The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the demolition of Alaba Rago Market in Lagos State, describing it as a devastating blow to thousands of Nigerians whose livelihoods depended on the decades-old trading hub.
The market, located in the Ojo Local Government Area, was a bustling centre for food, livestock, and scrap metal business for nearly 50 years.
Traders had appealed to the Lagos State Government for compensation over the losses suffered after the latest demolition exercise.
Reports indicate that the demolition, which began on Sunday, August 17, and continued until Wednesday, August 20, displaced several traders and caused widespread disruption.
ACF says demolition disrupted lives and businesses
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Tanko Muhammad-Baba, the ACF said the exercise had inflicted untold hardship on many families.
“Expectedly, the demolition of the historic market has resulted in loss of businesses and property, with disruption to the means of livelihoods and other woes for thousands of people,” the statement read.
The forum, however, expressed relief that no lives were lost in the process. It commiserated with those affected and urged them to rely on their resilience to withstand the setback.
“Hopefully, the usual famed stoic resilience of our industrious people will come into play in helping those affected to cope with losses arising from the demolition,” Muhammad-Baba said.
He revealed that the ACF had commenced efforts to gather full details of the incident, including its causes and wider economic consequences, as part of plans to engage with relevant stakeholders.
“The outcome of the investigations should provide a basis for an engagement with the affected community and the Lagos State Government for a satisfactory resolution of the problem,” he added.
The forum further appealed to both the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government to provide immediate relief materials and financial support for victims to cushion the effect of the demolition.
