Edo Women Protest Planned Demolition of Market
By Towncriernews
Traders of Ekae Market in Oredo Local Government Council, Edo State, on Thursday took to the streets to protest a planned demolition of the market by the local government council.
The traders, mostly women, expressed their concerns and pleaded with the state government to intervene.
Speaking to journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists ( NUJ) Center, Benin City, Edo State,
one of the trader , Mrs Becky Irabor said the shot notice given to them came as a shock and pleaded with the Edo State Government to intervene.
She said “We have been given three days to vacate the shops, and for now, we don’t know what to do, that is why we have cried out, because some of us are widows, some are single mothers, some are breadwinners to their families.
“We are pleading with the state government to please help us, we are helpless. Many of us rely on what we do there to survive, some of our children are in schools.” She said.
She alleged that the local government council had given them receipts for the shops and many had taken loans to build their stores.
“When Oredo Local Government officials came, they gave us receipts for the place, and many of us used loans to build the place, others are still paying the loan incurred.
“A man just worked to us last Friday and said, they have given us just three days to vacate the place for reconstruction. Most of us have built stores there, that is why we are here. I paid N30,000 there. We are pleading with the government to please let us stay.”
Mustapha Abubakar, a trader and chairman of the Hausa community in Ekae Market also said, “I came back from the mosque on Friday and was told that some people came and said they want to demolish the place. I have a store there, we are stranded, please, you people should help us.”
Also, speaking, the leader of the market women, Mrs. Vero Igbenosa, said she was told about the planned demolition but pleaded with the local government council to consider the traders for shop allocation after the construction is completed.
In response, the Acting Chairman of Oredo Local Government Council and Head of Local Government Administration, Dr. Osaheni Igbiniege, said the market women who are on temporary structures have been told to vacate the place for a permanent structure to be put in place. He promised to ensure that every member of the market women gets a shop after the construction is concluded.
“We will ensure that every member of the market women gets a shop after the construction is concluded,” Dr. Igbiniege said, assuring the traders that their interests would be protected.
