The popular Mile 12 Market at Ketu in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State is one of the major markets in the South-West of the country. The market, which is basically a foodstuff market, houses several sections selling different types of food items, such as yam, pepper, beans, rice, vegetables, etc. Trading activities in the market are estimated to run into billions of naira annually. But it is amazing that the market environment where food is sourced is filthy. This has led the state government to seal the market in the past. But that is changing gradually.
That change is being championed by some concerned traders. The traders disclosed they had raised N100 million to be able to give the market a facelift. The decision to raise the money came after repeated threats from the state government to demolish the market because of flooding and filthiness.
The market may not be a beauty to behold today, but it is better in terms of what it used to be. A large portion of the market has been paved, while the traders are still sourcing money to cover other parts. Before now, customers and traders used to go through muddy water to buy and trade.
They even paid to get people to wash their legs, especially when it rained. This created a form of business for many women and men. But today, this has drastically reduced. Not ready to give the government reasons to demolish the market, the traders have been doing everything to keep it clean. But the traders said they desperately needed government’s intervention in certain areas. According to them, one of the most troubling areas is inadequate PSP trucks in the market. The traders said they needed five PSP trucks to be able to pack the dirt in the market every day, but government gave them only two.
According to them, there is also the challenge of flooding. The Financial Secretary of the traders’ association, Mr Shehu Usman, said: “The rain does not really affect us as it used to, especially since the cooperation of the traders to build drainages. “We try as much as possible to make the market habitable for all. We have about 30 sections in the market; each has its leader or chairman. The chairman ensures that the needs and complaints of the traders in that section are met.
He or she supervises that section.” Usman explained that over N100 million had been spent in parts of the market. He added: “The money was raised from dues paid by the traders in the market, without government’s intervention. Right now, just a small portion of the market is yet to be paved.” A tomato seller, Mrs Maria Popoola, said that she was impressed by the seriousness with which the market leaders were tackling the issue of cleanliness. She said: “Those in charge of the market are doing excellently well. They ensure that the sweepers sweep the market three times a day. We are not allowed to behave anyhow any more.
If you are found to be littering the market, you get arrested and sometimes you are made to pay a fine.” A cleaner, who gave his name simply as Mr Bello, said: “The only issue we have right now is with the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) officials. They do not come with enough trucks to clear the refuse in the market.
“Each day, we need close to five or six trucks to pack the refuse, but most times, these officials come with two or three refuse trucks. These are never enough for the refuse. This is why the outside of the market appears dirty. “We generate more refuse from the tomatoes’ section of the market because leaves are used to cover the tomatoes to preserve them from the North from where they are transported. “We are doing our best to make the market clean. The government only promised to tile the other side of the market for us, but we have not seen them.
The market is under Ikosi/Isheri LCDA, Kosofe Local Government.” A shopper, Mrs Toriola Alao, said the market had really improved in terms of cleanliness compared to about three years ago. She said: “Back then, I did not like coming here to buy anything because of the way everywhere looked. But now, it is better. Although we still wear rain boots,the market is not dirty and muddy anymore.” The Chairman of the onions’ section, Alhaji Wadata Musa, said: “The rain affects us as our goods are perishable but we have canopies we use in covering them. “For instance, whenever it rains, wind blows away the canopies we use in covering the goods. But we thank God for the intervention of our boys who are usually around to help adjust the canopies.
We no longer experience flooding because we have drainages everywhere in the market now.” Speaking about the turnout of customers during raining seasons, Musa said: “People call on phone to book for what they want because they do not want to enter the rain and most people who usually buy close to 10 sacks of onions, would ask for three because they do not want to store most of it. Rain really affects sales. During rainy season, we usually have low income.” The Secretary of the tomatoes’ section, Mr Abdullai Lawal said: “We are not really affected by the rain in this section of the market because there is nothing the rain can spoil.” A trader at the vegetable section, Ismaila Adamu, said he had been trading in the market for close to six years, adding that he would not say government has supported them in maintaining the market. He pointed to the fact that before the roads were paved and drainages constructed, the sight of the market environment was terrible.
Adamu noted that many traders and customers could not stand the stench from the refuse in the market. This, according to him, makes many buyers to stay away from the market. He said: “Most time, I used to fall sick due to the untidy environment. You would find faeces and urine in every corner of the market.” Speaking on the security of the market, Adamu said security was a major issue, adding that they faced security challenges every day. He, however, applauded efforts of the market administrators who, according to him, have been on their toes to ensure adequate management of the market, even when the government they pay taxes to “has not made any meaningful impact”.
But a flour seller, Mrs Basirat Akanni, expressed displeasure over what she described as the mismanagement of the market. Akanni noted that on several occasions, she had had to dispose some of her products damaged by flood. She said: “I trade here because I do not have anywhere else to go.
The cost and procedure to get another location for such trade are the problem, which is why I have had to cope with what I have. “I have lost goods to flood and also to armed robbers who used to come to the market. I have complained to those in charge of the market, but I have never received a favourable response.”
No comments:
Post a Comment