Traders at Wuse Market in Abuja have staged a peaceful protest, urging the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, to stop the ongoing construction of new shops on the market’s car park.
Speaking during the protest on Monday, the traders also demanded the dissolution of the current market union leadership, accusing it of failing to protect their interests.
One of the protesters, Mr. Prosper Chinedu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the new construction violates the original design of the market and threatens existing business operation
He also said that the walls being built, limited customers access to shops, adding that building more shops close to existing one posed threats as some access walk ways and car park would be blocked.
”We are saying no to that, if there is fire outbreak in this market, the Nigerian Fire Service (NFC) will never have access to fight fire.
”We have to stop it now, we are angry with the executives of this market, we want them to step down and a new election held immediately,” he said.
Chief Samson Eze, another trader, said that they had been enduring poor representation for too long.
He alleged that the traders were not consulted in many major decisions taken in the market like increase in service charge among others and especially the ongoing building of new shops.
Eze explained that the grievance of the traders was basically the fact that customers would have no space for parking their cars with the current development.
”We are calling on the minister of the FCT to come and intervene in this case, it is becoming too much and we are tired of how things are ran here,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Judah Chukwuazago, another trader said that he had been in the market for over two decades and could attest to deception, humiliation and intimidation of traders.
He said that the traders want government to come to their aide and other stakeholders in the market.
”I know the FCT minister is working very well, we want him and indeed the Federal Government to come and investigate this matter as well as the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) , because there are several secrets here.
”We want the government to halt the building of illegal structures that is taking over the car park and blocking access to over 1000 shops.
”We cannot continue like this, we want the government to investigate them and stop the building of the illegal shops which are not in the original plan of the market,” he said.
Responding, the Chairman, Wuse Traders Association, Mr Raphael Okorie said that he had carried out his responsibility in line with the norms of the association and the mandate of his office.
Okorie said that he was ready to leave office as chairman, adding that he had no grudge against anyone and described the allegations as the handiwork of detractors.
He said that there were evidences where he fought against policies of government and practices of market managers when the interests of traders were not carried along.
