market area.
Yet, the commissioner said the governor “accepted their proposal to pay N5, 000 per month for each shop. After they agreed, we served them quit notice from the loop where the market was located. As a result, a good number of the traders packed their wares before the market was demolished.
“There is no market in Lagos or anywhere in Nigeria where N5, 000 will be paid for a shop monthly. Our New Year project was to relocate them to Isopakodowo Market. It was when all these processes were completed that the market was demolished. The traders were duly served on December 21, 2015.”
Anifowose said the quit notice was issued in line with Lagos State Tenancy Law, 2011, which required that a notice of seven days “be served on the tenants. But we did not move to the market until January 5. Outside the law, we allowed them a grace of eight days before the exercise took place.”
Ayorinde therefore explained the intention of the government, which according to him, was not meant “to destroy any goods and we did not destroy any goods because almost all of them had moved out. As a government, we cannot be blackmailed because we have done everything humanly possible to avoid undue destruction of properties. The hallmark of this government is compassion.”
Ayorinde therefore explained the intention of the government, which according to him, was not meant “to destroy any goods and we did not destroy any goods because almost all of them had moved out. As a government, we cannot be blackmailed because we have done everything humanly possible to avoid undue destruction of properties. The hallmark of this government is compassion.”
He added that the intention was not “to make life unbearable for the traders. We believe strongly Isopakodowo Market is very ideal for the traders. What we have done is in public interest. So, the decision to demolish the market was taken in the overall interest of public good, safety and security.”
He thus said the aim of the state government “is to ensure that the area conforms with the type of image we want for Lagos; restore sanity to Oshodi; beautify the market; construct the world class bus terminus and ensure that people who use that place enjoy what it means to go to market in a megacity.”
“We also believe the exercise will largely reduce the gridlocks associated with the area. It will reduce the criminalities that are rampant around Oshodi. What we have done is in the interest of the generality of Lagos residents. There was nothing hidden about what we did. There was no casualty. There was nothing untoward about our discussion with them. They all agreed to relocate.”
On this note, the Managing Director of Master Reality International Concept limited, Mr. Lai Omotola provided insight into the original plan for Oshodi. Omotola, an infrastructure specialist, explained that original plan for Oshodi “is to be a terminus where any commuter can link anywhere in Lagos via different means of transportation. Where you have a terminus, you have a bus section.”
He said Oshodi was designed in the form of Victoria Terminus in London. In line with the design, Omotola said there “will be a section for cab and another section for rail. What that means is that when a commuter lands at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), there is a plan for a light rail that will link Oshodi and Airport together.
“It means a commuter can drop at the MMIA and enter a light rail to Oshodi directly. From Oshodi, the commuter can decide to get to Apapa via LAGBUS or cab. From Oshodi, the commuter can decide to get to Ikeja via another rail. From Oshodi, the commuter can decide to get to Victoria Island via cab or other means.
“Oshodi is therefore a major terminus for people coming and going. And it should be operational for 24 hours daily. That is the idea of Oshodi in the 21st Century. What we are supposed to see is the magnificent edifice that can take a lot of vehicular movement. That is what the plan is supposed to be.”
Omotola lamented that the plan had been derailed over the years for what he ascribed to the sustained resistance by some interests. He, however, admitted that development “is not a joke in Lagos.” But he said it was unfortunate that people often “resist development for the thinnest reason. That is why we have to commend the governor for leading the team that demolished the market.
“If the governor had not taken that step, we will still be on the drawing table for the next 20 years. It speaks volume when it is the governor that leads demolition. Today, we are in a global community. Being the closest to the airport, Oshodi sends the first signal about Nigeria. Nobody needs to go anywhere.
“It is what they first see that forms the impression of the entire country is stinking or how the entire country wants to make progress. That axis must be our first foot forward. If we do not get development right from the beginning of the MMIA to the 3rd Mainland, our quest for foreign investors remains a joke.
“If foreign investors come and see shanties left and right, they will begin to wonder the kind of place they are coming to invest. They will get scared. The plan for Oshodi must be magnificent such that everybody within the axis will operate different commercial activities that even boost the GDP of Lagos,” Omotola said.
About The Nigerian Blogger
0 comments :
Post a Comment