On Thursday 27th February 2020, a group of traders from the popular Agboju Market in Amuwo-Odofin.
The protest, which was carried out peacefully, saw to the traders marching to the LGA Secretariat , 41 Road Festac Town with placards carrying various messages.
The traders are the occupants of the Segment of Agboju market, facing 207 Road, known as the Abibatu Mogaji International Plaza.
The traders used to protest to appeal to the State Government to stop the Lagos Taskforce from demolishing and taking over their source of livelihood in the market.
According to source, the developer of the land, who rented out the market space to the traders, Gilbert Fulani Okereke, said he has an agreement with the government sometimes in 2010 and that the late Iyaloja of Lagos State, Abibatu Mogaji, was a party to the agreement.
According to the developer:
“A committee, which was headed by Mr. S.A. Ajose, was constituted and I was given the go-ahead to develop the land for a period of 38 years and they promised to give me a letter of approval within 60 days, but till this moment, I am yet to get the approval from the government.
“I took loan from the bank to be able to develop the property and when I could not service the loan again, the bank reported to EFCC and I was interrogated until it was clear that I was not embezzling the money.” – Okereke
Okereke further stated that the late Alhaja Mogaji was so kind to him, hence the reason why he named the plaza after her to immortalize her, but some persons are instigating the current Iya Oloja, Folashade Iyabo Tinubu-Ojo, against him to take over the market, saying it belongs to her late mother.
According to one Mr Emma Onyia,he revealed that the developer had an agreement with the council and they were given a lease for 35 years and three years for the construction of the plaza and for the past 10 years, they have not gotten an approval.
Ismail Ibrahim, an affected trader at the Agboju market who was part of the peaceful protest lamented
“We came here to defend our right.
“I have been selling in this market for the past 15 years and we are not into sale of illicit drugs as alleged.
“The betrayer among us has been giving us trouble since she was sent away from the market, threatening us with OPC and thugs.”
Another trader, Ibeh Steven, said the matter has started for a very long time, but “our attacker (names withheld) would bring touts to the market to harass us.
“We have not done anything wrong. “We are doing our legitimate business.”
Efforts was made to speak to the Chairman of Amuwo-Odofin LGA and he explained thus
The council gave the contract to Kesio Associates ltd to develop and build the market. For over 15 years , the market has not been built nor developed so far.
Sadly, the developer breached the agreement he had with council which has led to the decision of the LGA to terminate the contract/ agreement and take possession of the land back.
Notice of termination of contract has been issued sometime back and another has been issued this week.
More Details coming shortly.