The Lagos State Government Task Force on Environment, at the weekend, demolished 235 shops and 125 Containers (make-shift market stalls) at Igbara Market, Jakande, along Lekki-Epe Express Road
It was alleged that the owners of the shops and containers, had been given prior notice before the commencement of the demolition.
It was gathered that the demolition was going to cut across the state, with shops and containers built under high tension cables being targets.
The Task Force Commander, Olayinka Egbeyemi said the demolition exercise shouldn’t be viewed as punitive, but rather a Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's efforts to save lives and government property.
Egbeyemi urged market leaders’ at all local governments and Local Council Development Areas of the state to support government by educating traders on the danger of trading under a high tension cable.
He said that high current flowing between these high tension cables, with its intermittent sound poses imminent danger to health.
Egbeyemi, who said that a 7-day notice was served on shops owners and traders of the market before commencement of the demolition exercise.
Chairman of the Spare Parts Traders Association, Igbara Market, Mr. Ugo Onuha said they have been operating at the market for more than 20 years now.
Onuha said: "The market was constructed by Igbara Communities, which comprises three different families namely Lawal family, Balogun family and Badanu family. The family collects N3000 to N5, 000 from those selling inside a container, while others who trade inside brick shops pay N10, 000 to N20, 000 monthly."
Onuha and his Deputy, Mr. Lazarus Obinna, pleaded with the government to construct low cost market for traders around the area as those constructed by private developers were expensive.
A representative of Lawal family, Mr. Lateef Lawal said that since the government served the 7-day notice, the Igbara Communities immediately commenced search for possible alternative for the traders.
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