Shutting Akorede market not political – Itire-Ikate council boss, Apatira

The Executive Chairman of Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area, Hon. (Dr) Ahmed Olarewaju Apatira, has said there is nothing political about the shutting down of Akorede multipurpose Market, in Lawanson, Lagos.

The council boss, had on Monday, order the closure of the multipurpose market thereby grounding trading activities.

In response to the closure, traders in the market, in a viral video, alleged that the market was shut as a result of the outcome of the February 25 presidential and March 18 governorship polls where Igbo traders voted against the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state.

The traders alleged, “The Market was locked up for no reason and on enquiry; we were informed that it was the Local Government Chairman that ordered it’s shutting down.

“It is generally believed that this is a fallout of the just concluded Presidential and Governorship Election in the State, where some section of the country residing in Lagos were been ordered to leave Lagos or be frustrated out. Please, we want the authorities concerned to find out from the Local Government Chairman his reasons for locking traders out of market.”

Reacting to the allegations, the council helmsman, Dr Apatira said the market was shut down because traders not only violated environmental sanitation laws by indiscriminately dumping refuse on the walkway; they assaulted environmental sanitation officers and prevented them from performing their lawful duties.

He said, “It is unfortunate that some traders in the market prefer to play ethnic card rather than face the truth. It’s irresponsible for anyone to alleged that Akorede market was shut down because some Igbo traders did not vote for the APC. This is far from the truth.

“The Igbo traders are not the only traders in the market. In fact Itire-Ikate is one community in Lagos that has diverse ethnic groups resident in it and we have been living in peace and harmony.

“I can tell you that there is nothing political about the market closure. The market was shut down because of some infractions. The traders patronised cart pushers and defaced the entire market and the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway with refuse.

“They engage the services of cart pushers instead of LAWMA and they lack proper and adequate waste disposal conduct.

“And as a responsible government, we cannot fold our arms and watch them jeopardise public health and the wellness of other traders in the market. This is part of the reasons the market was shut down.

“Aside this, the traders made the walkway impassable by trading and erecting illegal structures on it. They also did not comply with environmental sanitation laws.

“The traders even assaulted environmental officers and council staffs, and prevented them from performing their legitimate duties in the market in a total disregard for constituted authority while also running a parallel market committee thereby usurping the functions of the legally constituted Iyaloja/Babaloja Generals-led market executive committees.

“They lean on the shoulder of the Iyaloja-General to form a trade association that is not recognised by the government. They took over the control of the market without informing the local government.

The Iyaloja-General of Lagos, Mrs Folashade Ojo has warned against dirtiness and all other acts that could jeopardise public health. She instructed us to pay lock up bills and maintain high sanitary hygiene. And this we adhered to.

The Igbo and the Yoruba traders are one. We are one and indivisive Nigerians. When I was called to intervene, I had to find solution to the crisis. I went to plead with the chairman and he obliged. The market has been reopened and trading activities are in top gear.”