Perishable Food Market Traders Protest At Lagos House, Seeks Approval For Market Site

Orilowo Perishable Food Market Association members on Thursday protested outside the Lagos State House of Assembly over delayed approval of the location of their market.

The protest was led by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) in collaboration with civil society stakeholders, who demanded approval for selling products at Plot 705, Adekunle Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road, Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

Alex Omotehinse, president of CHSR, said the association submitted the petition in May 2022 to seek permission for the requested location.

They allege that LCDA officials are deliberately delaying the approval and sought the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly to resolve the issue, Punch reported.

Omotehinse said the non-approval of the site for market puts livelihood of more than 1000 traders in jeopardy.

Noheem Adams, the majority leader at Lagos House of Assembly, responded to the protest and said the protesters will receive an invitation letter from the government alongside other stakeholders and the Agboyi-Ketu LCDA Chairman to ensure a fair hearing of the problem on Jan. 9.

"Protest is part of democracy, and it is right to protest when you are aggrieved," Adams said, Vanguard reported. "You have written a petition to the Speaker, who has approved your petition and forwarded it to the Chairman of the Committee on Local Government and the Chieftaincy."

"We appeal that you give us the opportunity; we would ensure justice; we would do the needful; but we need to hear from all parties involved, including the LCDA chairman. We cannot hear from only you and decide; we need to hear from all stakeholders," he added.

While the protestors alleged that their request to get a site allocated was refused, Dele Oshinowo, the Executive Chairman of Agboyi-Ketu LCDA turned down the claims. He said that he had no meeting with the association regarding the market site.

"That place is not marked for market. They have not gone to Lagos State Ministry of Lands to change the use of the land to a market site," Oshinowo said, PM News Nigeria reported. "The group has issues with plantain sellers and started having a fight. The place they are claiming is not for the market."

"We cannot be creating a market at every spot. Rather than come to me, they went ahead to protest, what are they protesting," he added.