Marketers under the Post Office bridge have called on the Kwara State government to fulfill its promises before displacing them from their selling positions.
In an interview with RoyalFM, a spokesperson for the marketers, who opted to remain anonymous, expressed dismay over the sudden removal of their selling tables from the familiar spot under the bridge at Post Office.
According to the spokesperson, the Supervising Commissioner of Works, Hon. Abdulqoyiw Olododo led a team of government officials to raid the place around 01:00 am on Wednesday.
The spokesperson highlighted ongoing discussions between the marketers and government officials regarding the relocation issue. He alleged the government had agreed to provide a new selling space within Soludero Garage before asking the marketers to vacate their current positions.
“They took all the tables that we use to sell at the market under the bridge at Tipper Garage. Those who sell things under the bridge at the post office. They told the marketers not to sell their markets.”
“The agreements the government has with marketers because the marketers and the governments have been discussing the issue for a long time. The governments agreed that before they would ask the marketers to vacate the place they would find a new place for the marketers inside the Soludero Garage.”
“Following their action to stop the marketers from selling their goods and services, the marketers are aggrieved but the leadership of the market is calming the situation and calling on the government to fulfill its promise before asking the marketers to vacate the place.”
However, the abrupt action taken by authorities has left the marketers feeling aggrieved. It was gathered despite efforts by market leaders to diffuse the situation, tensions boiled over, leading to reported clashes between marketers and personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at the Post Office.
Responding to the claims, Kamal Aliagan, the press secretary of the Ministry of Environment, acknowledged that a meeting was held with the marketers in 2023, during which they were informed of their relocation deadline set for December 15.
Aliagan clarified that the government had considered the marketers’ plea to allow them to sell their December stock before vacating the premises. Additionally, he stated that alternative space within Soludero Garage had been allocated to the marketers, although they allegedly refused to relocate.
Contrary to reports of violence, Ayoola Michael, the spokesperson for NSCDC, Kwara Command, denied any exchange of gunfire between security personnel and marketers. He assured the public that normalcy had been restored in the Post Office area.
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