Roadside traders at the Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market in Lagos have been ordered to leave or face sanctions. The Federal Ministry of Works gave the traders this quit notice on behalf of the Nigerian Government.
According to Mr Adedamola Kuti, the Federal Controller of Works, who made this known in Lagos recently, the need to clear the roadside traders has become necessary because some of them are obstructing Right of Way.
“We are just recovering our RoW. We are not here to disturb anybody’s business, but individual businesses should not disturb other road users.” – Kuti
Mr Kuti further stated that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, had earlier notified the spare part traders to leave. He said this is the last warning the Government intends to give before action is finally taken to remove them if they refuse to leave on their own.
Reacting to this development, Mr Jude Okonkwo, who is the President of the Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association, said he would ensure that his members comply with the final quit notice that has been given.
According to him, the auto dealers will dedicate a day to clean up the market and by so doing, address the issue of sanitation which has been raised by the Government.
He, however, asked the Government to improve on the facilities in the market by specifically constructing a pedestrian bridge and a car park which he believed reduce traffic and also save lives.
Meanwhile, asides issuing quit notices to the traders at Ladipo Market, the Government also served final notices to car dealers along the Lagos-Ibadan Express Way, Mr Kuti said.
According to him, the Government have repeatedly informed the traders about the ongoing expansion work on the express road, which requires the traders to move some 50 metres away from the road. So far, some of the traders have not obeyed this noticed.
Note that the Ladipo Market is a major spare part hub in Lagos. It is unclear what will become of those who have been asked to leave.
