Traders from the demolished Owonifari electronic Market, Oshodi yesterday rejected the Lagos State Government’s plans to relocate them to Oshodi Resettlement Market (former Isopakodowo market), citing structural instability and several spiritual activities associated with the structure as their reason for the rejection.

They added that the available space in the market cannot accommodate them. Meantime, a fire outbreak occurred at the site of the demolition earlier in the day, stopping the traders from further salvaging any valuable left in the rubble. However, scavengers had a field day.

The refurbished Isopakowodowo Market, where the affected traders were asked to move to was commissioned by the former governor of the state, Babatunde Fashola, now Minister for Works, Power and Housing. It was commissioned two years ago on January 7, 2014.

When Vanguard visited the market yesterday, none of the market stalls had been opened for business since it was commissioned. Inside the market, officials of the Lagos State Public Works Commission, LSPWC were sighted rehabilitating the floor.

In an interview with Vanguard, a resident, Mr. Mustapha Adekunle said that the market had never been opened to commercial activities since the former governor commissioned it, saying; “You can see that the entire market is dusty. The government had abandoned the market to rodents.”

A security official, who chose to speak under condition of anonymity, in an interview, confirmed that the market had been under lock since it was commissioned.

His words “I cannot give you my name but all I can tell you is that the state government commenced the renovation works on the market on Wednesday morning after the demolition of Owonifari market. And as you can see, the officials of public works department are rehabilitating the floor.”