Idumota: Money, chaos in the heart of Lagos

Doing business in the market should ordinarily be an exciting activity, but SHEHU BELLO who visited Idumota, one of the major commercial nerve points of Lagos State, and reports that for patrons of the Lagos Island markets, it is doing business in an atmosphere of chaos.

LAGOS is globally acknowledged as the commercial capital of Nigeria. Lagos Island, from where the entire state got its name, ably sign-posts the huge commercial activities going on in there. It is also, perhaps the location of the biggest, largest and most-patronised markets in Africa. From Idumota, famous for the best, cheapest and most expensive fabrics, to Oke-Aarin and Balogun markets, where one could get practically anything that could be purchased, and Ebinpejo regarded as the headquarters of movie distribution worth millions, perhaps billions of naira, exchange hands on a daily basis. The markets attract customers, not only from Lagos and within the country, but also from neighbouring African countries.

Unfortunately, getting through to these major markets by whatever means of transportation has remained a headache for years and there are no immediate or future relief in sight.

Despite housing sprawling markets, Lagos Island is laced with narrow busy streets and shops with goods spilling out onto the streets, as pedestrians jostle to find their way through the crowded area. The buildings are built very close to one another, leaving little or no spaces. Both man-made and developmental bottlenecks have turned the markets into a jungle where only the fittest survive.

From Idumota to Broad Street and Marina, trading activities go on every day of the week, from warehouses to shops, both large and small which daily serve both sellers and buyers.

The Idumota market is one of the oldest and arguably one of the largest markets in West Africa. On a daily basis severe gridlocks are experienced in every corner of the market which has affected and slowed down its development. Another problem being faced by shoppers is the activities of miscreants and motorists which hinder the smooth flow of traffic as they often spend hours getting in and out of the market in the course of the day.

When Sunday Tribune visited, the gridlocks stretched from the Balogun Market down to the Idumota pedestrian bridge, as motorists struggle to meander through the narrow roads.

Traders, shoppers and others are used to it. Ironically the designated car park is hardly used as motorists prefer parking on the road on both sides, leaving little or no space for others coming into and exiting the market.

Lateef Adebunmi, a resident of Idumota, told Sunday Tribune that the gridlock is as a result of traders displaying their wares on the road including the activities of motorists.

According to him, “the continuous gridlocks witnessed on a daily basis from the Idumota junction down to Tinubu Square is really a great concern to those of us who are residents of this community and it is sad that we are helpless about it.

“It is the state government and the Central Business District, (CBD) that can actually do something about it, as those displaying wares on the road are first and foremost part of the problem. Secondly, the union operating in this area needs to caution motorists who stop indiscriminately on the road. They have bus stops and their activities should be confined to their bus stops and not the road.

“I think the CDA, state government and the (transport) unions are the only ones that can help with reducing the gridlocks in this place.

“Government needs to be here; you will agree with me that the whole of Lagos Island is a business area and government is making a lot of money from here and I think they need to come and do something about the gridlocks as it is also affecting us the residents.”

A shop owner, simply identified as Mama Dupe, also complained about the traffic chaos to Sunday Tribune. According to her, the gridlocks in Idumota is as a result of those displaying their wares in the road.

“You know the road is narrow and we also have people selling there. So, what we have is motorists and those displaying their wares on the road competing for space and this tends to bring problem and it is affecting we sellers as customers often complain about the traffic,” she said.

An Okada rider, who plies the route and simply identified himself as Gbenga, told Sunday Tribune that it would require government taking away the motor park before the gridlocks could disappear.

“I have been in this community for the past five years and I can tell you that those yellow buses are the major cause of gridlocks being witnessed here. It is only when government removes them that sanity will return to the road; but if not, nothing will happen and it will remain the same,” he said.

Another trader who refused to give her name gestured towards the motor park asking Sunday Tribune to see for itself the chaos that was already in place.

“Go to the motor park and see for yourself and after that go beyond the pedestrian bridge and also see for yourself. See, the motorists here are causing a lot of problems and we traders can’t really say anything as this miscreants you see here are very dangerous and deadly.

Those displaying their wares on the road are part of it, but theirs is minor compared to what those motorists and union officials do in this place. We want the government to do something about it and we will be really happy if they help ease the traffic in this place,” she said.

The atmosphere at Balogun Market is a little bit better compared to Idumota market, but it was observed that the gridlock that built up from Idumota also affected and hindered commercial activities in the market.

A trader in Balogun market, Chidi Okeke (not real name for personal reasons) told Sunday Tribune that the community needed the presence of government in order to ease the gridlocks.

“Only government can do that. The guys are not people you reason with. Government needs to come here and do something about that place as it affects everyone and not only those in Idumota as you can see,” he said referring to the activities of motorists and touts in the area.

Shoppers also have tales of woe to tell. Lai, a shopper, said he was always discouraged from coming to Idumota to buy things, despite his love for purchasing beautiful fabrics.

“There are times I would be so determined to come to Idumota and would postpone the trip at the last minute when I think of the vehicular and human traffic there. The whole place is a mess. To get in is a problem. If you park on the edge of the bridge like others, you will still pay area boys. The last time I paid N500 for nothing because it is not that they are even watching over your vehicle. Maybe the only good thing is that once you engage one of them, there is a big chance none of those known to him would vandalise your vehicle before you are through.

“You then shop for one hour and spend five hours getting out of traffic and those narrow roads, with all the crazy motor-boys directing you anyhow and the yellow buses doing their crazy things.

“How about the traders spreading the wares on the road? You will practically find it difficult placing your feet on the ground, doing short jumps everywhere in order not to step on somebody’s wares.

“Ambode isn’t ready for a mega-city.

When he is ready, he will clear Idumota like Fashola (former governor) cleared Oshodi,” he told Sunday Tribune.

Several other shoppers also interviewed by Sunday Tribune did not differ concerning those to blame for the rowdy scenes around the markets.  One of them complained that she got to Idumota around mid-day but was not sure when she would leave the market due to the rowdy situation. She has a car but would rather not bring it to the market. According to her anyone who tried it would have to wait for several hours before getting out.

 

Residents’ fear of attack

Those who are resident around the market would rather not speak with Sunday Tribune. According to them they or their family members could be attacked if they say any uncomplimentary things about the area boys whom they blame mostly for the problems in the market.

One of the touts who would also not want to identify himself told Sunday Tribune that “Idumota won’t be Idumota again if you remove all these things you are complaining about.”

When asked if Sunday Tribune could talk to the market leader, one of the touts said there is none in place, but he directed us to a man called Sese, who said he was too busy for an interview. The reason was obvious. For several minutes Sunday Tribune waited, Sese was busy with members of his team, collecting money from traders and issuing receipts to them.

On Ijaye Street in Idumota, it was noticed that road rehabilitation was ongoing, but it did not appear to have the capacity of affecting the traffic situation in any way even after the job might have been completed. Apart from being an inner road, it does not connect the main market in any way.

However, experts have projected that the state and the market operators might be losing revenues in excess of millions of naira on daily basis, as only those without options would make the Island markets their shopping options.