The demolition of the popular Owonifari market in Oshodi, Lagos, has continued to generate ripples as Igbo traders whose shops were demolished by the state government have threatened to approach a court of law for compensation of N20 billion from the government, as the worth of the property and goods lost.
The Igbo traders stated that they were peeved by the demolition because it was politically motivated and meant to punish them for voting for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the area.
Also, the traders denied the allegation that pro-Biafra meetings were being held in the market, and challenged the state government to prove the allegations.
According to Chibuzor Onugha, who spoke on behalf of the traders: “We are being punished because PDP won in this area, they alleged that the we are holding Biafra meeting its all false, they just want to punish the Igbo’s for political reasons.”
He also relayed the fears of the traders, who said they could not relocate to the new site provided in Isopakodowo market because it only had shop space for 600 traders as against over 6000 traders who were trading in the demolished Owonifari market.
However, the Lagos State Government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, debunked the claims by the traders that the new site could only accommodate 600 traders, saying there were kee clamps that could expand the number the new site at Bolade-Oshodi could take to 1,000 traders.
Furthermore, Ayorinde said the traders had been given more than enough time to relocate from the now-demolished market as required by law, but refused to move in defiance of various from the state government.
He also said government had related with the leadership of the market on several occasions before the demolition.
The state government in a press briefing jointly organised by various ministries in the state also said it had taken the plight of the traders into account by making shops at the new site available at a flat rate of N5,000.