uncil Development Area, Olufunmi Rafiu, ordered council officials to demolish some shops in the Sangotedo Market.
A trader at the market told our correspondent that thugs stormed the market as early as 7am and began demolishing the shops. “This is heartless coming during an economic hardship caused Covid-19. People lost millions of naira.”The trader said there was no approval for the act, adding that the council chairman acted illegally without the approval of the state government or the permission of the traders.Rafiu said the plan was to demolish and reconstruct the market within six months and return the shops to their previous owners.
“We had a series of meetings with these traders and the commissioner for physical planning. It was not illegal. We had even erected a notice there since January 6 but they have been resisting. They got the commissioner of police to stop us and we delayed. We have just six months to do this job.”