Chief Rukayat Balogun, Leader, Aranmo Leti Esho Market, near Apongbon Bridge, Lagos Island, has assured of compliance with the government ultimatum on vacating the infrastructure, while appealing to Lagos State Government to the assist traders.
Balogun made the appeal in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday following expiration of a three-day ultimatum to traders under the Apongbon bridge to vacate the area, issued by Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
NAN reports that the Apongbon Bridge was razed by fire due to activities of the traders on March 23, leading the Federal Government to issue a seven-day eviction notice, with Lagos State Government also serving its own.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu had on Sunday issued a fresh three-day ultimatum to traders under the Apongbon Bridge in Lagos Island to vacate or risk demolition of the space by Wednesday.
Sanwo-Olu gave the warning while driving on the bridge, during the inspection of the blue line rail project.
He saw that traders were back under the bridge with their goods displayed after they were driven away in the aftermath of the fire outbreak, under the Apongbon bridge about six weeks ago.
The governor frowned at the unlawful return of the traders under Apongbon bridge, saying that the enforcement team would be deployed to the bridge after the three days ultimatum
With the expiration of the second ultimatum served by the Lagos State Government on Wednesday, Balogun said traders under the bridge had complied and were totally moving from under the bridge.
She, however, appealed that the government temper justice with mercy to leave other traders who were not directly under the bridges but in the loops as promised.
Balogun said that traders and the market leadership were extremely saddened by the fire and were willing to work with government, while pleading for relocation to another suitable location if possible.
“We are appealing to government to temper justice with mercy, we have abided by the rules and regulations, they should allow the eviction to stop under the bridge alone,” she said.
She said that the market was about 45 years old and had experienced uninterrupted trading activities, but admitted that her traders erred by putting containerised shops under the bridge.
The market woman said the traders were supposed to display wares which would be moved after each business day but later introduced the containerised shops.
Balogun begged the Lagos State Government to prevail on its enforcement agencies to leave traders whose shops were in the loops, as they were part of the Aromo Leti Esho Market, and were not encroaching on the bridge.
“We have been there (under bridge) over 45 years and we don’t want to go against government directive, all the traders are already packing. They said we should clear containers, we have cleared everything.
” We know all highways belong to the Federal Government and that we were given temporary approval does not mean we should misuse our opportunity.
“We erred, we were not supposed to put containerised shops under the bridge, we were just supposed to display wares there, so we are appealing,” she said.
NAN correspondents who took a trip under the bridge observed that traders under the long stretch of the section of the bridge not affected by fire were dismantling and moving their shop components and goods away.
NAN also observed that traders who displayed wares under the damaged portion of the bridge had moved, but those on the portion not affected by fire still displayed their wares on makeshift stalls.
Some of the traders who spoke to NAN said that they were moving in line with the directive of the government.
Also, livestock traders under the CMS/Leventis Ramp of the Eko Bridge adjacent Apongbon Bridge who had dismantled their shops told NAN that they were gradually relocating both birds and animals.
A dealer in children and women’s shoes who simply identified herself as Iya Lati expressed hope that her shop, which falls among the loops, would be spared as promised by government.
Meanwhile, as the traders battled with evacuation, construction workers were seen digging and removing soil around various pillars on the damaged sections of the Apongbon Bridge.
NAN