It was Saturday morning (12th December 2020), I just finished morning mass and confession, in my room preparing for breakfast when I began to hear the cries of commotion. I peeped through my window, it was the traders in Oyinlola Olorunda market (23 Road Market, Festac Town, Lagos) wailing and crying. I came down from my room to further ascertain what was going on. It was the demolition team from Amuwo Odofin Local Government wreaking havoc on the shops of the traders. With a giant Caterpillar, that which they (market women and men) have worked for over 25 years was gone within twinkling of an eye. The Local government had in a press statement released on Monday 14th December 2020, stated that it had obtained approval from Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs as well as Federal Housing Authority (FHA) to demolish the market and put up an Ultramodern shopping mall assuring market owners that they would receive priority consideration when the construction is finished. In a sensitive and just society, this kind of action by a government should not have happened at least not for now. But I guess this is the trademark of the Nigerian government, being insensitive and callous to the plight of the citizenry.
With a number of traders I spoke to, many of whom are my parishioners, there was never any notice prior to this act of wickedness. Yes, I was made to understand that the leaders of the Market Association have been having meetings with the officials of the Local Government, but no specific date was given for this demolition. And even if date was given, not at this time and this year when the COVID-19 pandemic have wrecked havoc on the human existence both at home and abroad. The nation has been plunged into economic recession, many Nigerians are languishing in penury and abject poverty and this is Festive period. A government that claims to have people at heart will do no such things. At any rate, if the promises being made by the Chairman of the Local Government is anything to go by, we do hope that those who have lost their investments and livelihood in the market should be justly and fairly compensated without going through the senseless bureaucratic processes of the Nigerian government. I also urge the Local Government as a matter of urgency to provide alternative market for the traders while the construction last so as to avoid street trading which is already taking over the far end of the 23 Road.
