The Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led Lagos State Government on Monday commenced the final demolition of the popular Oshodi market.
Recall, that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode himself had early last year led the first phase of the demolition exercise in Oshodi.
Likewise, the immediate past administration in the state led by Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) had also taken similar actions to decongest the ever busy Oshodi market.
When Newsclickng.com team visited the market, shop owners were seen making last-minute efforts to recover their goods.
A visibly disturbed shop owner who managed to speak with Newsclickng.com team on behalf of the affected shop owners after several appeals said the demolition appears to be the beginning of the end for them.
“I really feel like I’m dreaming right now. The problem is not moving from here but where we are going to settle despite spending close to ten years here. Truly they (referring to the Lagos State Government) had given us quit notices but it was without an alternative. Many of us are still scouting for a place as commercially viable as this place and we are yet to see any. Some the few places that have close commercial viability to this place are all filled up and who knows, Ambode can take his bulldozer there tomorrow. We don’t even know what to do to survive in Lagos anymore,” he said feeling disappointed.
When Newsclickng.com team tried taking pictures of the bulldozing activities, some security officials said it was not allowed threatening to seize the camera.
However, a spokesperson for the demolition team who spoke with Newsclickng.com team on condition of anonymity said the shop owners had been issued a quit notice since last year.
“The shop owners had been handed quit notices since December 5 last year. Most times when such notices are given, they (referring to the traders) assume it’s a joke and that government will push demolition date further. However, as you can see, the various construction works in Oshodi are at an advanced stage and some of these shops are standing as obstructions to the advancement of the works.”
