Igbo Traders Ordered To Move From Lagos Island Market

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Thousands of Igbo traders doing business on Lagos Island area of the Lagos State have been ordered to move out from the place within the next two months.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the notice was the decision of the traders association dealing on tools and accessories on Lagos Island to their members.

They were asked to relocate to their just completed multi-million naira shopping complex the association constructed at the Trade Fair Complex along Lagos- Badagry expressway.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the complex was successfully completed last month and the association then gave a directive to their members to leave Lagos Island or such members will lose their shops allocation.

This was confirmed by some of the traders who said they will abide by the union’s directive to relocate.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that by the decision, not less than 20,000 traders will vacate their shops on Lagos Island covering more than 15 streets and over 5000 buildings that had shops they occupied.

Our correspondent asked some of the traders why they chose to relocate to the Trade Fair Complex and they complained that they have been facing security challenges in the area and often lose their wares to criminals who randomly broke their shops and carted away money and goods.

“We are relocating to a better place where we will have adequate security to transact our businesses peacefully without the harassment and intimidation of the area boys,” one of the traders said.

Some also said that contrary to insinuations, it was not Lagos State Government that asked them to leave.

That it was the decision of the traders because the place was already congested and as such most traders cannot get any new shops there to rent.

When our correspondent visited the popular tools market on Lagos Island, some traders were busy loading their goods into trucks going to the Trade Fair Complex.

Some were still hesitant to move and said it was not an easy thing to relocate because they felt they will lose some of their customers.

When our correspondent contacted one of the relocation committee members, Chief Raph Njirika, he confirmed the decision and said it was a gradual process and that was why the traders agreed to the time frame so that all of them will move at once.

On the possibility of some of the traders refusing to move, Njirika said it was a decision by the traders and they have all gotten their shops there.

“There is no doubt they will comply with the directive for their own better interest,” Njirika said.

The chairman of the market union could not be reached when P.M.EXPRESS visited the market on Lagos Island as he was said to have left the market.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that if the relocation works out as planned by the traders, many shops will be vacant because a huge number of traders will leave the place which will translate to huge loss to the landlords in the area.