MRS DANIEL, Trader
Q: Why were the shops locked?
A: I don’t know but when I came here this morning, I saw a paper at the front of the gate and when I asked questions, I was told that it was from LASBACA
Q: Was there any prior notice before the locking of the gate?
A: They just came and asked us to leave the market and not to sell at the entrance of the gate.
Q: What was the cause of the gate being locked previously?
A: There were different complaints sometimes, they would say that the market is not clean, but today, the market is clean and we just came and discovered that the gate was closed.
Q: What do you want the government to do about this?
A: I want the government to come to our rescue. The burden is too much for us and we are just selling okro, tomatoes and vegetables; yet they are demanding four million naira for a shop. How can we afford such an amount?
MRS. OMOBOLANLE OMOTAJU, Trader:
Q: Were you notified before the lock?
A: No, we were not notified. I sell tomatoes and most of the traders in this market sell perishable goods. If we are not careful, the goods would spoil, the government should please help us.
Q: Did they tell you when they are going to unlock the gate?
A: No, but we heard that the developers and the Iya Oloja are presently having a meeting.
MRS. EJIMTOZOR, Buyer:
Q: What is your response to the locking up of the market?
A: I was disappointed because I wanted to buy food stuffs but when I came, I discovered that the gate was locked.
Q: What would you do next now that the market was closed?
A: I will wait for some time and if the gate is not re-opened, then I would go home and come back tomorrow.
ALHAJA TAOFIKAT ALLISON, Iya Oloja:
Q: What is really happening?
A: I don’t know what is happening, but I think the issue is between the local government and the state government. The whole issue is beyond me, and the people selling in this market are pleading with the government to settle the dispute between them because the economy is hard at the moment and people are suffering.
I am using this medium to plead with the local government of Ikorodu and LASBCA to please consider the people because a lot of them have lost their goods, which were perishable.
Q: What can you say about the allegation that the reason was because some shops are being built inside the market and you and the local government are in-charge?
A: I don’t know any of the developer or council member. I am just the caretaker of the market. The traders