Lagos Markets
There was an appreciable compliance by traders with the directive of the Chairman, Lagos State Market Development Board, Alhaja Abibatu Mogaji, that all markets in the state be shut on Thursday from 7am to 2pm to enable traders to register during the ongoing voter registration.
One of our correspondents, who monitored Ikorodu and Oshodi areas, observed that many of the traders complied and shut their shops. Some of them were also seen queuing to register.
However, few traders along some of the roads defied the order and opened for business. They told our correspondent that they had registered and were willing to present their registration cards if any market or government officials accosted them.
But when PUNCH METRO visited the popular and ever busy Mile 12 Market, the gates of the markets were shut while some of the traders were seen registering.
The Chairman, Mile 12 Market Management Commmitte, Alhaji Haruna Muhammed, said the closure would enable more traders to register. He said the registration centres in the market were insufficient and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to provide more centres.
Muhammed said, “We are in support of the closure of the market and we feel good about it because it will enable more traders to register. We do not have enough registration centres and the machines, too, are inadequate.
“We are asking the Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to give us special concession and allow two more weeks so that everybody will register.”
An anoymous ad hoc official of the commission, who was registering traders in the market, said they had problems with the machines during the early registration days, adding that there was the need to provide the market with more registration centres to enable intending registrants to register.
The Babaloja, Temidire Dopemu Market, Mr. Rahmoni Asobowa, said there was nothing wrong for Mogaji to ask all market leaders to ensure that their members complied with the order.
He said the order was timely as there could be no room for anyone to accuse government of disenfranchising them.
At Iyana Ipaja, the story was not different. Market stalls were closed. Some of the traders were also seen registering at the market, while some were cleaning the environment.
Uche Duru, a shop owner, said he was happy about the directive.
However, Iyaloja of Iginla Market, Agege, Mrs. Sadat Bello, said that they had to put in place a disciplinary measure to ensure that traders complied with the directive.
The Babaloja General of Agege Local Government, Mr. Surakatu Shitta, said that was not the first time they had received such directive from Mogaji, adding that her directives always had human face and were in the interest of the traders.
A resident of Agbele Kale, Abule Egba area of Lagos, Mrs. Funke Busari, said that there was significant compliance by traders in most markets.
However, she said that commercial bus drivers and commercial motorcyclists capitalised on the situation to charge passengers high fares, stressing that journey, which usually cost N50, was jacked up with between 25 and 50 per cent.
But a commercial driver, who identified himself simply as Danladi, said that it was not completely true that drivers hiked fares, adding that some people might have done that in some areas because of large number of passengers waiting for buses.
At Alasela Kee-Klamp Market, Onipanu, one of our correspondents observed that the market was closed against customers, but some traders were seen in their sheds.
Similarly, Somolu Local Government Model Market as at 1.45pm was shut.
At Ojuwoye Market in Mushin, PUNCH METRO observed high compliance level as everywhere was like a ghost land.
A trader, who did not want her name mentioned, said, “I think the idea of asking traders to use today (Thursday) to register is a good one. It will afford us the opportunity of empowering us to vote against bad leaders in the country. I think this is thoughtful of the government.”
Source:Punch
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