The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ladipo market

  • Shops’ roofs removed at Ladipo market

    Shops’ roofs removed at Ladipo market

    TRADERS at the Ladipo and parts market yesterday protested the locking of their shops and the removal of the roofs. They accused Mushin Local Government of being behind the action.

    Their allegation was based on a notice at the gate, stating that the market would undergo redevelopment.

    The police and Operation Mesa (OP-MESA) team were deployed to forestall violence.

    Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association (LACEC) Task Force Chairman Emmanuel Osakwe told The Nation that the union is meeting with the council on the way out.

    Some of the traders said they met the market gate locked when they arrived at 6.30am.

    “No trader was allowed to go into the market because the gate was locked. Many of us stood outside the market waiting to hear from our executive members who had gone to dialogue with the local government,” said Chukwuma, a trader.

    Those who pleaded not to be named said they were worried because of the money they left in their lockers.

    “Some of us usually keep our money in the lockers for convenience and hoodlums may take advantage to loot goods and steal our money. Enough notice was not given to us, even our executive members did not notify of their coming. We did not prepare for this horrible experience,” a trader said.

    Another trader who simply gave his name as Innocent said: “I was surprised to see the gate locked, I could not go inside. When I enquired, they said it was local government. I can’t give you my full name because I do not know why they locked the market. Our executive members did not inform us that local government will lock the market. My worry now is that my money is inside. I can’t go now because I must take money from there to go home. Tell them to come and open the market.”

    Another trader blamed the executive for not notifying them before the action.

    “The problem is with the executive members. There is no way a local government will do such thing without giving notice to the traders. Our leaders are not representing us well rather they are representing their selfish interest.”

    Theodore, another trader alleged that chisel and hammer were used to remove the roof and stalls.

    “They did not touch inside but we have not entered to know what happened. We are not going anywhere until they open the gate. Our goods and money are not safe. They should have given us enough notice. We are not against redevelopment of the market rather they should do the correct thing,” he said.

    The council’s Information Officer Segun Akinyemi, said he was unaware of the incident.

     

  • ‘No police intimidation in Ladipo market’

    ‘No police intimidation in Ladipo market’

    Traders at the Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre at Ladipo Market, Lagos, have debunked the claim that there was police intimidation inside the market.

    They said there was no rancour after the conduct of a free and fair election in the market.

    The Chairman of the market, Cyril Onyemaechi, said the policemen in the market were to protect lives and property as requested by the traders after the Lagos State government  restored peace after seven years crises in the market.

    He said since peace was restored to the market, stakeholders, comprising the government and Mushin Local Government, agreed to develop the market.

    “As you can see, there is peace in the market and the police in the market are civil and are working harmoniously with the traders.”

    On the alleged invitation by the Senate, Onyemaechi said those invited went to Abuja and met with the committee. The committee, the chairman said, was satisfied with their response.

     “When I assumed leadership, I brought all aggrieved parties together and made peace and those outside were allowed to come back to their shops unmolested.

    “There is peace in the market as the traders are doing their business without intimidation, harassment and extortion.”

  • Ladipo market leader praises Fashola

    Ladipo market leader praises Fashola

    THE newly elected chairman of the Aguiyi  Ironsi International Trade Centre Traders Association, Mr. Cyril Chukwujindu Onyemaechi, has commended the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola and the Mushin Local Government Transition Committee for successfully conducting a peaceful, free and fair election for them and promised to project the image of the market.

    He also commended the efforts of the police and other security agents, particularly the Area D Police Station, the Olosan Division and Ladipo Police Post, for their cooperation.

    He thanked the market members for their patience, perseverance, calmness and understanding in making the election and handover programme successful.

    He urged them to handle  the environmental sanitation of the market in line with state government directives.

    The chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Hon. Olayiwola Olawale, attributed the success of the election  to God, the cooperation of traders and members of the five-man electoral committee, namely Barrister Peju Akinjayi, the legal officer to Mushin local government as chairman; Hon. Hakeem Sofela,  Alhaja Faosat Olajoku, Hilary Ezeoku and Daniel Ebe.

    Olawale called on the elected chairman and his executive members to be magnanimous in victory and  advised those who lost to team up with the elected members for the good of all the traders.

    He thanked the Chairman of  council for giving the Caretaker Committee opportunity to serve the traders.

  • Ngige takes campaign to Ladipo market

    The former Governor of Anambra state Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige visited Ladipo market in Lagos. His visit was mainly in the interest of traders, spare part dealers and car battery dealers. But not all of them welcomed him with opened hands, saying they have witnessed such visit several times and are not impressed with the outcome.

    Mr. Uche Chukwu sells Honda and BMW spare parts at Ladipo market. He said the senator promise to create a link with the Government to enable traders experience stress free importation and avoid problems while transacting business. “If he can help us solve importation problem, we will be grateful to him and begin to build trust for other political aspirant.”

    A car repairer, Mr Samson Uduaka said he believes the Senator’s words. Adding that his visit signifies that he has the interest of the masses in mind which will enhance buying and selling in the market. “Senator Ngige promise to build complexes where our spare parts can be kept before they are sold, he also promise to construct good roads and repair the bad ones .

    Mr. Timothy Nwonkeji sells Toyota spare parts, he said he had a bad experience four months ago when he tried importing some motor spare parts but with the assurance Senator Ngige has given to traders in the market, he is satisfied and will support him during the elections.“He is my man.” he said.

    while many traders embraced the Senator’s visit, few frown at it. A battery seller, Mr. Ben Chibueze said he is not interested in the Senator’s promises.“many have promised and failed “

  • Lagos tars Ladipo market road

    In line with its promise, the Lagos State government has begun the construction of Ladipo Auto/Market road, TAIBAT IDOWU reports

    The tussle for the chairmanship of Ladipo market in Mushin, Lagos was said to have led to its closure last month. The present chairman of the centre, Mr Jonathan Okoli reportedly refused to step down after the expiration of his tenure, leading to acrimony. The executive was said to have become split. Okoli was said to have held office for eight years.
    There was plan to hold fresh election in November, last year, but Okoli was said to have disrupted the exercise, leading to its postponement. No new date has been fixed for the election.
    Last month, the market was closed in the heat of the crisis. It is yet to be reopened. But in line with its promise to tar the road leading to the market, Lagos State government has begun the construction.
    Some traders spoke on the development. Mr Uche Ezuma said: “The government has put an end to street trading and if they say they don’t want street trading, it is because they want a stress free shopping environment for traders and shoppers.”
    Mr John Aigbo said he likes the market‘s new look. “One could not move freely within the market before.”
    According to Mr Williams Bakare, one of the displaced street traders, “the government said they sent us away because of the congestion in the market, now most of us have no hope!”
    Mr Chukuka Oyenbalulu , a trader, said the new development is an opportunity for traders who have their shops in plazas situated inside the market to make huge sales, because over the years, street trading has been a barrier to the market as a whole.

  • Lagos reopens Ladipo market, list conditions for operation

    Lagos reopens Ladipo market, list conditions for operation

    Lagos State Government has re-opened the Ladipo International auto spare parts market shut for two weeks for poor sanitation and environmental degradation.

    The market was opened on Monday following the intervention of various individuals including the Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha and other leaders of Igbo community in the state.

    State Commissioner for Environment Mr. Tunji Bello said series of meetings were held with the leaders of the market where the terms and conditions for the market re-opening was agreed on.

    Bello who was represented by Permanent Secretary Office of Drainage Service, Mr. Muyideen Akinsanya, said the agreement reached was jointly signed by President Ladipo Central Executive Committee (LACEC), Mr. Ikechukwu Animalu, Secretary of Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers’ Association, Pastor Steve Paul and Chairman Mushin Local Government, Hon. Babatunde Adepitan.

    He listed the conditions to include; non-conversion of the drainage Right of Way (RoW) into trading points and mechanic workshops, non-conversion of the access roads in the market for trading activities and Non-conversion of the shops in the market for residential purposes.

    The agreement also impressed it on the traders not to dump wastes and vehicle parts into the canal and that they should maintain the general cleanliness of the market environment at all times.

    The traders were urged to ensure proper security arrangement in the market which shall be acceptable to the Government and which cost shall be borne by the traders while illegal trading activities in and around the market environment will no longer be allowed.

    Also on the agreement are “that Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre shall remain closed until a resolution is reached with Mushin Local Government, while all statutory revenues, and fees shall be payable to Mushin Local Government and other relevant Government Agencies regularly.

    “That no mechanic workshop shall operate on any access roads leading to the market; while only one – side parking shall be operated by the traders.”

    Government also nullified all allocations and permit around the canal setbacks stressing that traders shall patronise Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) appointed PSP operators and pay service charges promptly, while the LACEC has been empowered to ensure compliance by all the traders in the market.

    “Failure to adhere to the stipulated conditions and agreement shall resort to the Government relocating them from the present location.” it stressed.

     

  • Ladipo market traders plead for reopening

    he National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has appealed to Lagos State Government to reopen the Ladipo Spares Market in the traders’interest.

    In a statement yesterday, NANTS President, Ken Ukaoha, said: “Our investigations, including video clips from various visits by government officials, clearly show that apart from the undertones of leadership squabbles, the state of the market is absolutely messy.

    “While we continue to appeal to the Lagos State governor to temper justice with mercy and kindly consider the poor state of the traders and their dependents, and reopen the market, we as a national body agree in totality with, and share the objective of the government regarding the state of markets nationwide, not limited to Ladipo spare parts market.”

    Thanking all those who had intervened in the matter, NANTS, however, explained that it is important for traders, mechanics and the government to put heads together towards ensuring that health standards are not compromised.

    “While poverty has driven most people into the markets in search of their daily bread, we insist that sanitation and health must not be sacrificed on the altar of such a search,” the statement said.

    Ukaoha also called on market leaders nationwide to take up the issue of sanitation seriously and find ways of daily contending with refuse.

  • Ladipo Market leader arraigned for alleged attempted murder

    The President of Aguiyi Ironsi Market, popularly called Ladipo Market in Lagos State, Mr. Jonathan Chibuzor Okoli, was yeterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for alleged attempted murder.

    Okoli was arraigned alongside others on a 12-count charge of attempting to kill five persons.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Femi Adamson, alleged that Okoli and others now at large, on March 5, last year, armed themselves with guns and machetes and attempted to kill Maduchukwu Ejike, Solomon Eze, Cyril Nwenu, and Joseph Nnaji.

    The prosecutor claimed that Okoli and his accomplices unlawfully assembled at the market to act in a disorderly manner, thereby disturbing public peace. Okoli was also charged with extortion and unlawful display of arms.

    He pleaded not guilty.

    In his bail application, his lawyer, Nnorom Quackers (SAN), told the court that the defendant had been in detention since October last year without bail. He contended that the offence is bailable.

    Quackers told the court that his client had earlier been exonerated of the crime by the Attorney General of the Federation, adding that Okoli is just being persecuted for refusing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to step down as president of the market.

    Opposing the application, Adamson told the court that granting the defendant bail might exacerbate tension at the market.

    Adamson said the defendant had not provided the court with ample evidence to warrant granting him bail.

    Justice Lateefat Okunnu granted Okoli N5 million bail with two sureties in the like sum. The sureties, she said, must be resident and gainfully employed in Lagos.

    One of the sureties must be a relative of the defendant and the other a company director. The sureties must show evidence of tax payment and a police officer not less than the rank of an inspector must verify their identities, homes and business addresses.

    The sureties, the judge said, must be approved by the Chief Registrar of the Court.

    Justice Okunnu ordered Okoli to sign an undertaking to keep peace in the association, adding that he must not directly or by proxy interfere in its affairs except to promote peace.

    She barred Okoli from physically going to the market and restricted him to within its three-kilometre radius.

    Justice Okunnu ordered the defendant to report once in a month at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba, where he “must not be kept for more than 30 minutes by the police.”

    The judge ordered the police to plant a device on the defendant to ensure that he does not violate the restrictions. The matter was adjourned till April 23, 2013.

    Hundreds of Okoli’s supporters thronged the court in solidarity.

    The supporters sang solidarity songs on entering the court but were restrained from further doing so by security officers.

  • Court remands ‘Ladipo market leader’ in prison

    The embattled factional leader of the Aguiyi Ironsi International Market, popularly called “Ladipo Market”, Mr. Jonathan, was on Monday returned to Ikoyi Prison following the unavailability of legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution.

    Okoli, 50, was arraigned on November 5 before an Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a seven- count charge of riots, attempted murder, illegal possession of fire arms, assault and demanding of property with menace, among others.

    The prosecutor, Mr. Chukwu Agu, who is the officer in charge of the Legal Department, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, had told the court that the defendant with others at large, on March 5 at about 11am at Ladipo, caused terror to traders within the market and the neighbourhood.

    He said Okoli attempted to kill one Ejike Maduchukwu by inflicting several  machete cuts on him.

    Agu said the alleged offence contravened Sections 409, 45(2), 228(2), 229, 410, 51 and 166(d) of the Criminal Law as of Lagos, 2011.

    Okoli’s pleas were not taken at his arraignment because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case and he was remanded in custody.